The importance of trees and plants
the benefits of green
Trees and plants in the urban environment, help combat heat, drought, waterlogging and poor air quality and enhance biodiversity.
Combatting heat, drought and waterlogging. The power of trees is that they provide natural shade with their foliage, lowering the ambient temperature during hot summer periods and thus reducing the urban heat island effect. Trees and plants also absorb rainwater, decreasing the risk of waterlogging and reducing the chances of flood damage.
Enhancing biodiversity. Trees and plants provide food and offer a habitat, protection and nesting opportunities for insects, birds and small mammals, thereby promoting biodiversity in urban areas .
Benefits in terms of health and social cohesion. Public greenery promotes physical activity, reduces stress, purifies the air, with a corresponding positive effect on people’s health. Moreover, green public spaces create meeting places, which strengthen social cohesion and contribute to a sense of well-being and connection within the community.
Green cities are attractive, resilient, and resistant to climate change, and provide a healthy, pleasant and sustainable living environment, for all of their residents , humans and animals alike.
Project references
of which we are proud
Climate-proof greenery
for a healthy city
Climate-proof green space is crucial in cities due to increasing extreme weather events such as heat waves and heavy rainfall. It strengthens cities’ resilience to climate change by reducing heat islands and preventing flooding. Greenery also contributes to better air quality and biodiversity, and helps restore natural ecosystems in urban areas. In short, climate-proof greenery is not only beautiful for residents, but also essential for sustainable, healthy and resilient cities.
Cool cooling plants
Box planters contribute to cooling the city. All urban greenery cools by evaporation, with the total volume of greenery rather than the plant species determining the effect. Large plant beds are therefore an important part of climate-proof urban green space. Well-sealed planting beds also keep the soil beneath them cool with their shade, reducing drying out and preventing excess heat from radiating out after sunset. Box plants with a fairly light colour or strong shiny leaves reflect the sun’s heat best.
Examples of well-closing bedding plants, which are suitable for large beds in the sun and have reflective foliage:
Names in green are native or contain native species
| Latin name | Dutch name |
| Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegatum’ | Bonte Zevenblad |
| Alchemilla mollis | Fraaie vrouwenmantel |
| Aster ageratoides | Japanse dwergaster |
| Buddleja | Vlinderstruik |
| Carex (bontbladig) | Zegge |
| Cornus alba (geelbladig, bontbladig) | Witte kornoelje |
| Cornus sericea ‘Kelseyi’ | Canadese kornoeljes |
| Cotoneaster dammeri ‘Gelre’ | Cotoneaster |
| Deschampsia cespitosa | Ruwe smele |
| Deutzia gracilis | Slanke deutzia |
| Euonymus fortunei (bontbladig) | Klimkardinaalsmuts |
| Geranium cantabrigiense, endressii, macrorrhizum | Ooievaarsbek |
| Geranium ‘Rozanne’, ‘Tiny Monster’ | Ooievaarsbek |
| Hedera hibernica | Ierse klimop |
| Hippophae rhamnoides ‘Silver Star’ | Duindoorn |
| Hydrangea | Hortensia |
| Hypericum dummeri ‘Peter Dummer’ | Hertshooi |
| Juniperus pfitzeriana | Jeneverbes |
| Kalimeris incisa | Zomeraster |
| Lamium maculatum | Gevlekte dovenetel |
| Ligustrum obtusifolium | Liguster |
| Lonicera japonica | Japanse kamperfoelie |
| Lonicera nitida ‘Maigrin’ | Buxuskamperfoelie |
| Matteuccia struthiopteris | Struisvaren |
| Microbiota decussata | Siberische tapijtcipres |
| Nepeta | Kattenkruid |
| Pachysandra terminalis ‘Green Sheen’ | Dikkemanskruid |
| Pennisetum alopecuroides | Breed lampenpoetsergras |
| Photinia fraser ‘Red Robin’ | Glansmispel |
| Physocarpus capitatus ‘Tilden Park’ | Sneeuwbalspirea |
| Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Dart’s Gold’ | Sneeuwbalspirea |
| Phlomis russeliana | Brandkruid |
| Potentilla fruticosa | Struikganzerik |
| Ribes glandulosum | Sierbes |
| Rosa (vakbeplanters) | Roos |
| Rubus ‘Kenneth Ashburner’ | Braam |
| Salix repens | Kruipwilg |
| Spiraea | Spirea |
| Stephanandra incisa | Kransspirea |
| Symphoricarpos chenaultii | Sneeuwbes |
| Symphytum azureum, grandiflorum | Smeerwortel |
| Taxus baccata ‘Summergold’ | Taxus |
| Weigela (groen- en bontbladig) | Weigela |
