Open access
SYNANTHROPICAL PLANTS – PREFERENCES OF RESIDENTS OF URSYNÓW DISTRICT IN WARSAW CITY– DIRECTIONS OF GREENERY SHAPING
Beata FORNAL-PIENIAK1, Damian SOBOLEWSKI2, Dagmara STANGIERSKA-MAZURKIEWICZ3
Publication language: English
scientific paper
Guests Editors of the Issue Tomasz Herudziński, Wojciech Mincewicz
Transformations No. 4(127)2025, Publication date: 30 December 2025
Keywords: synanthropical plants, prefernces, green areas, city
Abstract In the face of climate challenges and progressing urbanization, synanthropic vegetation—plants adapted to human-transformed environments—emerges as a valuable ecological and economic alternative to conventional urban greenery. The use of synanthropic plants in urban spaces offers an alternative to conventional plant species for both ecological and economic reasons. They have adapted to living in environments transformed by humans. Society's perception of synanthropic plants is changing. The study aimed to analyze residents’ attitudes toward the implementation of synanthropic plants in urban design, focusing on their aesthetic evaluation, per-ceived functionality, and awareness of their ecological benefits. A survey conducted between March and April 2025 among 230 randomly selected residents of Warsaw’s Ursynów district, using an online questionnaire, provided the empirical basis for the analysis. Descriptive statistics revealed a generally positive reception (mean score 4.11/5) and strong support for using synanthropic species in residential green spaces (4.01) and educational contexts (4.10), despite limited aesthetic approval (2.07). Respondents demonstrated high awareness of their practical and ecological value, particularly in gastronomy, cosmetics, and pollinator support. The findings informed a small-scale case study presenting two design variants differing in species composi-tion and spatial character: a vertically structured concept with aromatic perennials and a meadow-based layout enhancing biodiversity and passive recreation. Current-ly, there is a trend toward greater acceptance of synanthropic plants. This is due, in part, to education and the promotion of solutions such as those presented in this paper among residents.
Department of Environmental Protection and Dendrology, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
ORCID: 0000-0002-3834-1105
E-mail: beata_fornal_pieniak@sggw.edu.pl
Department of Environmental Protection and Dendrology, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
ORCID: no
E-mail: damian_sobolewski@sggw.edu.pl
Department of Pomology and Economics, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland
ORCID: 0000-0002-8104-0527
E-mail: dagmara_stangierska@sggw.edu.pl