Exploring Providenciales? Check Out These Local Plants

Pincushions and Seven Year Apples? Strange But True Plants of the Turks & Caicos Islands

While you’re enjoying some of the top activities and exploring Providenciales at the beach or the picturesque inland waters, you’ll be surrounded by a variety of vegetation, some with unsual names.

You think your mother-in-law is rough around the edges and well, quite frankly, prickly.

Well there’s one cactus in the Turks and Caicos Islands that will easily outrival her.

Turks Head Cactus

Widespread throughout the islands, the unique Turks Head Cactus is affectionately known as “mother in law’s pincushion”. A rather bizarre looking succulent, for which the island takes its name, the Turks Head Cactus has a spherical green stem from which sprouts a cylindrical reddish spiny cap. It’s the rarest cactus in the islands and has been featured on the national postage stamp.

Best Places to Enjoy Providenciales Plant Life

Yes, there are some unique plants in the Turks and Caicos with equally odd names, and you’ll spot many of these fascinating plants thriving along the coastline or inland waterways. And, while it may be tempting to pick a plant, island regulations prohibit it. It is illegal to take any natural item which includes seashells, animals, plants and flowers, coral and sand. The amazing shapes and colours are best captured within the photo frame, so keep your camera handy!

Seven Year Apple

Known for its spectacular scenery, the coastline of Providenciales features a couple of interesting plants. One is the Seven Year Apple, a highly salt tolerant plant that is a member of the bedstraw plant family. It thrives in the sunny island conditions and produces beautiful small creamy white flowers.

Another hardy flowering plant common to the island is the Sea Grape which flourishes particularly well around Chalk Sound. This member of the buckwheat family bears clusters of edible grape like fruit which are island chefs enjoying using in their cuisine.

Aloe Vera

Some plants thrive in the Caicos tropical setting. Known by its thick fleshy green leaves, the Aloe Vera plant is great example. It’s no surprise this plant is called the “lily of the desert”. Not only does it flourish in very dry warm conditions, but the gel within its leaves has profound healing properties. It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties and is used for treating burns, improving skin, treating rashes and improving hair and scalp.

Mangrove

While paddling your kayak or enjoying stand up paddleboarding along the quiet inland waterways, you’ll see a variety of Mangrove. These plants can tolerate very salty conditions even some of the hyper-saline interior bodies of water. Due to special pores in their leaves, mangroves are able to excrete the salt from the water. The Red Mangrove grows prop roots which help to support it in the water and mud below. The roots grow from the branches down into the water bringing oxygen to the plant. White and Black Mangrove thrive here as well and provide home and protection for numerous fish, birds and other wildlife.

Whether you’re sunbathing, swimming, or snorkeling along the shore or paddling inland waters, plant families will greet your arrival and frame your experiences. Some are a lot more prickly than others, but that’s okay, family members sometimes need their space.