Abstract: To clarify the differences and seasonal variations in carbon sequestration and oxygen release, cooling and humidification, and dust retention benefits of flowering ornamental woody lianas in urban environment, we measured photosynthetic physiological indices and dust retention amounts of seven flowering ornamental woody lianas (including Pyrostegia venusta, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Mucuna birdwoodiana, Lonicera japonica, Quisqualis indica, Bauhinia corymbosa, and Thunbergia grandiflora) in Guangzhou during the spring (March to May), summer (June to August), and autumn (September to November). The results showed that Lonicera japonica exhibited the highest carbon sequestration and oxygen release per unit leaf area in spring and autumn, significantly higher than the other species except Thunbergia grandiflora (P<0.05). In summer, Quisqualis indica showed the highest values in carbon sequestration and oxygen release per unit leaf area (P<0.05). Lonicera japonica achieved the highest cooling and humidification per unit leaf area in summer and autumn (P<0.05), while Thunbergia grandiflora ranked the highest in spring, significantly exceeding the other species except Lonicera japonica (P<0.05). The seven woody lianas performed best in the dust retention capacity per unit leaf area in summer and autumn. Bauhinia corymbosa showed significantly higher dust retention capacity than the other plants in spring (P<0.05), while Lonicera japonica outperformed others in summer and autumn (P<0.05). The carbon sequestration and humidification of the seven lianas species were significantly positively correlated with net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate (P<0.05), while the amount of dust retention was significantly positively correlated with the transpiration rate (P<0.05). These results suggest that Lonicera japonica, Thunbergia grandiflora, and Quisqualis indica exhibit the strongest comprehensive ecological benefits, making them the optimal choices for urban ecological landscaping in Guangzhou. Bauhinia corymbose, Pyrostegia venusta, Mucuna birdwoodiana, and Bougainvillea spectabilis are recommended for most urban green spaces to synergize ecological and landscape benefits.

Key words: woody liana, ecological benefit, carbon sequestration and oxygen release, cooling and humidification, dust retention, vertical greening