For Flora enthusiasts the Costa Tropical and Granada region is an absolute haven, with a huge variety of flowers and plants growing in the varied terrain that runs from the rugged coast along the Mediterranean Sea, inland on hills, valleys and dry river beds to the Sierra Nevada mountains which is one of the highest mountain ranges in Europe.

Called the Costa Tropical, not as some might believe because of the tropical climate, but because of the massive array of tropical fruit and produce grown throughout the Granada region. All over the hills, mountains and flat lands that can be found on the Costa Tropical and Granada region you will see a huge amount of fruit and vegetables grown. Fruit trees include oranges, lemons, membrilla (quince), almonds, pears, apples, mangos, apricots, bananas, chiramoya, peach, and avocado to name but a few. Vegetables and salad crops, include tomatoes, lettuce, aubergines, beans and countless other varieties.

Although the Granada region is not famous for wine production, many small farmers and landowners grow grapes to make their own wine. It is a very common sight as you travel around the Granada area to see terraces covered with grape vines, hardly noticeable during the winter months when the vines shed their leaves, but the rich dark green foliage that is produced in spring is unmistakable. In many restaurants and bars, especially in the villages located in land, the locally produced wine is sold, and in some places it is the only wine sold on the establishment. It is also possible to purchase local wine from the village bodegas (wine stores).

The changing countryside of the Costa Tropical and Granada region has an amazing variation of wild plants, flowers and grasses. From January the pink and white blossom of the almond trees can be seen everywhere looking rather like candy floss against the almost black tree trunks. As winter gives way to spring, the countryside erupts into a myriad of colour as hundreds of flowering plants put on their annual display. Huge sways of red poppies and yellow broom are everywhere and as you walk through the landscape, the aromatic smell of lavender, rosemary and thyme constantly surrounds you.

As the summer months march on and the weather becomes hot the fruit on the trees swell and ripen and laden branches droop under the weight of the forthcoming crops. During autumn, pomegranates, the symbol of Granada, make their exotic appearance and as Christmas approaches, the vivid yellows and oranges of the citrus trees, together with the abundance of almonds herald the approaching festive season.