Research Progress of Using Ornamental Plants to Cope Approach Environmental Pollutants, a Breakthrough of Bioremediation Technology

Abstract

Ornamental plants (OPs) represent an innovative, sustainable strategy for multi-media phytoremediation, addressing soil, water, and air pollution while circumventing food chain risks. This review synthesizes advances in OPs' physiological, biochemical, and molecular tolerance mechanisms, which enable efficient pollutant extraction, degradation, and sequestration. Beyond their remediation potential, OPs enhance urban biodiversity, revitalize degraded landscapes, and generate socioeconomic value through commercial by-products. Critically, we unveil their dual-function role in emerging carbon neutrality frameworks: photosynthetic carbon capture synergizes with contaminant immobilization, positioning OPs as linchpins in climate-smart remediation. While OPs exhibit remarkable resilience, their efficacy is modulated by environmental variables and site-specific stresses. We identify key challenges—optimizing stress-tolerant traits via genetic engineering, leveraging plant–microbe partnerships to amplify degradation pathways, and sustainable biomass management—that must be addressed to scale applications. By integrating OPs into urban green infrastructure and industrial buffer zones, this approach transcends traditional remediation. This work not only redefines ornamental species as dynamic agents of environmental repair but also provides a roadmap for their deployment in achieving pollution mitigation and net-zero targets.