Potential Native Plant Selection for Sustainable Landscape Architecture in Wangchan Forest, Rayong, Thailand
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Abstract
Landscape architecture in Thailand still relies heavily on commercially propagated species. While convenient, this dependence narrows the design palette and promotes inclusion of exotic species or ecologically unsuitable plants, undermining biodiversity, long-term sustainability, and ecological resilience. By contrast, sustainable landscape architecture prioritizes indigenous and locally adapted species that are visually expressive yet ecologically matched to local conditions, thereby reducing maintenance, supporting native biota, and articulating regional identity. This research investigated the Wangchan Forest in Rayong Province to develop a systematic process for identifying and selecting native plants for landscape use. The study objectives were to: (1) develop a framework for selecting native species; (2) compile a list of native plants in Wangchan Forest; and (3) recommend species suitable for sustainable landscape design. The study combined botanical database analysis with ethnobotanical inquiry. Data were drawn from Thai Plant Names by Tem Smitinand for the Southeastern Floristic Region and complemented by semi-structured interviews with herbal doctors, local pioneers, and former loggers with experiential knowledge of the forest. Species were evaluated using criteria emphasizing ecological adaptability, microclimatic and edaphic compatibility, water requirements, and functional roles in landscape design. Of the 13,527 plant species listed in the national database, 1,724 occur in the Southeastern Floristic Region. Cross-referencing with local knowledge confirmed 516 species as native to Wangchan Forest and identified 137 additional species recognized locally but absent from the database, highlighting the value of traditional ecological knowledge. Applying the selection framework yielded 125 native species recommended for landscape application, categorized into drought-tolerant, moderately drought-tolerant, high-humidity, and riparian or aquatic groups. Integrating scientific data with Local Ecological Knowledge thus provides a practical, replicable framework for native plant selection that expands the ecological and cultural richness of sustainable landscape architecture in Thailand.
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