Common Plants to Spot During Your Next Visit to the Maldives – Experience Maldives through nature

The Maldives is known as the land of coconut. And a coconut tree is a popular plant that is seen on the coasts of the Maldives. When you are walking around the coast of your holiday property – for instance, at Velassaru Maldives – you will come across a range of coconut trees dotted along the beach. You will see these trees wherever you go. Coconut is used in almost every dish in the Maldives. It is used as a staple in households and is an integral part of the Maldivian culture. It adds beauty to most landscapes and is also used to extract different items for consumption and as raw material. Coconut trees are also useful in maintaining the biodiversity of the islands as it attracts several birds such as palm swifts and swallows.

The Maldives community is also known for cultivating many varieties of plants in their homesteads. Some popular plants are chilli, sugarcane, almond, corn, and sweet potato. While these plants may not be seen around the luxury hotel Maldives, they are very often seen in the houses of the locals. These don't provide much aesthetic value but are important parts of the floral diversity of the country.

Fruits are another plant type that is widely seen in the Maldives. People grow mango, papaya, lime, banana, and watermelon very often. These fruits are used for day-to-day consumption and are also sold to hotels and other establishments. You can even request the locals to pluck some fruits for you. This might be a fun experience, to pluck and enjoy the natural fruits in the islands.

Scaevola is a bushy type of plant that is seen on the coast of the Maldives. If not maintained and controlled, it can spread extensively and take over the entire coast. Therefore, it can be considered to be an invasive plant. This is a plant that you will see quite often during your trip to the Maldives.

This tree is commonly known as the Banyan and is a beautiful species seen in most parts of Asia. It can take over an entire landscape with its vastness. In the Maldives, Banyan trees can be seen on almost every island and the locals enjoy them as a great species that provide shade and add aesthetics to the landscape.

Mangroves are an important part of the habitat in the Maldives. As an island nation, the Maldives has a vast coastline that is home to several types of mangroves. These mangroves provide refuge to the wide variety of ocean life that exists, protect the shores from eroding, and contribute to the biodiversity of the country. Some of the key mangrove species include Sonneratia, Burguiera and Lumnitzera.