Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife - History

History

The old landfill was shut in 1983. The creation of the garden was started with funding from the European Union and the City of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The project was started in 1995, under the botanical direction of the Agronomist Manuel Caballero Ruano and the biologist Carlo Morici. The landscape designer Carlos Simón directed the construction of various lakes and waterfalls and the plantation of the earliest gardens in 1996-1999. The development of the project was suddenly paralysed in 2000 for lack of funding. Since then it was kept with basic maintenance until 2006. During 2007 and 2008 some major works were performed in the park in order to push it further. The whole watering system was replaced and the unfinished southern slopes were landscaped and planted. Living collections have been improved and ordered. New geographical sections have been started for Borneo and Philippines and New Guinea. The garden is still not open to the public. It can be visited by appointment only through the City of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. A public foundation named Fundación Canaria del Jardín Botánico del Palmetum de Santa Cruz is expected to manage the garden in the future.