Don’t Forget the Flowers!
Don’t Forget the Flowers!
by Hector Jimenez | Denver, CO
Spring is here, and it’s time to double-check your packing list, weigh your backpack, get your credential, and get those walking legs ready for the Camino! Don’t forget your guidebooks, maps, and digital apps. And speaking of guidebooks and maps—let’s not forget about the flowers!
What do I mean by that? Spring is a fantastic time to walk the Camino, with many flowers in full bloom, painting the landscape with vibrant colors. While some flowers, like daisies and poppies, may be familiar to you, many others are native to Spain, the Mediterranean, or different parts of Europe. Whether you’re an avid gardener or, like me, can’t even keep a cactus alive, these flowers will brighten your journey and lift your spirits along the way.
After a long day of walking and finally settling down in the albergue, take a moment to reflect on the flowers you encountered. You might ask yourself:
- What is the name of that flower?
- Does it also grow wild back home, or is it unique to Spain or the Mediterranean?
- Are there any cultural traditions associated with it?
- Does it have medicinal properties?
- Is it edible or poisonous?
If you share my curiosity, here are some useful tools to help you identify and learn more about the flora of the Camino:
Plant Identification Tools
- PlantNet: There are several websites that can help identify a plant from a picture. One I’ve used and recommend is PlantNet. Simply upload 1 to 4 pictures of the flower you captured on your phone or camera, select Southwestern Europe from the World Flora dropdown menu, click Identify, and let the website do the rest!
- Flores de los Caminos a Santiago: This website was created by Arnoud Krever, a fellow pilgrim who, after completing 33 pilgrimages (can you believe that?!), has documented over 1,100 plant species along the Camino. Flowers are searchable by color, scientific name, and family.
For a Deeper Dive
If you’d like to explore the historical significance, folklore, medicinal uses, and practical applications of these beautiful blooms, visit flowersofthecamino.com to access a free PDF version of my own guide, Flowers of the Camino Francés.
Whether you’re a first-time pilgrim or a seasoned traveler, whether you love flowers or have never given them much thought—don’t forget to appreciate the floral wonders along the way!
Editor’s note: For another resource on Camino flora, check out our review of Lyndon Penner’s The Way of the Gardener: Lost in the Weeds along the Camino de Santiago (University of Regina Press, 2021) in the Summer 2023 (page 20) issue of La Concha.
