<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In the increasingly compact city, services currently provided for in parks will in future be compressed into smaller green unit-structures, often associated with paved surfaces. Left-over spaces in urban environments, such as traffic roundabouts and strips along paths, roads and other corridors, will be important in the future city in order to deliver different eco-system services, especially stormwater management. It is therefore essential to start now to develop the knowledge and experience needed to create sustainable plantings for these sites. This paper presents the findings of a field survey in eastern Romania that sought to identify potential species for urban paved plantings in the Scandinavian region (northern Europe). The research approach is rooted in the hypothesis that studies of natural vegetation systems and habitats where plants are exposed to environmental conditions similar to those in inner-city environments can: 1) identify new or non-traditional species and genotypes adapted to urban environments; and 2) supply information and knowledge about their use potential concerning growth, flowering, life form, etc. In total, 117 different herbaceous species, all of which experience water stress regimes comparable to those in urban paved sites in Scandinavia. The initial information obtained from this field survey present a base of knowledge of which species that have a future potential for use in urban environment, which is of great importance in the following work within this project instead of testing species randomly without this knowledge of the species tolerance and performance in similar habitats.</p></abstract>

In the increasingly compact city, services currently provided for in parks will in future be compressed into smaller green unit-structures, often associated with paved surfaces. Left-over spaces in urban environments, such as traffic roundabouts and strips along paths, roads and other corridors, will be important in the future city in order to deliver different eco-system services, especially stormwater management. It is therefore essential to start now to develop the knowledge and experience needed to create sustainable plantings for these sites. This paper presents the findings of a field survey in eastern Romania that sought to identify potential species for urban paved plantings in the Scandinavian region (northern Europe). The research approach is rooted in the hypothesis that studies of natural vegetation systems and habitats where plants are exposed to environmental conditions similar to those in inner-city environments can: 1) identify new or non-traditional species and genotypes adapted to urban environments; and 2) supply information and knowledge about their use potential concerning growth, flowering, life form, etc. In total, 117 different herbaceous species, all of which experience water stress regimes comparable to those in urban paved sites in Scandinavia. The initial information obtained from this field survey present a base of knowledge of which species that have a future potential for use in urban environment, which is of great importance in the following work within this project instead of testing species randomly without this knowledge of the species tolerance and performance in similar habitats.

Herbaceous Plants for Climate Adaptation and Intensely Developed Urban Sites In Northern Europe: A Case Study From the Eastern Romanian Steppe

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Landscape Planning, Horticulture and Agricultural Science, Department of Landscape Management, Design and Construction, Box 66, SE-23053 Alnarp, Swede

University of Sheffield, Department of Landscape, Floor 12, The Arts Tower, UK

“Anastasie Fătu” Botanic Garden, Dumbrava Roşie Street, Iasi, Romania

Ekológia (Bratislava)

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

In the increasingly compact city, services currently provided for in parks will in future be compressed into smaller green unit-structures, often associated...

Herbaceous Plants for Climate Adaptation and Intensely Developed Urban Sites In Northern Europe: A Case Study From the Eastern Romanian Steppe

Published Online: Mar 01, 2015

Page range: 39 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/eko-2015-0005

Keywords
urban planning, ecosystem services, steppe meadows, flowering field layers, urban horticulture

© 2015 Henrik Sjöman et. al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Herbaceous Plants for Climate Adaptation and Intensely Developed Urban Sites In Northern Europe: A Case Study From the Eastern Romanian Steppe

Published Online: Mar 01, 2015

Page range: 39 - 53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/eko-2015-0005

Keywordsurban planning, ecosystem services, steppe meadows, flowering field layers, urban horticulture

© 2015 Henrik Sjöman et. al.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
urban planning, ecosystem services, steppe meadows, flowering field layers, urban horticulture