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Plant Right!

While there is a huge amount of landscaping and many "Green" areas in the UAE, most species of plants and trees that are being used are neither indigenous nor ideally suited to the local conditions.

Despite many ongoing “Go green” initiatives, there is a little awareness or understanding about having a sustainable environment. The fast rate of growth – especially the boom in the building Industry – has not helped. Indeed, the Gulf countries have amongst the largest carbon footprint in the world.

The result is that an unnecessary amount of labour, fertilizers and water is used up to take care of them. (Did you know that an average of 120 liters of water is required per tree per day?!) Large-scale use of imported species mainly from the tropics has created a ticking environmental time bomb.

So, what's the solution? What we need is landscaping that takes into account the climate and the resources of the UAE i.e. sustainable landscaping.

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING IN THE UAE

The environment in UAE is a unique challenge. We live in an arid environment with little rain or organic matter in the soil, which means that we cannot imitate the kind of landscaping carried out in other countries. However, there are plenty of options for country-specific landscaping that can be applied instead.

To ensure sustainable landscaping in the Emirates, we should – as communities or companies or families – make sure that:

  • We only consider and select trees and plants that are suited to the region and drought tolerant for our desert climate.
  • We reduce the number and size of "high maintenance" areas such as lawns or sculptured hedges. This will automatically reduce the use of water, fertilisers and manpower required to take care of them.
  • We use local materials wherever possible, both to enhance the blending with the natural environment and to reduce the impact of transporting the materials long distance.

GALLERY OF SPECIES IDEAL FOR SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPES IN THE UAE

Important note to environmentalists and plant lovers: This is a constantly evolving column and we invite your comments and opinions on species of plants and trees that are either suitable or unsuitable for UAE. Do write to us, quoting your sources, at and help us create a valuable library of plants and trees that can be used as reference to our viewers.

Many suitable and sustainable alternative species exist for climates, like in the Emirates, which need comparatively less water and which can easily grow in saline soil. Here are some sustainable species that are indigenous to the land :

The Ghaf Tree (Prosopis cineraria)

This plant is one of the best examples of a tree suited to the deserts of UAE. Not only is it attractive with its willowy appearance and flowers (which bloom from May to March), it provides shade and is a hardy tree that survives with very little water in a dry and arid climate. It is easy to sow and upkeep. It produces new leaves right before summer. The dried pods of the Ghaf, which form after the flowers, are a source of nutrition as fodder for camels, cattle, sheep and goats. They also form rich animal feed.

Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi)

The Sidr can be either a shrub, or a tall tree, reaching a height of 20 m and a diameter of 60 cm. It is useful for windbreaks, sand dune fixation and reforestation of dry lands. The Sidr is drought hardy, resistant to heat and can be found in desert areas with very little rainfall. It uses groundwater, and therefore, can be found along edges of ponds, river and waadi banks The tree can withstand water logging for up to 2 months and 8-10 months of dry season. The leaves provide animal forage and fodder under open grazing conditions. Sheep and goats eat the fruit and camels eat the foliage. The timber is termite resistant and used for spear shafts, posts, roofing beams, utensils and cabinet making.

Sarh (Maerua crassifolia)

The Sarh is native to Africa and tropical Arabia. Foliage from this plant is used as fodder for animals, especially camels, during the dry season in parts of Africa. In Central Africa its sweet fruit has been used as a famine food.

Miswak Tree (Salvadora persica)

Miswak is a salt providing evergreen shrub or small tree. The root bark of the tree is light brown (sand like colour) and the inner surfaces are of even lighter shade brown, the odour is like cress and its taste is warm and pungent. Its fibrous branches have been used as toothbrushes or "miswaks" by many Islamic communities. The shoots are used as camel fodder. This plant contains substances that possess antibacterial properties.


Simr (Acacia tortilis)

The Simr is a multi-stemmed tree that grows upto 4 m tall. It has a rough bark, wide crown and flattened at the top, with leaves divided into pairs of smaller leaflets. The flowers are white, aromatic and grow in small clusters. The timber can be used for making fence posts, firewood and furniture. The pods make good fodder for desert grazers and the foliage is also palatable and is in fact one of the major dry season fodder trees for the Sahara-Sahelian belt. This is also the tree most recommended for reclaiming dunes in India and Africa.

Rhaneterium (Rhanterium epapposum)

Kuwait's national flower, this plant consists of a complicated network of branches scattered with small thorny leaves and bright yellow flowers. It is a perennial, dwarf shrub that provides natural salts that camels need. Its long roots reach down into the earth in search of water. During the very hottest months, the plant dries out, but a tiny thread of live tissue survives in the root stock, ready to expand and regenerate when conditions improve. These plants tend to grow on open plains or rocky hillsides.

Dipterygium glaucum

It grows to about 60cm in height with a woody base. The leaves are elliptic-oblong. Its flower is minute and the fruit is ellipsoid, sub-compressed, often slightly winged, indehiscent, usually one seeded, somewhat crustaceous.

Calligonum comosum and C. crinitum ssp. Arabicum

Plants of the Calligonum genus are shrubs, diffusely but irregularly branched, with flexuous woody branches. Leaves are simple, opposite, nearly sessile, linear or scale-like, sometimes absent or very small, linear or filiform, distinct or united with short membranous ochreae.

Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm)

Probably the most well known native palm widely used in landscaping. There are several varieties and all palm are heavy fruit yielders. There are separate male and female plants and so pollination has to be done manually by dusting the pollen on the female flowers. Contrary to common belief, date plams are heavey feeders and need 150 litres of water per day.

