A Guide to Identification and Cultivation of 220 Ground Cover Plants in Landscape for Tropical and Subtropical Regions

With the increase in urbanisation and issues arising from modern life in urbanised areas, attention to nature has gained traction. Hence, urban planners work hard to meet today's community requirements through various strategies, including establishing green spaces in cities. In recent years, concurrent to population growth and decreased green space per capita and natural resources such as high-quality water and fertile lands in capital cities, the demand for such spaces has significantly increased. This issue is more evident in tropical and semi-tropical areas because of a shortage in freshwater resources and a higher rate of evaporation and transpiration. As a result, urban planners have introduced strategies under the concept of Xeriscaping (landscaping in dry areas) that enable cities to mitigate these environmental issues. One of these strategies is to replace demanding turfgrasses with ground cover plants resistant to unfavourable environmental conditions. These plants in different forms, colours, growing types, and textures are suitable alternatives to turfgrasses that can increase the diversity of urban green spaces. This manual is a guideline that introduces 220 ground cover plants and provides detailed information about their growing environment and ornamental features in green spaces.