The Performance Of Different Ornamental Plant Species In Transitional Spaces In Urban High-Rise Settings

Abstract The contributions of plants and trees towards improving thermal comfort are important in tropical countries where they are exposed to high levels of solar radiation. In urban high-rise settings, the incorporation of landscaping is crucial in providing a green space that helps to improve the microclimate and to ensure the psychological well-being of its users. This paper examines the similarities and differences in the amount of filtered radiation among different tropical plant species in three different locations within a building, indicating the suitability of plants in a high-rise setting. The fieldwork measurement was conducted on 8 ornamental plant species in three different landscape areas of a 21-story office high-rise building in Penang, Malaysia. The radiation filtered underneath the plants and its Leaf Area Index (LAI) were measured. The study examined the relationship between the LAI of each existing plant species and the amount of solar radiation filtered by the plant’s canopy. An ANOVA partial F-test was used in this study to indicate the amount of solar radiation filtered by each plant species at a given LAI and its transmissivity value in each of the landscaped gardens. The results showed that the radiation filtration effect is highly dependent on the LAI. Other contributing factors, such as branching density and branching pattern, that affect the radiation absorbed by the plants were also observed. However, appropriate species selection needs to be considered before planting in a place with high wind velocity and a high amount of sun exposure.