Streets lined with purple-blossomed jacaranda trees, terraces carpeted with exotic blooms, rare orchids scattered across mountains: Madeira gardens are unlike any other gardens in the world.
Lying nearly 400 miles off the coast of Morocco, Madeira's unique position in the Atlantic Ocean results in a balmy subtropical climate and temperate winds. Everywhere you look there are pink clouds of bougainvillea, creamy trumpets of Arum lilies and spiky beaked Birds of Paradise, making this tiny Portuguese island ideal for a garden lover's holiday.
While the island is laced with beautiful walking trails, ancient laurel forests threaded with waterfalls and lush leafy parks frequented by rare birds like the Madeira firecrest, it's best known for its glorious ornamental gardens.
A combination of fertile volcanic soil and subtropical climate – average temperatures are around 16C in winter and 25C in summer – results in near-perfect growing conditions for flowers, plants and trees from all over the world, making it heaven for horticulturists and those who know their protea from their pansies.
On the southern coast, island capital Funchal garners the best of Madeira's gardens, not least Madeira Botanical Gardens, which can be reached by a scenic cable car ride from Monte. Nearby is Palheiro Gardens – another must-see, if only to soak up some of the finest views on the island. Santa Luzia Gardens is a more modern addition, occupying a site that once housed an old sugar factory.
Despite its tiny size, there's so much choice on this remarkable island. You can weave around laurel trees and giant camellias at Quinta Vigia, part of the president's residence. Or see extremely rare orchids at Quinta da Boa Vista, home of the late British consul, Sir Cecil Garton, and his wife, Betty, who collected more than 50,000 plants, including the purple-blooming Madeira Orchid.
Perfect for a green-fingered getaway, Madeira's gardens have year-round appeal, however, the best time to visit is April and May when the Madeira Flower Festival is in full bloom. Known as Festa da Flor in Portuguese, the three-week event pays homage to the incredibly diverse flora on the island.
MADEIRA FLOWER FESTIVAL WITH GH
Alongside vast floral displays, flower-laced streets and live music concerts, highlights include The Flower Parade, a heavenly scented extravaganza that winds through the streets of Funchal. There’s also the Madeira Classic Car Revival, where flower-filled classic cars cruise along Avenida do Mar.
You can experience the best of the festival on Good Housekeeping's eight-day escorted holiday with Gardeners' World presenter, Frances Tophill in May.
Madeira Botanical Garden
The Monty Don of the island's gardens is Madeira Botanical Garden – Jardim Botânico da Madeira – in Funchal. Created in 1960, the eight-hectare site sprawling across the grounds of the 19th-century Quinta do Bom Sucesso has become one of the most important botanical gardens in the world. Aside from terraces carpeted in exotic flowers, you can explore greenhouses of rare cacti, ferns and tropical fruit trees, an indigenous garden of native plants and an arboretum of trees from around the globe.
You can also get up close and personal with parrots, blue and yellow macaws, cockatoos and the other fancy feathered residents in Louro Bird Park. There's a quirky natural history museum and a research and conservation area too, which helps protect and preserve endangered species.
Palheiro Gardens
Tucked in the hills overlooking Funchal, Palheiro Gardens is regarded as Eden among horticulturalists. One of the highlights of Good Housekeeping’s exclusive tour in May, the Quinta do Palheiro Ferreiro estate has been under the helm of the Blandy family of winemakers since the late 19th century. Bagging a prime spot overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the gardens are divided into themed areas such as the Sunken Garden, Camellia Avenue and Rose Garden. Along with palms and proteas, camellias and candelabra trees, you'll find that quirky topiary animals feature heavily.
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
From towering date palms and hidden grottoes to pagodas and African sculptures, an afternoon spent ambling around Monte Palace Tropical Garden is like a spin around the globe. Located in a quiet suburb of Funchal, the Monte Palace was a grand hotel in the late 18th century. Developed in 1980 by local entrepreneur José Berardo, the spectacular floral displays now sweep across 17 acres of terraces, regarded by Condé Nast Traveler as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world.
Quinta do Arco Rosarium
A rare garden on the north coast of Madeira, Quinta do Arco Rose Garden in São Jorge is worth the trek as it's home to one of the most extensive collections of roses in the world. With more than 1500 different varieties, you can waft the scent of some 17,000 roses including damask and tea roses, to the rare roses-of-moss and indigenous Rosa mandonii.
Good Housekeeping has two exclusive escorted tours to Madeira's many glorious gardens this year: an eight-day tour with an appearance from Gardeners' World star Frances Tophill and an eight-day trip during the incredible Flower Festival.