Below are representative list of several native species that can potentially be used in horticulture. Many of these species can be used as ground covers, hedges and shrubs. They look much more appealing and well established when grown with limited irrigation and maintenance and are therefore suitable for ‘Sustainable Landscaping’. Species shown here are taken from the plants listed in the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) herbarium.

Achyranthes aspera

Achyranthes aspera

Aeluropus lagopoides

Aerva javanica

Aizoon canariense

Alhagi graecorum

Amaranthus viridis

Amaranthus albus

Amaranthus graecizens

Anabasis setifera

Anagallis arvenvensis

Anagallis arvensis

Arthrocnemum macrostachyum

Artimisia scroparis

Arundo donax

Asphodelus tenuifolius

Asteriscus pygmaeus

Atriplex leucoclada

Blepharis ciliarisL

Boswellia sacra

Boswellia sacra frankinscense

Brachypodium distachyon

Calandula persica

Calendula arvensis

Calligonum comosum

Capparis cartilaginea

Capparis spinosa habito

Carduus pycnocephalus

Cenchrus ciliaris

Cenchrus echinatus

Cenchrus echinatus

Chenopodium

Chenopodium murale

Chloris barbata

Chrozophora plicata

Cistanche tubulosa

Cladium mariscus Botka

Cladium mariscus

Cleome scaposa

Convolvulus varigatus

Convolvulus arvensis

Convolvulus arvensis

Conyza bonariensis

Cordia sinensis

Coronopus didymus

Coronopus didymus

Crotalaria aegyptiaca

Cyperus rotundus

Cyperus conglomeratus

Cyperus rotundus

Diplotaxis harra

Eleocharis geniculata

Emex spinosa NL uithof

Epipactis veratrifolia

Erodium malacoides

Euphorbia hirta

Euphorbia larica

Euphorbia larica

Ficus salicifolia

Fimbristylis bisumbellata

Fimbristylis ferruginia

Gisekia pharnaceoides

Gladiolus italicus

Gladiolus italicus

Halocnemum strobilaceum

Halopeplis perfoliata

Haloxylon persicum

Haloxylon salicornicum

Helianthemum lippii

Helianthemum lippii

Heliotropium curassavicum

Heliotropium europaeum

Heliotropium bacciferum

Heliotropium ramossisimum

Hippocrepis unisiliquosa

Hippocrepis unisiliquosa

Hyparrhenia hirta

Hyparrhenia hirta

Ifloga spicata

Indigofera arabica

Iphiona scabra

Ixiolirion tataricum

Lxiolirion tataricum

Koelpinia linearis

Lactuca serriola

Lactuca serriola

Lawsonia inermis henna

Lawsonia inermis

Leptadenia pyrotechnica

Limonium axillare

Limonium axillare

Malva parviflora

Mapa

Medicago polymorpha

Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum

Mesembrythemum nodiflorum

Moltkiopsis ciliata

Monsonia nivea

Moringa peregrina

Nannorrhops ritchiana

Neurada procumbens

Ochradenus baccatus

Oxalis corniculata

Pergularia tomentosa

Plantago ovata

Polycarpaea repens

Portulaca oleracea

Prosopis farcta

Psciadia punctulata

Pseudolotus makranicus

Pulicaria glutinosa

Rhanterium epapposum

Rhazya stricta

Rhanterium epapposum

Rumex nervosus

Salicornia europaea

Schoenus nigricans

Seidlitzia rosmarinus

Sesuvium verrucosum

Sesuvium verrucosum flower

Sesuvium verrucosum

Silene villosa

Sisymbrium erysimoides

Sonchus oleraceus

Sonchus tenerrimus

Sonchus oleraceus

Sonchus tenerrimus

Spergularia marina

Spergularia Marina

Stipagrotis plumosa

Stipagrotis plumosa

Suaeda aegyptiaca

Tecomella undulata

Tecomella undulata

Teucrium stochsianum

Trianthema_portulacastrum

Tricholaena teneriffae

Triticum turgidum var pseudocervinum

Urospermum picroides

Vernonia cinerea

Vicia satvia

Vicia sativa ssp nigra

Zilla spinosa

Zygophyllum qatarense

INVASIVE AND UNSUITABLE SPECIES FOUND IN THE UAE

Invasive species that have caused havoc with the environment here in the Emirates and should be avoided include:

Carpobrotus edulis

Carpobrotus edulis produces nice flowers and quickly covers bare lands and sand surfaces. It is very common in Dubai gardens. However, it can spread and erase all native plants around in its growth. In Mediterranean Europe, where it was first planted to fix sand dunes and seaside gardens, it is been declared a pest.

Sodom's apple (Calotropis procera)

Sodom's apple develops in overgrazed and disturbed lands. It blooms nicely with purple/white flowers, but the milky sap of this tree is poisonous and can cause irritation especially if it gets into eyes. Developers should be prepared to remove Sodom's apple stands on their site to avoid poisoning risk, especially of children.

Pampa Grass (Cortaderia jubata and Cortaderia selloana)

Pampa Grass are highly invasive. They were planted in southern France roundabouts because of their low maintenance and spectacular growth but are now considered a pest.

Prosopis juliflora (tree) or Prosopis glandulosa (shrub or small tree)

They form impenetrable and dense habitats that compete strongly with native species for available soil water, suppress grass growth and may reduce understory species diversity.

 

Sustainable Living

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SUTA 2008

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