THE DIVERSITY OF CULTIVATED PLANTS IN THE GARDENS FROM EZERETS, BULGARIA

This paper explores plant diversity in home gardens from Ezerets, Bulgaria, with a focus on species richness and their ornamental and food uses. A total of 189 taxa, distributed across 70 botanical families, were identified in various types of gardens. Most plants (129 taxa, 68.25%) are used for ornamental purposes, while 40 taxa (21.16%) have both ornamental and edible uses, and 20 taxa are grown solely for food. The study highlights the role of home gardens in preserving biodiversity and maintaining traditional practices. Ezerets' proximity to Romania also offers a foundation for comparing local gardening practices with those in nearby Romanian regions.