SCIENCE BEHIND MEDIAN PLANTATION

Green shades erected in Warangal city at busy traffic junctions

Which plants to grow on road dividers ? is it herbs or Shrubs? Beautiful  & colorful blossoming plants

or canopy of trees that spread shade? what to be taken up?

Rapid urbanization,increased focus on urban greenery along with the scorching sun, high temperatures, uncertain seasons force us to think about suitable plantation to cope up.

Green shades appeared in a few busy traffic junctions to protect commuters specially two-wheeler riders from direct sunstroke in our city recently caught attention by all.  Got applaud from many citizens but few conflicted that why don't we grow natural shady trees rather than these temporary solutions. Of course, as an officer who was behind the affixed shades and also has seen thrilled and relaxed travelers under these shades during waiting minutes at junctions got pinched for a while but then started thinking did little research on it.

Various factors to be considered while selecting plants for median are enhancing visual thrust,  give clear ROW (right of way), help in climatic amelioration, spread reasonable shade, moisture and space requirement (low maintenance), free movement of vehicles, ecologically significant,..etc. Definitely the priority of these parameters  varies from from country to country may be city to city based on their geographic, economic, political, and social conditions. For example In few states of USA no two wheeler riders due to extreme cold weather.In our country millions of two wheeler we see everyday on roads.

It may not be feasible to grow deep rooted & large trunk trees in most of Indian cities because of space available on the medians within the city is limited and moreover, it is very common nowadays to see the falling uprooted trees across the roads during non-seasonal winds and storms. It might be a good decision to up the road alongside on national highways where they don't obstruct ROW and ventilation and, since enough place is available.

All city governments always look for low maintenance plants,  heat resistant, drought resistant minimal leaf falling, aesthetic, which do not obstruct light and height clearance of the vehicles within the available space and add to the urban aesthetics (any plant with or without flowers is beautiful for me in that matter)  that means absolutely hassle-free inside city limits especially because sustainability is also important. Also there is an argument that India is suffering from lack of enough pollinating trees causing serious concerns of our ecosystem.

Therefore,it'd be a better idea to consider shrubs and flowering plants like Oleanders, Nerium(ganneru with beautiful different colored flowers), bougainvillea (kagitampulachettu), conocarpous on narrow medians. And for wider medians Pangamia pinnata (Nitrogen fixing, drought-resistant tree), Mimuspous (self-shaping pogada with beautiful flowers), Tecoma(flaming belles, normal yellow-orange flowering plants we see along the roadside). and its excellent if we have enough space to take any plant .

So it's not that any plant can be taken upon the median, rather there is science involved behind it.

Note:

• This article is written based on my limited knowledge, special focus on only ‘MEDIAN’ Plantation with in Indian cities specifically referring to Telangana.
• Open for suggestions from readers.
• Except shades pic remaining are taken from Google from various sites.