Ornamental Plant Diversity and Sustainable Landscape Utilization in the Marathwada Region of Maharashtra, India

Authors

  • Rathod VS Department of Botany, Deogiri College, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, India
  • Shukla SY Department of Botany, Deogiri College, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, India
  • Patil TV Department of Botany, Deogiri College, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, India

Keywords:

Ornamental plants, Biodiversity, Sustainable landscaping, Marathwada, Semi-arid region

Abstract

Ornamental plants are an integral component of urban and rural landscapes, contributing to aesthetic value, environmental sustainability, and biodiversity conservation. The Marathwada region of Maharashtra is characterized by semi-arid climatic conditions, recurrent droughts, and limited water resources, making sustainable landscaping a major challenge. The present study aimed to document the diversity of ornamental plants and evaluate their potential for sustainable landscape utilization in the Marathwada region. Field surveys were conducted in public parks, institutional campuses, private gardens, nurseries, and roadside plantations across eight districts of Marathwada. A total of 125 ornamental plant species belonging to 58 families were recorded. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Lamiaceae were the dominant families. Ornamental plants were categorized into trees (32 species), shrubs (41 species), herbs (36 species), and climbers (16 species). Several drought-tolerant and native ornamental species such as Bougainvillea glabra, Nerium oleander, Adenium obesum, and Portulaca grandiflora were identified as suitable for sustainable landscaping. The study highlights the importance of native ornamental plant species in reducing irrigation demand, enhancing ecosystem services, and promoting sustainable urban and rural landscapes in semi-arid regions.

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References

1. Bhagat RB, Gupta S (2019) Urban landscaping and biodiversity conservation in India. Journal of Environmental Biology 40(3):455-462.

2. Singh B, Sharma P (2018) Ornamental horticulture in semi-arid regions. Indian Journal of Horticulture 75(2):234-241.

3. Cook T (1908) The Flora of the Presidency of Bombay. Taylor & Francis, London.

4. Singh NP, et al. (2001) Flora of Maharashtra State. Botanical Survey of India.

5. FAO (2015) Sustainable landscaping practices in arid and semi-arid regions. FAO Publication.

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Published

2026-05-30

How to Cite

Rathod VS, Shukla SY, & Patil TV. (2026). Ornamental Plant Diversity and Sustainable Landscape Utilization in the Marathwada Region of Maharashtra, India. International Journal of Life Sciences, 14(1A), 283–286. Retrieved from https://ijlsci.in/ls/index.php/home/article/view/1630

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1A (2026): International Journal of Life Sciences

Section

Biodiversity & Conservation

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Authors

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