Themed flower borders: integrating colour, scene, ecology, and regional identity in developing Chengdu into a Park City

Flower borders have become increasing popular in urban green spaces across Chengdu, China, seamlessly integrating with the aesthetic and ecological objectives of Park City development. Over the past five years, Chengdu’s Park City construction authorities have organised 13 competitions related to flower borders. The present study examined the results of these competitions, focusing on plant selection, thematic expression, and residents’ preferences. A comprehensive survey was conducted to catalogue all the plants presented within the flower borders. Additionally, 1,375 questionnaires were distributed to assess residents’ preferences for various themed flower borders. The primary thematic expressions of these flower borders were categorised into colour, scene, ecology, and regionality. Our findings identified 210 distinct plant taxa – species and cultivars – planted in the flower borders. Common species accounted for only 2.4% of the total, with perennials comprising 71.0%. Overall, female respondents displayed a stronger preference for themed flower borders than male respondents. Middle-aged residents were the primary group that favoured all modes of themed flower borders, with the exception of scene-themed projects. Professional background was significantly related to preferences for ecology- and regionality-themed borders, while educational level had a minimal impact. This study links the plant selection of flower borders with their ecological value and reveals the distribution patterns of residents’ preferences for different themed flower borders. These findings offer valuable insights for optimising the design of flower borders and urban landscapes, enhancing the connection between green infrastructure and aesthetic, ecological, and social functions, and ultimately supporting the advancement of the Park City construction.