Selection of pioneer plants for repairing limestone high and steep slopes in North China

In order to select pioneer plants suitable for ecological restoration of high and steep rock slopes in North China, two high-and-steep slope ecological restoration test sites were established in the limestone area of Jinan by using the technology of landscape reconstruction. The sites planted a total of 14 kinds of deciduous plants, evergreens and lianas, whose survival rate and growth status were monitored for a long period of time. The data collected was analyzed by the plant suitability evaluation model and the result is displayed in the form of the comprehensive evaluation index. According to the result, in the group of evergreens, Platycladus orientalis, juniper and fufangteng are the preferred pioneer plants; in the group of deciduous plants, Robinia pseudoacacia, Cotinus japonicus and Forsythia suspensa are the preferred ones; the vine creeper has a high survival rate and fast growth rate which can effectively cover high-and-steep rock walls in a short time. It is the preferred pioneer plant in the group of lianas.