A city-based framework identifies wild Hedychium species suitable for near-nature urban landscaping in China

Wild plants with high ornamental value, such as Hedychium species, offer untapped potential for enhancing urban biodiversity and sustainability. However, their integration into urban landscapes is hindered by a lack of cultivation protocols and climate uncertainty. This study addresses these challenges by identifying low-maintenance, climate-resilient Hedychium species suitable for near-nature urban landscaping-a strategy critical for reducing irrigation dependency and fostering ecological resilience in cities. In this paper, firstly, we developed an approach to evaluate the near-nature landscaping suitability of four Hedychium species representative of four ecologic types in China based on MaxEnt and GIS, and identified that Kunming is the most suitable metropolises for landscaping the most Hedychium species sustainably in China. Furthermore, potential suitable areas for these species were projected under two distinct climate change scenarios (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The results indicate divergent trends by the 2070s: under the SSP2-4.5 scenario, suitable habitats for H. coronarium, H. villosum, and H. coccineum are projected to expand, whereas H. sinoaureum faces significant habitat contraction. Conversely, under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, a shift occurs where the habitat for H. villosum contracts significantly, while H. sinoaureum achieves a slight expansion. Thirdly, Temperature Seasonality (Bio4) was identified as the main factor affecting the distribution of four species, which gives hints to how to landscaping Hedychium in less favorable areas. This methodology empowers urban planners to identify low-maintenance, climate-resilient species tailored to specific cities, advancing global efforts toward sustainable urban ecosystems.