Consternation in Los Realejos as iconic dragon tree falls
There is consternation in Los Realejos following the collapse of one of the most imposing dragon trees in the Canary Islands. At around 8:30 pm yesterday, Wednesday 4 March, the historic San Francisco dragon tree, also known as the Buenpaso or San Francisco cemetery drago, came crashing down. The 17-metre-tall tree, which was over 200 years old, fell as a result of the intense rain and strong winds brought by Storm Regina.
Damage and immediate response
The Mayor of Los Realejos, Adolfo González, said he was “very sad” about an incident which caused damage to six vehicles parked near the San Francisco cemetery. “We have lost a symbol of the municipality,” he stated, adding: “It was a monumental tree, an emblem of our town. There are no personal injuries, but this is a very sensitive loss.” The council for this northern Tenerife municipality reports that Local Police units, professional and volunteer firefighters, as well as municipal staff and workers from the company responsible for gardens, were dispatched to the scene. The Town Hall details that work is underway to clear the area and assess the damage.
Ongoing safety measures and investigation
The collapse of the dragon tree also caused the public lighting supply in the area to fail, affected a perimeter wall, and possible damage to houses is being assessed. The area has been cordoned off and access prohibited. The council also requests that people do not go to the site or interfere with the workers’ tasks for safety reasons. “Work will continue over the coming hours to guarantee safety and to guard both the site and the remains,” the Town Hall detailed. “All information from the scene of this tragic event will be essential for studying the causes.”
The main hypothesis being considered is that the fall was caused by the intense rainfall from Storm Regina, the twelfth such storm to hit the Canaries since last autumn. In any case, the mayor announced an investigation to determine exactly what happened. “We had been monitoring this dragon tree and no pathologies had been found that could have foreseen something like this happening,” stated Adolfo González. “We are surprised that this has occurred. Both experts from the University of La Laguna and the company responsible for parks and gardens had studied it and no problems had been detected in its structure that suggested it could collapse. The investigation will clarify it.”
A historic and botanical landmark
Although its name links it to the San Francisco cemetery, this majestic Dracaena draco was located in an adjacent garden. At over 200 years old and with fourteen branches, this specimen was considered one of the most beautiful in the Canaries due to its well-structured shape. In the past, it was possible to access its interior through an entrance that was later sealed off. Some of its branches exhibited aerial roots.
Historically, the San Francisco Dragon Tree has inspired admiration, according to the website Las Medianías de Tenerife. Travellers and writers have described it, evoking the image of an “enormous candelabra supporting a forest of yuccas,” even associating it with the dragon guarding the Garden of the Hesperides. José de Viera y Clavijo already mentioned in his Dictionary of the Natural History of the Canary Islands the multiple uses of “dragon’s blood,” from medicine to the production of dyes and varnishes. The flowering of these singular trees, which occurs every fifteen years, constitutes a remarkable natural spectacle.
This dragon tree was notable both for its environmental importance as an example of Canary endemic flora and for its cultural and historical value, having captivated chroniclers and naturalists over time, forming part of the collective imagination and natural heritage of the islands. “We feel great sorrow for this unexpected loss,” admits the mayor of Los Realejos, who at least is relieved that there were no personal injuries.
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