Actionable information and climate change awareness drive consumer selection of environmentally beneficial garden plants

Domestic gardens worldwide cover approximately 15–30 % of residential urban space and with the appropriate plant composition, have potential to help manage urban water flows, regulate temperatures and air-pollution. However, the provision of these regulating ecosystem services depends upon the preferences and willingness of private garden owners to adopt environmentally beneficial planting, with associated traits that confer these benefits. This study tested whether the way information on beneficial plant traits is presented influences taxa choices. In an experimental online survey, participants were divided into two groups: one received only ‘system information’ (basic facts about environmental problems: climate change, urban flooding, and poor air quality, n = 208), while the other also received ‘action-related information’ (how to potentially address environmental problems by choosing plants with certain traits, n = 211). Receiving ‘action-related information’ significantly influenced plant taxa selection; fewer choices were made for ornamental plants without traits that are beneficial for flood or pollution mitigation. Additionally, participants concerned about climate change were more willing to choose environmentally beneficial taxa, regardless of information group. These findings indicate that pro environmental planting choices in domestic gardens can be encouraged by providing actionable information and linking to existing climate change concerns.