How Can Plants Used for Ornamental Purposes Contribute to Urban Biodiversity?

Stefania Toscano, Daniela Romano (), Valerio Lazzeri, Luca Leotta and Francesca Bretzel
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Stefania Toscano: Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
Daniela Romano: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy
Valerio Lazzeri: Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy
Luca Leotta: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy
Francesca Bretzel: Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems, National Research Council, 56124 Pisa, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-31

Abstract: Sustainability urgently needs to be achieved in urban green infrastructure. Maintaining and restoring biodiversity are critical for developing an urban ecosystem more resilient to abiotic and biotic stresses. The biodiversity of urban green spaces is vital as it reduces the risks associated with climate change (diseases and pests), improves the resilience of the urban ecosystem, and enhances citizens’ well-being. Urban green areas can provide important ecosystem services necessary for achieving prosperity, urban well-being, and the One Health paradigm at various scales. Urban green areas can serve as corridors and stepping stones between the rural environments surrounding cities, increasing their connections and reducing the risk of ecological traps. The conservation and restoration of biodiversity are strategies to increase ecosystem services. In this context, this review aims to analyze the possible contribution of ornamental plants to urban biodiversity, investigating the available knowledge and the gaps that need to be filled. Plants chosen for their esthetic functions are often allogamous species, characterized by showy flowers that attract fauna for pollination, thus helping insects and other fauna survive. If not invasive, these plants can actively contribute to biodiversity in the urban environment and to human well-being. Choosing suitable species and methods that favor plant communities and sustainable maintenance practices improves biodiversity and the ecosystem services that ornamental plants provide.

Keywords: green infrastructure; ecosystem services (ESs); ornamental value; urban environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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