Shrub species selected for landscaping in semiarid in the Paraíba state

Abstract

In Landscaping, native and exotic species from different classes of ornamental plants have been used to compose diverse landscapes, providing aesthetic and functional benefits. And in ornamental plants, shrubs stand out in fundamental importance for a suitable choice in the landscape context. In the Caatinga biome, vegetation is explored at random for different uses, leading to near-extinction by lack of management and appropriate uses. In view of this, we analyzed the potential of shrub species, from native or exotic origin that are adapted to the region, and can be possibly indicated for landscaping in urban and rural Brazilian semiarid. Thus, our study focused on the backlands of Paraíba state in three steps: identification and selection of shrubs, analysis of the landscape potentials and indication of the species for urban and rural landscaping. The results indicated the occurrence of 27 shrub species in the micro regions surveyed with potentials for uses landscape use. The species were recommended for planting both isolated and in associations. This study showed the importance of shrub species to landscape composition in semiarid in Paraíba state as they provide aesthetic and functional benefits in the environment in which they integrate.