Interesting and new street tree species for European cities

Abstract

Effects of climate change lead to decreasing vitality and increase mortality risk for many native tree species growing under harsh environmental conditions in towns and cities. Taking into account the risks of invasiveness, practical management and scientific experience alternative species and rising floristic biodiversity may help to reduce vulnerability of urban green space.  Regardless of the emotional debate considering foreign species, the potential of urban street tree species originating from China may be considered for European urban places in particular in regions with expected drier and hotter conditions. The selection of 40 commonly used Chinese tree species took as its starting point observations and local experiences of five research expeditions between 2009 and 2016 concentrating on the metropoles of Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Jinan, and Fuyang. For the considered species only little practical and scientific knowledge is available for Central Europe.