Application of medicinal plants for decorative purposes by the local populatuion on the North Black Sea coast (Bulgaria)

Abstract The aim of the present study is to identify medicinal plants used for decorative purposes by the local population along the Northern Black Sea coast (Bulgaria). A survey was conducted in the period 2014-2020. The interviews with the local population were conducted “face to face” with the help of pre-prepared original questionnaires. The surveyed locals are 709 people from 32 settlements. Respondents were randomly selected. They are of different age groups, gender, ethnicity, education and employment. The folk names of the used medicinal plants are recorded. The results show that a significant proportion of respondents (52.89%) use medicinal plants for decorative purposes. The medicinal plants used for decorative purposes by the locals are 73 species, belonging to 61 genera from 30 families. The present study is part of a larger ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in the region of the North Black Sea coast.