Los Realejos to Replace Historic Dragon Tree With New Protections for Urban Flora

The loss of natural heritage in urban areas has sparked a debate over how we protect local species. This conversation has become particularly urgent in Los Realejos following the collapse of a historic dragon tree at the San Francisco cemetery last March. The City Council is now preparing to plant a replacement, but this time, they are focused on fixing the structural issues that caused the original tree to fail.

The century-old tree fell onto six parked cars, though fortunately, no one was hurt. Technical reviews revealed that the tree’s roots had been "strangled" by its planter, and heavy winter rains had caused water to pool in its canopy, leading to its collapse. To prevent this from happening again, the City Council is working with botanical experts to expand the soil area, improve drainage, and upgrade the soil quality at the cemetery entrance.

A new, four-and-a-half-meter-tall dragon tree is scheduled to be planted this July. Workers are currently preparing the tree’s roots to ensure it survives the move. While Mayor Adolfo González admits that a new tree cannot replace the historical and symbolic value of the original, the council plans to install a sculpture and a commemorative mural at the site to honor it.

This incident has also highlighted the difficulty of protecting unique plants on private property, where the city’s power to intervene is limited. Following the loss of another dragon tree on the Rambla del Mar, the City Council is creating a new catalog of significant botanical sites. Expected by early next year, this inventory will act like a heritage registry for buildings, giving the city the legal authority to require private owners to properly maintain and protect important trees. This shift aims to move beyond simple recommendations and provide a stronger legal framework to prevent the further loss of the municipality’s natural heritage.