A NEW study co-authored by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and University of Reading has shown that gardeners are more likely to choose plants with environmental benefits if they understand how those plants can help combat the effects of climate change.
RHS research over the last two decades has found that plants with high transpiration rates can help reduce flood risk and provide urban cooling, and hairy-leaved plants capture particulate pollution.
This makes them an important first defence as the climate crisis results in less frequent but heavier rainfall and flash flooding in our urban areas, increased average temperatures and high levels of pollution.
In a study published in Landscape and Urban Planning, more than 400 participants were divided into two groups – one was given basic facts about environmental issues such as climate change and urban flooding while the other group was also given information about how to potentially manage those problems by growing plants with desirable traits, such as hairy leaves and high transpiration rates.
Where participants were offered solutions, this significantly increased the likelihood of them changing their preferences, and choosing varieties that could mitigate flooding and reduce air pollution.
People who were concerned about, or had experienced, the impacts of climate change were significantly more willing to select species that provided environmental benefits.
Gardeners may be interested to know that semi-evergreen Elaeagnus helps capture roadside particles, Privet helps to slow the flow of rainwater run-off, Hawthorn can help cool the air when in leaf, and Hellebore provides pollinators with nectar in winter months.
Professor Alistair Griffiths, RHS Director of Science, said: “This research shows that by delivering information in the right way we have the potential to empower the UK’s 34 million[1] adult gardeners to make a significant contribution in mitigating the effects of climate change. The RHS launched RHS Plants for Purpose precisely to help gardeners in their decision making and to highlight that the right plants in the right places for the right purposes can make a measurable difference. We want to work with industry to ensure that consumers are provided with clear, accessible labelling at the point of sale, empowering gardeners to make plant choices that help in the face of climate change.”
The research included work undertaken at the University of Reading led by Dr Caitlin McLaughlin, alongside Dr Jake Bishop and Dr Tijana Blanusa.
Dr Jake Bishop, University of Reading, said: “This is strong evidence that giving gardeners practical, solution-focused information can transform how they choose plants. By linking plant traits to real-world benefits like cooling, flood mitigation and capturing pollution, we are giving gardeners individual power to take meaningful action on climate resilience.”
As a result of the research the RHS wants to work with growers and retailers to explore how labelling can inform planting choices.
Last year the organisation launched its RHS Plants for Purpose project to organise the UK’s 400,000 cultivated plants according to benefit.
These would include: flooding mitigation, air pollution capture, cooling, and support for wildlife.
RHS scientists are developing the lists with the assistance of AI, starting with the traits identified as desirable in tackling a problem.
For information, visit: rhs.org.ukand reading.ac.uk
