The geographical location of the Alpujarra, its relief and its climatic diversity, within the vast biodiversity of the area, allow a wide variety of plants to grow here. The flora of the region has thousands of species and numerous endemic species. 

Its natural landscapes include low and riverside areas as well as high mountains, where a large number of unique species of Sierra Nevada (plantago nivalis, Mulhacen poppy, Sierra Nevada violet, Sierra camomile) are located. 

Thus, it occupies a wide variety of habitats and bioclimatic floors, from the Thermo-mediterranean to the Crioro-mediterranean (High Peaks). 

A large number of plants are part of the cuisine of the region, which includes caper, carob, watercress, campion, blackthorn, fennel, asparagus, mallow, nettle, blackberry, savory, juniper, marjoram, oregano, parsley, rosemary or thyme.

VEGETATION TYPES

Lower and Middle Alpujarra (from up to approximately 1,000 meters over the sea level)

The Mediterranean vegetation prevails, with fan palm in the littoral zone and Aleppo pine in the sierra. The typical Mediterranean scrub consists of esparto, myrtle, broom, tamarisk or jujube, among other species. 

The river flora consists of elm groves, poplar groves, willows or ash groves (riparian forests).

Upper Alpujarra (from 1,000 metres altitude) 

In the lower floor, up to 1,200 meters, there are holm oaks, mixed with Aleppo pines. Along with these species, a more humid forest begins to appear. It is characteristic of middle-mountain areas. It consists of Portuguese oaks, Pyrenean oaks or chestnuts. The bushes consist mainly of junipers and barberries and hawthorns.  

The subalpine step, fundamentally, consists of a thick scrub of shrub oaks, junipers, Spanish brooms and genista. 

The upper floor, because of the altitude, does not have trees. Predominantly, there are bushes adapted to the area and, in the summer, grasslands in damp areas. From the 2,000 meters valuable vegetation appears. It is characteristic of the high mountain ecosystem.