Urban biodiversity in design: Insights into the debate on native versus non-native plants and bees in Western Australia

Native plants in Western Australia have been highly valued in urban environments due to their endemicity, adaptivity to local conditions and their positive impact on local identity. However, the process of urbanisation often leads to the destruction or significant alteration of native landscapes to meet amenity demands and diverse aesthetic preferences, ecological and functional requirements that vary across societies and over time. This paper examines the role of native and non-native plant species in urban areas of Western Australia with particular reference to the needs of bees (both honeybees and Australian native bees). The analysis draws on the perspectives, vision, and practical experiences of landscape practitioners, beekeepers, and ecologists specialising in native bees and plant pollination. The findings suggest that urban biodiversity in Western Australia inherently involves a combination of native and non-native plant species. Consequently, designing plant arrangements that attract a diverse range of pollinators, including both native and non-native bees, necessitates a specific approach. The results showing that all landscape practitioner respondents have used non-native plants in design practices and acknowledged them as a part of urban biodiversity in Western Australia. All ecologist respondents and 31 % of beekeeper respondents agreed on the existence of competition between native and non-native bees. While ecologist respondents emphasised the significance of native plants for native bees, they still hold positive attitude towards the use of non-native plants in urban landscapes. This research provides valuable guidance for designing urban landscapes that support a diverse range of pollinators and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in Western Australia. Three key guidance for bee botanic garden plant selections are: (1) Promoting interdisciplinary research and collaboration; (2) Maximising site value and ecosystem integration when considering plant selections; and (3) Incorporating diverse plant collections for varied purposes, such as native plant collection, spontaneous gardens, orchards and preserved remnant bush gardens.