We usually think of urban areas as a cause of species extinctions, but new Macquarie research reveals they can in fact act as arks for biodiversity.

Researchers from the Which Plant Where project are taking a deep look at how urban trees can adapt to drought conditions to help keep cities green in the face of a changing climate.

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) have announced a draft design guide as part of the first ever Greener Places policy, to inform planning controls at every level of urban development across state and local government.

The June 2020 Nursery Paper outlines the green cities agenda

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We have found trees and vegetation can lower local land temperatures by up to 5-6℃ on days of extreme heat.

ABC News reports on the state of Canberra's urban trees.

Australian cities are increasingly becoming concrete jungles as trees and canopy coverage disappear, according to experts who warn this is contributing to an urban "heat island" effect.

Australian Councils are asked to complete this Urban Forest Survey to provide details of successes and failures in urban plantings.

Recently compiled data from Western Sydney University shows what many of us have known from childhood - a clear cooling benefit under a shady tree!

The Hawkesbury Campus Living Lab yields data on how commonly planted street trees and shrubs are coping under warmer temperatures including last summer’s heatwave conditions.

Set in 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the campus at TAFE NSW Ryde has added a Living Lab planting to its on-site stock of teaching resources.

Sunshine Coast Council’s recent Living Lab planting represents a forward-thinking outlay by the Council toward tracking future urban performance by a wide variety of common landscape species.

Baseline street tree plantings by City of Newcastle (CN) have recently been established in Wallsend. The Level 1 (tree only) plantings by CN consolidate the climatic range for data collection in the broader Which Plant Where project.

Alessandro interviewed with ABC Radio Melbourne on recent findings that many urban tree species will struggle in emerging climate conditions.

In a newly published study, we investigated likely climate change impacts on 176 of the most common tree species planted across Australian cities. Our analysis showed more than 70% of these species will experience harsher climatic conditions across Australian cities by 2070.

Viewed as long-term assets, urban trees are expected to survive for decades, with significant time and money invested into their planting and maintenance. But, given the changing climate, are the trees we plant now able to withstand conditions of the future?

May has been a busy month with numerous conferences and presentations being given on the progress of Which Plant Where...

Radio Skidrow discusses the impacts of climate change-induced heat stress on street trees and how that will change the kinds of trees planted in our streets...

The research trials underway at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury campus were showcased this week on popular television program Gardening Australia as host Josh Byrne toured the greenhouse heatwave and drought trials for the Which Plant Where project.

One of the big challenges is a changing environment, posing a simple question with perhaps a not so simple solution – as our climate changes, which horticulture species will thrive, or struggle, in future Australian urban areas?

To uncover the real-world performance of the plants that will thrive in a more varied and uncertain future means we need to test them in the field. Our Living Labs are field plantings of trees and shrubs, in urban locations across Australia.

Gardening editor Rob Powell writes a profile on Which Plant Where 22 September 2018.

Searching for plant species that will be champions of climate change.

Interested parties are invited to participate in establishing Living Labs in your regions to broaden the trials under Which Plant Where.

While plant selection is often influenced by multiple factors, ‘bulletproof’ plants are often used because they have performed consistently in the past. But past performance is no indicator of future performance. Water availability, extreme temperatures and disease all pose threats of failure, especially when only one or two species are planted in an urban green space.

Which Plant Where scientist Dr Renee Prokopavicius was interviewed on ABC Pacific Mornings on her views on the green cities agenda and how we can make our towns and cities cooler, greener and more liveable with plants.

Hort Innovation recently filmed this explainer video with researchers Assoc Prof Marco Amati of RMIT, Prof David Ellsworth of Western Sydney University and Leigh Staas of Macquarie University.

The research team visited growers in the greater Melbourne area to better understand which horticultural practices are currently used for the production and supply of plants and how these can affect plant growth, tolerance to drought and heat, as well as post-planting success...

Professor Michelle Leishman leads the Which Plant Where at Macquarie University and recently presented the overview of the Which Plant Where project at the Treenet Conference.

Urban flooding represents the most common yet severe environmental threat to cities and towns worldwide. Future changes in rainfall extremes are likely to increase this threat, even in areas that could become drier.

The new International Convention Centre is a living example of careful plant selection and integration with the amenities and buildings of the new centre. And the rooftop garden is really something!

Urban green spaces are most effective at delivering their full range of health, social and environmental benefits when physical improvement of the space is coupled with social engagement.

In January and February 2017, Richmond RAAF base recorded 11 days above 40°C, the 11th of February was the hottest day coming in at a whopping 47°C. Environmental science student Elise Dando had the opportunity to get out into the field for the first time, record some interesting data using fun ‘techy-gear’...

Worth more than $10 million, the Which Plant Where, When and Why Database For Growing Urban Greenspace project is a significant exercise in research logistics. We give you an inside look into how things are going nine months into the project.