Quantification of fine dust deposition on different plant species in a vertical greening system

Urban vegetation has been shown to improve air quality. Green envelopes can provide wide vegetatedsurfaces in dense cities. This research investigates the performances of four selected plant species usedfor vertical greening systems, comparing the fine and ultrafine dusts (PM10, PM2.5) collecting capacityby leaves, under the same conditions (height/location, pollution exposition, weather). The ESEM micro-graphs (n = 144) taken on the upper leaf epidermis of 20 leaves show different plant species performances,with Trachelospermum jasminoides > Hedera helix > Cistus ‘Jessamy Beauty’ > Phlomis fruticosa. The 100×,250×, 500×, 2500× magnifications allow counting a wide range of particle sizes, i.e., from 0.1 to 20 m.The study demonstrates that some variable investigated, i.e., plant species’ shape and surface (thick cutic-ular waxes on leaf epidermis), influence the amount of particles deposed; while others, i.e., season andage of leaves, do not. This study demonstrates that selecting specific plants in green infrastructure isimportant to exploit their collecting capacity to increase vertical greening systems performances.