Flora & Fauna

The British Virgin Islands are semi-tropical islands, neither lush nor overly dry. The mountain sides are covered for much of the year in a thick green carpet of tropical trees, bushes and scrub. Most prevalent of these trees is the wild tamarind, a hardy tree that needs little moisture and has deep roots.


Also covering the hillsides are fields of tall guinea grass, upon which cattle and goats feed; as well as wild and fragrant frangipani trees and turpentine trees (locally referred to as tourist trees because of their red and peeling trunks). On dryer areas of the islands, such as the eastern portion of Tortola, much of Virgin Gorda and some of the outer islands, there are many varieties of cactus and succulents, including Turks Head, Pipe Organ and Prickly Pear. The Century Plant, a massive succulent with tall, spiky leaves puts out a lofty stalk which can reach 40 feet and contains pods of yellow flowers. Each plant blooms only every eight years but in the spring you will see dozens of the plants adorning the hillsides. The White Cedar, which when in blossom has delicate white or pink flowers, is indigenous to The BVI and is the territory's national tree.

Fruit trees can also be seen throughout the islands in both groves and in gardens. The breadfruit, a large shady tree, has a large green fruit that is used as a starchy side dish when cooked; banana trees are seen in the valleys and along the mountainsides, as are mangoes, whose succulent fruit is popular here. Another prevalent tree is the papaya, a fast growing plant whose oblong fruit is a lovely yellow-apricot shade when ripe, but is also boiled when still green and eaten as a vegetable. Sugar apples, guavaberry and soursops are other fruit trees that flourish here. A great variety of colourful tropical flowers are found in BVI gardens, including hibiscus in delicate shades of red, pink and even yellow; purple and pink bougainvillea; scarlet flamboyant and yellow allamanda. Two of the most highly fragrant flowers found here are those belonging to the jasmine, and frangipani.

Some of the creatures that you may come across in The BVI can seem both strange and wonderful. Among the fascinating array of reptiles and birds found throughout the islands are two types of iguana, the indigenous Anegada Rock Iguana, which is found on Anegada as well as Guana and Necker Islands; and the Green Iguana, which is primarily found around Virgin Gorda's North Sound and on Peter Island. There are also a large variety of lizards including anoles and geckos, and small tree frogs, known for their melodic chirping call. The islands only wild mammal is the mongoose which was introduced to The BVI in the 1800s.

Among our most common birds are the Green-throated Carib, a small iridescent hummingbird; the delicate yellow and black Bananaquita and the American Kestrel, a falcon that can be seen soaring over the islands' valleys in search of prey. There are also several doves, including the Ground Dove and the Zenaida. Tortola is named after this small bird which means dove in Spanish. When sailing, or at the beach, you will see a number of sea birds, the most spectacular of which is the Magnificent Frigate, whose wing span can reach eight feet. There are also plenty of Laughing Gulls, Brown Boobies and the comical and clumsy Brown Pelican.