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MIM August-September 2019
Madeira’s Botanical Garden
Foto: Martin Ogden
Is a Living Plant Museum
Foto: Martin Ogden
Nestled in Bom Sucesso, the Madeira´s Botanical Garden is a fantasy garden of native and international flora with an ocean view.
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JARDIM BOTÂNICO DA MADEIRA Engenheiro Rui Vieira Address / Morada: Caminho do Meio, Bom Sucesso 9050-027 Funchal Tel: +351 291 211 200 Email: ifcn@madeira.gov.pt Web: ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/quintas-e-jardins/ jardin-botanico-da-madeira-eng-rui-vieira. html Timetable / Horário: Open daily/ Aberto diariamente: 9.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. (last entries until 5.30 p.m.) 25 december - closed. 25 de dezembro - encerrado. Paid entrance / Entrada paga
curiosity In 2009, this garden received the name of Eng. Rui Vieira, an agronomist who died that year and was the founder of this garden in 1960. This homage recognises his dedication to the public cause and to scientific research.
Since the 17th century Madeira Island had been waiting for a botanical garden, a dream that came true in 1960. Located 3 km from the centre of Funchal, at Quinta do Bom Sucesso – a private Quinta belonging to the Reid’s family – where the climate conditions are much in favour of exuberant vegetation. With about 72,685 m2, the Botanical Garden boasts harmonious forms, contrasting colours and more than 2000 exotic plants. It is owned by the Regional Government of Madeira and, apart from being a beautiful place of leisure, it also serves as a Science and Culture Centre. Throughout the gardens visitors can find the plants labelled with their scientific names, common name and origin. There are five main areas to visit:
1 - Indigenous and endemic plants: This is the place where one can see plants exclusively from Madeira and other Atlantic islands, like the Azores, Canaries and Cape Verde. There are about 100 indigenous plants exhibited, ranging from those characteristically found on the more exposed slopes of Madeira to those typical of mid-altitude vegetation and trees found in Madeira’s natural forest, the ‘Laurissilva’ forest.
2 - Tree Garden: Here you find plants from ecologically opposed areas of the Earth, like the Himalaya and the Tropics.
3 - Succulents: The capacity of storing water is what distinguishes the plants in this department, most of them coming from South America.
4 - Tropical/ Cultivated/Aromatic/ Medicinal: Several tropical and subtropical fruit trees, such as mango, papaya and avocado, as well as coffee trees, sugar cane and popular medicine plants can be seen in this area.
In 2017, the Botanical Garden celebrated its anniversary with renovated lakes, a garden of Portuguese camellias and access to information via smartphone. This is a simply unforgettable garden and a mandatory presence in one’s itinerary when visiting Madeira.
