Echium boissieri

Echium boissieri Candle Bugloss

Viborera gigante

Flowering  from May to July this tall plant is 2m or more in height. It is native to the southern Iberian peninsula and north Africa and is commonly found on verges and roadsides, hence the seeds have travelled to parts of northern Spain too. It is unmistakable by it's size.

Helianthemum for id

Helianthemum for id

Helianthemum angustatum

Helianthemum angustatum

This Rock rose flowers from April to July, and is native to south of the Iberian peninsula and NW Africa. It is small and grows to a height of 25cms.

Halimium atriplicifolium

Halimium atriplicifolium

This central and eastern Iberian endemic flowers from May to July and can grow from 1m to 1.5m tall. It is not present in Portugal. It is often found near pine forests.

Phlomis composita

Phlomis composita

 May to August
Photos taken at Sierra de las Nieves

Another one of my favourite plants, of which there are many. Grows to 50cm, sometimes a little taller depending on location. It is native to southern Spain and NW Africa. It is found at altitudes above 1,000m.

Phlomis herba venti

Phlomis herba venti  Iranian Jerusalem sage

Ventolera

This beauty flowers from May to July in the mountains of southern Europe, and eastwards to Iran. It grows to a a height of between 20-50cms and is an herbaceous perennial shrub.

Phlomis purpurea

Phlomis purpurea

Matagallo
April to July
Common in the area.

I have only found this white form in one specific area.

Stachys circinata

Stachys circinata

 This beauty flowers from April to June in the mountains of southern Spain, and North Africa. It can grow from 20~50cms tall. It loves rocky places.

Salvia argentea

Salvia argentea Silver sage

This biennial or short lived perennial flowers from April to July. It is native to southern Europe, from Portugal east to Bulgaria. It can grow from 30~ 90cms tall. It looks very much like a candelabra with it branches stalks.

Papaver

Papaver Poppies

May 10th 2013

Poppy fields at their best

Poppy fields at their best

Asphodelus fistulosus

Asphodelus fistulosus

Gamoncillo

This beautiful plant flowers from March to June and grows to about 40cms. This photograph was taken at Damiel marshes, Castilla La Mancha. It loves to grow on sandy soils.

Roemaria hybrida

Roemaria hybrida Violet horned poppy

Amapola morada

This poppy flowers from April to June, and is native to the Mediterranean, going as far east as Iran. It grows from 20~40cms tall.

Papaver hybridium

Papaver hybridium Rough poppy

Amapola

April to July

Adonis microcarpa

Adonis microcarpa Yellow Pheasant's eye

Reniculo

This pretty little plant flowers from March to June, and grows 10~30cms tall. It is native to the Mediterranean, north Africa and SW Australia. The flowers can also be red in colour.

Hypecoum imberbe

Hypecoum imberbe Sicklefruit

Zapatillas

This plant flowers from April to June and is native to the southern Iberian Pennisula. It can be very small at 5cms tall, or it can reach a height of 40cms if the conditions are right.

Silene colorata

Silene colorata Cloven petalled campion

This beautiful pink plant covers olive groves, scrubland and verges in swathes from January to June. There are over 700 species of Silene worldwide, and over 30 species in Andalucia alone.  This one is native to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.

This photo of a white form of Silene colorata was taken in 2007.

Silene nocturna

Silene nocturna Night silene/Campion

This Campion flowers just before sunset and is in flower from March to July. It grows from 5-40cms tall and is native to the Mediterranean, Canaries and Asia.

Silene vulgaris ssp vulgaris

Silene vulgaris ssp vulgaris Bladder campion


Collejas
April to July
In Spain and Italy the young shoots are eaten raw with salads. Older leaves are boiled or sauteed.

Phlomis lychnitis

Phlomis lychnitis Jerusalem sage

Oreja de liebre

May to July
This can be made into a herbal tea. Just starting to flower now in early May. One of my favourite flowers, amongst many. It is native to the western Mediterranean and can grow to a height of 65cms. It grows on limestone and is found in scrubland.