The Emblematic Dragon Tree: More Than Just a Plant
The dragon tree is arguably the most iconic species of endemic flora in the Canary Islands. Its branched canopy, shining grey bark, and the mystique surrounding these trees—dating back to the time of the Guanches—transform it into an emblem of the Islands, something far more than mere vegetation. The recent collapse of the century-old specimen in San Francisco, in the Tenerife municipality of Los Realejos, has brought the species Dracaena draco into the spotlight. This tree grows on cliffs, crags, and inaccessible slopes of ravines, at altitudes between 30 and 800 metres.
According to José Alberto Delgado, head of the Organic Biodiversity Unit of the Tenerife Island Council, these are plants whose significance “transcends biology, as they form part of the collective memory and the landscape, historical, and cultural heritage of the Canaries.” Consequently, a law passed by the Canarian Government even declared it the natural floral symbol of Tenerife. Today, few wild dragon tree forests or groupings remain in the Islands. Their ease of propagation and spectacular appearance have made them a popular ornamental plant, though specimens can still be seen in remote corners of the barrancos, especially in Tenerife, La Palma, and Gran Canaria.
The Quest to Protect Tenerife’s Monumental Specimens
José Alberto Delgado compiled a list of Tenerife’s most monumental dragon trees. His intention was for it to become a catalogue of protected specimens. This has not yet been achieved, as the Canarian Government transferred this responsibility to local councils, which have not developed specific lists. Until Wednesday night, there were 39 trees on the list, but the fall of the San Francisco drago has reduced this number to 38. They are found in cities, towns, and ravines, and are worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.
The Municipal List of Monumental Dragon Trees
Here is the list of Tenerife’s monumental dragon trees, municipality by municipality. Which ones have you not seen yet?
La Orotava (4)
– Drago del restaurante El Calderito: Carretera General del Norte, near Cuesta de La Villa. 12m tall, approx. 150 years old.
– Drago de la Candelaria del Lomo: Next to the Church of La Candelaria el Lomo, Villa de Arriba. 10m, 135 years.
– Drago de La Dehesa: Paseo Dominguez Afonso, on private land bordering the rear of the Post Office building. 11m, 150 years.
– Drago de la Mocana: La Mocana, Barranco San Antonio. On private land. 8m, 150 years.
Los Realejos (1)
– Drago de la Finca Doña Juana: By Finca de La Torre, on Finca de Doña Juana, No.1, below the road from Los Realejos to Icod. 14m, age unknown.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife (3)
– Drago de Benijo, Anaga: Pista de El Draguillo. 12m, 180 years.
– Drago de Pino de Oro: Bº Pino de Oro, ascent via El Mencey towards Ifara. Calle Doctor José Naveiras, 46. 11m, 135 years.
– Drago del Cura: Located on the parish priest’s estate in Taganana (Casa Parroquial). 11m, 250 years.
Icod de Los Vinos (3)
– Drago Milenario: Jardín del Drago, next to Plaza de San Marcos, historic centre. 18m, 700-800 years. The most emblematic and ancient of all preserved in Tenerife.
– Drago de Buen Paso: Between the Santa Cruz-Icod road at the Barrio del Buen Paso and the TF-222 road. 10m, 135 years.
– Drago de San Antonio: On Calle del Amparo, which climbs from Plaza de la Pila above the Drago Milenario, next to the Social Security health centre, turning right uphill. 18m, 225 years.
Guía de Isora (2)
– Drago de Chiguergue: Private Finca Las Ánimas, in the El Meronal zone, Chiguergue. 10m, 150 years.
– Drago de Tejina: Located on the southwest slope of Barranco de Guaira, beside Montaña de Tejina. Accessed from the Carretera General del Sur via the track along the ravine bed. 8.5m, 180 years.
Tacoronte (4)
– Drago de Don Lucio: Calle de los Perales. 7m, 330 years.
– Drago de San Juan: In a private garden in the San Juan neighbourhood, in a small urbanisation on the road to Tejina. 12m, 150 years.
– Drago del Cristo: On the outskirts of the town, on the road to Tejina. 11m, 200-230 years.
– Drago del Cubano: On the so-called ‘Finca del Cubano’, near the Tacoronte School of Agricultural Training. 10m, 225 years.
El Tanque (1)
– Drago de El Espigón: Area called subida de El Espigón on the property named La Cerca del Drago, next to a traditional Canarian house. 6m, 135 years.
Garachico (3)
– Drago de El Genovés: In an orchard behind an uninhabited house at No. 29 Calle Real in the Barrio del Genovés. 10m, 120 years.
– Drago de La Culata: In the Barrio de San Juan del Reparo, among orchards about 2 metres from No. 1 Calle El Lance. 10m, 150 years.
– Drago de La Quinta: Between two sections of the TF-1421 road, above the Casa Quinta Roja. 7m, 135 years.
La Laguna (9)
– Drago de la Ermita de San Miguel: Next to a fallow orchard on Finca de San Miguel, beside the Ermita de San Miguel, El Boquerón, Valle Guerra. 10m, 220 years.
– Drago de la Finca de San Francisco del Obispado o de Aledo: In Valle Guerra, on the Camino de S.Francisco, on Finca de San Francisco. 9m, 240 years.
– Drago de la Orden de San Vicente Ferrer: Calle Nava y Grimón, No. 28, in a patio visible from the street. 8m, 135 years.
– Drago de San Bartolomé de Geneto: Camino de San Bartolomé de Geneto, No. 155, at an old Canarian house. 9m, 165 years.
– Drago de Valle Tabares: On the left margin of the road towards Los Campitos. 11m, 300 years.
– Drago del Barranco del Agua de Dios: On the edge of the Barranco del Agua de Dios as it passes through Tejina, behind the old Cine Tejina (now a supermarket). 8m, 150 years.
– Drago del Barrio Nuevo or Drago de Cho Marcos Ratón: In Barrio Nuevo, near the Tejina roundabout, in a patio on Calle El Drago. 10m, 225 years.
– Drago del Camino de Las Peras: On Camino de las Peras, in the Urbanización El Drago II, near the barranquillo of Cha Marta. 6m, 130 years.
– Drago del Seminario: Rear garden of the Antiguo Seminario, in the historic centre. 5m, 250-300 years.
Buenavista del Norte (1)
– Drago de la Hacienda del Conde de las 7 Fuentes: Hacienda de Taco or del Conde de Las 7 Fuentes. Access via the Barrio de La Cuesta. 9-10m, 300 years.
El Sauzal (1)
– Drago de la Sierva de Dios: Rural location, on private land, Pasaje Sierva de Dios. 10m, 200 years.
Tegueste (2)
– Drago de Montaña de Los Dragos: On Montaña de los Dragos, accessed from the Carretera del Portezuelo. Calle Marqués de Celada leads to its vicinity. 8m, 345 years.
– Drago del Prebendado Pacheco: Located on the edge of a ravine, at the old house of Prebendado Pacheco, near the popular Plaza de la Arañita. 12m, 200 years.
Puerto de la Cruz (2)
– Drago del acantilado de La Paz: On the old Calle Ciprés number 6, now Calle Agatha Christie, at Casa Drago del Mar, in the Urbanización La Paz. 6m, 165 years.
– Drago Principal Sitio Litre: Jardines Sitio Litre. 8m, 165 years.
Güímar (2)
– Drago del Buen Retiro: In the garden of the former Hotel El Buen Retiro, in the Barrio de Chacaica. 10m, age unknown.
– Drago de la Raya: Located in the La Raya area, on the estate of the Millán family. 7m, 140 years.
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