Cistus creticus

Cistus creticus

The 186 hectares of the total garden area are located 3 km inland, on a territory to the west of the Attica basin called Daphni, at a distance of 14 km west of downtown Athens.

The garden is covered by spontaneous flora listing a total of over 500 plant species (partly endemic ones) and includes, in fact, the oldest natural pine forest in Attica, dominated by Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine).

The forest which is also composed of Pistacia lentiscus (lentisc) and Quercus coccifera (kermes oak) has been «enriched» with many individuals of Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens s.l. (funeral cypress).

Coridothymus capitatus

Coridothymus capitatus (thyme)

The type of vegetation called «phrygana» covers large areas mainly with Sarcopoterium spinosum (thorny burnet), Cistus spp., Phlomis fruticosa (Jerusalem sage), Euphorbia acanthothamnos (Greek spiny spurge), Coridothymus capitatus (thyme) and Satureja thymbra (summer savory), most of them well known since ancient times as medicinal plants.

Last, but not least, the chasmophytic vegetation is also important, consisting of Campanula celsii subsp. celsii, Inula verbascifolia subsp. methanaea etc.