Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Evaluation of shrub performance under arid conditions

Author(s):

M. K. Suleiman ^*, N. R. Bhat, M. S. Abdal, L. Al-Mulla, R. Grina, S. Al-Dossery, R. Bellen, G. D’cruz, J. George, A. Christopher

Recieved Date: 2006-09-16, Accepted Date: 2006-11-22

Abstract:

The climate of Kuwait is characterized by very hot, dry summers and cool rainy winters. Although a large number of ornamental plants had proved to endure such environmental conditions, Kuwait is dependent on limited species previously introduced to the country. A greater diversification is required to increase the plant list in developing landscape projects. Developing plants that have attractive characteristics during all four seasons help gardeners reach their goal of a well-planned landscape. Careful plant selection is the key first step in developing a balanced and self perpetuating landscape. The purpose of this study was to test and evaluate a list of ornamental shrubs that had not been previously tested for their suitability to Kuwait. This study was conducted on twenty six shrub species in an inland and a coastal site. These plants were obtained from Australia and India. The shrubs were tested for their suitability to withstand the adverse climatic conditions of Kuwait. It was observed that in summer Bambusa vulgaris Aureo-variegata, Hakea laurina, Calliandra haematocephala and Justicia aurea were not able to survive the intense heat during the months of July and August. Some shrubs like Cestrum diurnum, Eucalyptus websteriana, Hamelia patens, Holmskioldia sanguinea etc. were moderately sensitive to the heat and Acacia sclerophylla, Acacia wilhelmina, Hibiscus rosasinensis variegate, Banksia ashbyi, Gossypium sturtianum, Callistemon viminalis ‘Captain Cook’, Nyctanthes arboretum and Russelia equisetiformis were found to have excellent growth in summer. The survival percentages of plants like Geijera parviflora, Gossypium stuartianum, Cestrum diurnum, Holmskioldia sanguinea, Brachychiton rupestris, Nyctanthes arboretum and Euphorbia characias were hundred percent.

Keywords:

Ornamental plants,  diversification, gardeners, landscape, shrub, inland site, coastal site, intense heat

---

Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2007
Volume: 5
Issue: 1
Category: Environment
Pages: 273-280

---

Full text for Subscribers

---

Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.

---

Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

---

Share this article :