Environmental outdoor plant preferences: A practical approach for choosing outdoor plants in urban or suburban residential areas in antalya, Turkey

Abstract

The unique qualities of natural landscapes con-tribute to residential urban areas. Although such ar-eas boost the sustainability of urban environments from an ecological point of view, studies indicate that natural recreational areas are not used if they do not meet the needs and preferences of residents. This study thus focuses on an objective and subjective evaluation of different outdoor plants by 240 resi-dents of Antalya, Turkey, as determined through a survey. While differences in plant preferences and recreational trends were found to be influenced by the demographic statuses of participants, the find-ings reveal a preference for green spaces that offer opportunities for socialization and for the personal growing of plants. This study elucidates residents' expectations regarding green spaces and illustrates a new method of using groups determined by partici-pants to better understand preferences. Respondents highly preferred combinations of fruit trees (64.2%) and ornamental plants, shrubs, and flowers (60.8%) over other outdoor plants, and 37.1% highly valued aesthetic characteristics such as flowers and leaves. A total of 72 plant species were present in the gar-dens of respondents, the most common being lemon (Citrus limon [L.] Burm. f.). These results are useful for municipalities, landscape architects, nurseries, and other relevant groups.