Articles
Artificial communities of plants as guides for design of urban areas of central Mexico
Article number
1374_16
Pages
125 – 132
Language
English
Abstract
The objective of the project was to create an artificial community of native perennial plants with a long annual flowering period, high diversity and low maintenance requirements to develop design guides for the urban zones of central Mexico.
Over the course of a year, 22 plant species (herbaceous, bulbs and grasses) were tested in a screening in Cuernavaca City (State of Morelos). Selection parameters included flower color, flowering period, form of life, vigor and relationships with pollinators.
The screening showed the necessity to revise the relationship between density and vigor in each species, the search for ground cover species with steady growth but low competitiveness, and a thorough understanding of the site and possible pests and diseases, among others.
Leading from these results, two plant communities were designed in Puebla City in collaboration with the Autonomous Popular University of the State of Puebla (UPAEP) and the municipal government of Puebla City (State of Puebla). Both the screening and the case studies were visited by local fauna and it demonstrated the potential of these artificial communities of native species in improving green areas in Mexican cities.
Over the course of a year, 22 plant species (herbaceous, bulbs and grasses) were tested in a screening in Cuernavaca City (State of Morelos). Selection parameters included flower color, flowering period, form of life, vigor and relationships with pollinators.
The screening showed the necessity to revise the relationship between density and vigor in each species, the search for ground cover species with steady growth but low competitiveness, and a thorough understanding of the site and possible pests and diseases, among others.
Leading from these results, two plant communities were designed in Puebla City in collaboration with the Autonomous Popular University of the State of Puebla (UPAEP) and the municipal government of Puebla City (State of Puebla). Both the screening and the case studies were visited by local fauna and it demonstrated the potential of these artificial communities of native species in improving green areas in Mexican cities.
Authors
E. Salomé-Castañeda, E. Olivares-Esquivel
Keywords
native plants, naturalistic design, green infrastructure, biodiversity, pollinators
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