Evaluation of tree species for amenity planting in Hong Kong

Abstract

A large number of tree species have been adopted for amenity plantings in different parts of the tropics. The lack of systematic species evaluations, a common procedure in developed countries, is a major bottleneck to objective tree-selection decisions in the tropics. A comprehensive tree survey in urban Hong Kong provides the necessary tree-performance information to judge the relative suitability of species under different environmental conditions. A review of the literature on tropical amenity trees provides valuable supplementary information. A number of tree attributes, including final height and spread, growth rate, desirable and undesirable traits, environmental tolerance and suitable habitats are related according to semi-quantitative or nominal classifications. -from Author