TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing public opinion on water conservation and water conserving landscapes in the semiarid Southwestern United States
AU - Lockett, Landry
AU - Montague, Thayne
AU - McKenney, Cynthia
AU - Auld, Dick
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - A survey instrument was designed to determine public opinion on water conservation, water conserving landscapes, the use of native plants in landscapes, home irrigation systems, and the performance of five Texas native plant species [pink evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa); prairie verbena (Verbena bipinnatifida); red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora); ceniza (Leucophyllum frutescens); and ruellia (Ruellia nudiflora)] grown in low water use landscapes in the semiarid Southwestern United States. On six occasions during the 1999 growing season, participants viewed landscapes and participated in a survey. Survey data indicate that over 90% of respondents thought water conservation was important to the state of Texas. A majority of participants however, believed water conserving landscapes to be expensive to maintain and not aesthetically pleasing. The survey revealed 79% of participants would use native plants if native plants conserved water, and 86% of participants would use native plants if native plants were attractive. Chi-square approximations revealed participant's opinions regarding water conservation and home irrigation systems were influenced by education level and amount of time they participated in weekly horticulture activities. In an open-ended question, participants indicated flowers and healthy leaves were characteristics indicating a plant was performing well. Throughout the year, species in flower received higher ratings than nonflowering species.
AB - A survey instrument was designed to determine public opinion on water conservation, water conserving landscapes, the use of native plants in landscapes, home irrigation systems, and the performance of five Texas native plant species [pink evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa); prairie verbena (Verbena bipinnatifida); red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora); ceniza (Leucophyllum frutescens); and ruellia (Ruellia nudiflora)] grown in low water use landscapes in the semiarid Southwestern United States. On six occasions during the 1999 growing season, participants viewed landscapes and participated in a survey. Survey data indicate that over 90% of respondents thought water conservation was important to the state of Texas. A majority of participants however, believed water conserving landscapes to be expensive to maintain and not aesthetically pleasing. The survey revealed 79% of participants would use native plants if native plants conserved water, and 86% of participants would use native plants if native plants were attractive. Chi-square approximations revealed participant's opinions regarding water conservation and home irrigation systems were influenced by education level and amount of time they participated in weekly horticulture activities. In an open-ended question, participants indicated flowers and healthy leaves were characteristics indicating a plant was performing well. Throughout the year, species in flower received higher ratings than nonflowering species.
KW - Hesperaloe parviflora
KW - Landscape water conservation
KW - Leucophyllum frutescens
KW - Oenothera speciosa
KW - Public survey
KW - Ruellia nudiflora
KW - Verbena bipinnatifida
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036074138&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.21273/horttech.12.3.392
DO - 10.21273/horttech.12.3.392
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0036074138
VL - 12
SP - 392
EP - 396
JO - HortTechnology
JF - HortTechnology
SN - 1063-0198
IS - 3
ER -