The legend of the Twin Dragos (Dracaena dracos) dates back to the time before the conquest. It features the twin brothers, Urunte and Timizara, and a beautiful Benahorita girl (a girl from the island of La Palma) named Urbina.
The most striking and well-known trees of the Canary Islands each have their own story to tell. Over time, they have each gained their own legend. Worth mentioning are, for example, the mythical Garoé (El Hierro), the Cassandra pine (Gran Canaria), the Aderno de los Chorros de Epina (La Gomera), and of course the famous Twin Dragos (La Palma).
When you look at how the fables were born, there is always a mix of fantasy and popular traditions. Moreover, there are anonymous oral transmissions that in turn distort and enrich the truth. I have reserved a little for never confirmed realities. And I have always thought that these stories arise as answers from parents and grandparents when asked by their children and grandchildren about the greatness of the trees that catch their attention. The stories were crafted to ease childhood restlessness and help them fall asleep more easily. Ultimately, this is not only reflected in the culture but has also enhanced the value of the island’s flora itself.
In the case of the Twin Dragos, these responses were rich and imaginative. They formed a tragic but also beautiful story. A myth worthy of the grandeur of these individuals. The fame of this plant complex led the Breña Alta town council to include this symbol in the municipal heraldry since 1990.
The legend of the Twin Dragos dates back to the time before the conquest and features the twin brothers, Urunte and Timizara, and a beautiful Benahorita girl named Urbina. Both brothers wanted the same woman, to the point that jealousy led them to contest their love in a fight. Fate ensured that neither survived the battle. In the very place where they shed their blood, Urbina planted two dragon cuttings in her immense grief to remember them forever.
Tradition also says that these two dragon blood trees were planted by a young woman who was in love with two twin brothers. She was advised by local healers to plant the trees to attract the brothers’ attention.
These specimens of Dracaena Draco are located at coordinates 28º 38' 53" N and 17º 47' 15" W. They stand at an altitude of 380 meters, just a few meters from the LP-301 highway that starts in the El Llanito area heading towards San Isidro. Both are neighborhoods of the Palmero municipality of Breña Alta. Among brightly colored houses and surrounded by a fence and a hedge of avocado and fig trees, there is a small garden where the dragon blood trees stand. Two raised columns, barely one and a half meters apart, later merging again into a gigantic crown.
Just like El Drago Milenario of Icod de los Vinos on Tenerife, the twin dragon blood trees are also a thousand years old. The Dracaena Draco species is not very well known on La Palma. Still, the twin dragon blood tree is a valuable symbol for the island’s inhabitants. The age of these twins is estimated between 200 and 250 years. The two specimens were planted so close together (perhaps due to lack of space) on the grounds of an old farm that they were initially used as a place for animal feed.
Considering that the first branching of both dragon trees occurs at the same height, it seems logical to think they are contemporaries. It is even possible that they come from the same parent tree. Yet, with the naked eye, we can see that the dragon blood tree further north has a larger diameter (almost 4 meters). The combined height of the crown is estimated at 15 meters. The merging between the two crowns is perfectly symmetrical and skillfully fills all gaps. The crossing of branches disappears into infinity. It is also possible to see several broken branches and countless folded and grafted tissues between the two specimens.
Notable is the position of the last branches, whose arrangement is almost perpendicular to the ground. The bark has a thick appearance, similar to elephant skin. The southernmost dragon blood tree has a large part at the front without bark. There are no internal cavities, and magical aerial roots are present everywhere.
The general appearance of this unique plant element closely resembles the characteristics of old dragon trees. It also shows partial and annual flowering, which brings enormous weights. Another feature of old dragon blood trees is the renewal of outer layers from top to bottom.
By combining legend and science, it would be very interesting to investigate the blood relationship between both specimens with a DNA test. This could also estimate the degree of grafting and plant fusion.
The old dragon blood tree specimens suffer greatly from the effects of the wind. Unfortunately, this destructive wind is usually the cause of destruction. In the case of the twins, they are well sheltered by the nearby houses. Moreover, they benefit from double support. These good conditions are an advantage for the twins to live long and healthy lives.
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 dates back to the time before the conquest. It features the twin brothers, Urunte and Timizara, and a beautiful Benahorita girl (a girl from the island of La Palma) named Urbina.
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