What is an Ozone Garden?
An Ozone Garden contains a unique selection of plants known as “bioindicator species” due to their ability to show visible evidence of surface-level ozone air pollution through leaf damage. In this way, ozone gardens can be used to assess air quality and visualize the impacts that poor air quality can have on our environment. There are over 130 species of plants known to be sensitive to ozone damage. Within the same species of plant, some varieties might be sensitive to ozone, while others are more tolerant and show less damage. We include both sensitive and tolerant varieties in our gardens for this purpose. Researchers can then use data gathered from ozone gardens like ours to gain valuable information on local air quality.
As part of The National Ozone Garden Network, this Ozone Garden is supported by a strong network of partners committed to making ozone levels more visible, raising awareness about their impacts, and empowering our community to take action to reduce ground-level ozone pollution.
How does Ozone Affect Plants?
Ground-level ozone is a common air pollutant that can damage plant tissues, reduce growth, and affect ecosystem health. Plants “breathe” through small pores in their leaves called stomata, taking in carbon dioxide (CO2) and releasing oxygen and water vapor. During the hot summer months, also referred to as Ozone Season, ground-level ozone can also enter the plants stomata and disrupt their natural process of photosynthesis. This can cause visible damage to the leaves, in the form of yellow, brown, or black spots called “stippling”. Damaged plants are often unhealthy and struggle to support surrounding ecosystems.
Visit Our Ozone Gardens!
Ozone gardens also provide ample opportunity for citizen science and education. Discover how air quality affects the plants around us by visiting one of our Ozone Gardens, living outdoor laboratories where science, nature, and community come together! We currently have two Ozone Gardens:
PPACG Office Garden
Outside of our building at 14 S. Chestnut St., you can find a 4’x2’ raised bed containing our Ozone Garden.
Concrete Coyote Community Park
In addition to the garden at the PPACG office, we have partnered with Concrete Couch to maintain a demonstration garden at their Concrete Coyote location. You can find plants of each species at either garden.
As you visit the gardens, you’ll find a variety of plants that help us understand the impacts of ground-level ozone pollution. Our gardens feature:
- Milkweed: An important native plant that provides habitat and food for pollinators, including monarch butterflies.
- Coneflower: A resilient native wildflower known for its vibrant blooms and ecological value.
- Soybeans: We grow both ozone-sensitive and ozone-tolerant varieties to observe how different plants respond to air pollution.
- Snap Beans: Like our soy beans, we include both sensitive and tolerant varieties that can reveal the effects of ozone exposure.
Become a Citizen Scientist
Each of these plants can show visible signs of ozone damage and your observations in our ozone garden can help advance environmental research!
During your visit, we invite you to observe the leaves and overall condition of the plants and submit your findings through the QR codes provided on interpretive signage. Your contributions become valuable citizen science data that help researchers track ozone impacts and better understand local air quality conditions.
Whether you’re a student, gardener, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about the environment, the Ozone Garden offers a unique opportunity to see science in action and contribute to meaningful research.
Visit, observe, and help us grow our understanding of how air quality affects the natural world!