Nature and the City: the rediscovery of the unwanted plants

When we think about nature in the city, we think of urban parks, flowerbeds, and tree-lined streets. No one thinks about the plants growing on the edges of sidewalks, in the cracks of walls, and at the base of trees. Those are unwanted plants, ones that have escaped the careful hands of those who manage maintenance. Yet, what would our landscape be like without them? At school, we learn to identify the most important trees in our forests—why not give names to our more marginal plant cohabitants as well?

By learning about unwanted plants, we discover that many of them have phytotherapeutic properties and, while they often go unnoticed, they play an important role in the ecosystem. For instance, they balance temperature and humidity levels, reduce noise, and provide nourishment for insects. Unwanted plants give us information about the environment and, not least, they are beautiful.

The act of botanical piracy, organized by the Museo Cantonale di Storia Naturale in collaboration with the City of Lugano and Scuola Club Migros Ticino, was a poetic tribute to these silent urban residents, the unwanted plants, and an invitation to rediscover the city with fresh eyes.

The action in Lugano followed earlier interventions carried out in Nantes in 2014 and in London in 2009. On the Lugano al verde website, you can gradually discover the many unwanted plants we encounter on the streets, most of the time without even realizing it.