Study on the Landscape Characteristics of Adhesive Climbing Plants in Guangzhou

This study investigates adhesive climbing plants in 13 representative urban green spaces in Guangzhou. A quantitative classification system for supporting-surface roughness was developed using an optical threshold-based method. Through field surveys on species composition and growth performance, the compatibility between different roughness levels of supporting surfaces and plant attachment was examined. Furthermore, the landscape characteristics shaped by adhesive climbing plants under various attachment conditions were summarized. The results indicated that: (1) A total of 50 species of adhesive climbing plants were identified, belonging to 7 families and 17 genera, with Araceae being the dominant family (8 genera, 37 species). Parthenocissus dalzielii and Ficus pumila were the most frequently observed liana, while Epipremnum aureum, Syngonium podophyllum, and Monstera deliciosa were the dominant herbaceous species. Herbaceous vines accounted for 86% of the total, reflecting a strong adaptation to the humid subtropical climate of South China; (2) The roughness of climbing substrates was classified into five grades, with grades 3～4 (including concrete and natural stone) accounting for 63.2% of the recorded surfaces, indicating these as the most favorable interfaces for climbing growth; (3) In landscape expression, adhesive climbing plants exhibit spatial layering, a balance between solidity and permeability, and strong vertical continuity, forming rich green textures that synergistically enhance both ecological benefits and aesthetic appeal. Adhesive climbing plants create rich green textures, characterized by spatial layering, the interplay of solidity and transparency, and seamless vertical transitions, thereby achieving a synergistic enhancement of ecological benefits and landscape aesthetics.