The use of psammophilous flora in Mediterranean low-impact gardens

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time on all fronts. Rising temperatures and extreme weather phenomena have driven a trend in garden design and consumer demand to require plants that are resistant to high temperatures and long periods of drought. In addition, finding solutions that save water, energy and nutrients are crucial for sustainability in agriculture. Traditionally, agriculture has responded to such needs with exotic species, but these have often proved to be invasive and thus an additional problem. In this framework, within native flora, psammophilous plants are the perfect candidates due to their specific morpho-physiological adaptations to the harsh environmental conditions in which they grow: insolation, lack of water and nutrients, high salinity, mechanical action of the wind, inconsistent substrate. During the PSR PSAMMbeach project, about 20 species of the native psammophilous flora were selected for their aesthetic value. Propagative material from Liguria (Italy) was collected and a zero-impact floricultural production was experimented. The final product was promoted to municipal administrations, to regional parks and an educational campaign was carried out at some primary schools. The plants produced were employed in landscaping and xerogardening projects for the decoration of sea resorts, urban flowerbeds and private gardens with low management impact.