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Invasive plant means a plant that is both non-native and able to establish on many sites, grow quickly, and spread to the point of disrupting plant communities or ecosystems. For purposes of this article, any plant on the federal USDA Introduced, Invasive, and Noxious Plants list or on any state list east of the Mississippi River is an invasive plant. This includes, but is not limited to, all plants listed by the Rhode Island Invasive Species Council. The city may, at the city's discretion, also refer to lists developed by nonprofit, governmental, or educational organizations or other subject-matter experts, particularly focused on invasive plants in states east of the Mississippi River.
Native plant means a plant that is a part of the balance of nature in a particular region or ecosystem. For the purposes of this article, a native plant or "native species" is a plant with origins east of the Mississippi River per the USDA plant database or the US Environmental Protection Agency Ecoregion Level I, Zone 8, Eastern Temperate Forests. There is a strong preference for species from the US Environmental Protection Agency Ecoregion Level III areas in Rhode Island including (59c) Southern New England Coastal Plains and Hills, (59e) Narragansett/Bristol Lowland, and (59g) Long Island Sound Coastal Lowland.
Non-native plant means a plant introduced with human help (intentionally or accidentally) to a new place or habitat where it was not previously found. For the purposes of this article, a non-native plant is any plant with origins outside the regions in the definition for a native plant species.
Park means a civic space type designed for active and passive recreation, with its character defined by the uses and features provided to meet the needs of different user groups.
Plantings by the city shall include plantings done by third parties on behalf of the city.
Pollinators mean animals (primarily insects, but sometimes avian or mammalian) that fertilize flowers resulting in the formation of seeds and fruits that allow continuation of the plant species or provide a harvest from food crops.
Straight species means a native plant that is not a horticultural cultivar selected or bred for particular traits.
Streetscapes shall include the visual elements of a street including the plants, road, adjoining buildings, street furniture, and open spaces that combine to form the street's character.
(Ch. 843, § I, 6-7-22)