Plants’ economic benefits revealed in white paper

An important component of America in Bloom’s (AIB) mission is education on the importance of horticulture. Dr. Charles R. Hall, Ellison Chair in International Floriculture, Texas A&M University, Department of Horticultural Sciences and America in Bloom Board member, has written a white paper for AIB called “Plants Bring Communities Together: The Benefits of Human-Plant Interactions.”

The article summarizes the fact that quality landscapes are a necessity, not a luxury, and points to the many important benefits as to how plants affect our physical and economic health and well-being in many ways.

Dr. Hall says, “… some of the economic benefits of green spaces, parks, and other managed municipal landscapes are that the beautification of these areas draws customers to shopping districts, reduces shopper stress while they are there, enhances overall curb appeal for local businesses, boosts apartment and commercial building occupancy rates, increases revenue from tourism, creates local jobs (from various landscape design, installation, and maintenance activities), increases residential and commercial property values, and even reduces the costs of street repairs from the reduced temperatures resulting from shaded roadways and sidewalks.”

He goes on to say that, “Peer-reviewed research has documented a person’s ability to concentrate in their work environment when it is enhanced by the presence of plants and flowers. Children learn faster and are less distracted in plant-filled environs as well, and plants have even been documented to reduce stress levels, hypertension, and ease the effects of attention deficit disorder. Any person who has given/received flowers or plants as gifts knows the joy and excitement they generate; these powerful emotions carry over to beautified landscapes as well.”

To read the entire white paper and other resources on plant-related benefits,  visit the “Benefits of Plants” resource area of AIB’s website (go to www.americainbloom.org, then click on Community Resources and then Benefit of Plants).