Leaf Nothing to Chance: How Plants Define Animal Behavior and Guest Experience

Plants are often overlooked. They’re seen as a backdrop or a nice addition to your office. What if we’re missing the real story? What if plants don’t just frame the experience—but define it?

At PGAV Destinations, we’ve seen firsthand how the thoughtful use of plants can shape environments, influence animal behavior, and transform the guest experience. This perspective was recently shared by Jonathan Stechschulte, PGAV Project Designer and certified arborist, during his presentation at the AZA Annual Conference. He explored how intentional planting design can elevate both animal welfare and guest engagement. Jonathan says, “Plants are so much more than decoration. They’re dynamic, living systems that make our world possible and can make the created worlds in animal habitats both beautiful and enriching.”

Why Plants Matter

Plants are the foundation of every environment, from the wildest savanna to the heart of a zoo. They shape the world around us, literally and behaviorally.

From the towering forests that act as carbon sinks and wildlife habitat, to the tenacious scrub trees that cling to cliffs and shape soil through erosion, to deserts that bloom with hidden life, plants define the character and vitality of ecosystems. Even in aquatic environments, mangroves and salt marshes form natural defenses against hurricanes and storm surges.

Prairies, wetlands, tundra, and forests are a symphony of plant life that supports the animals we work so hard to protect.

Plants and Animal Behavior

Plants are central to how animals live and behave.

• They provide shelter, including as shade, hollows, or nesting materials.
• They drive life cycles, supporting courtship, breeding, and growth. Think of the bowerbird’s decorated nests or fish that spawn among aquatic vegetation.
• They create networks of mobility, especially for arboreal species like gibbons and sloths that depend on the three-dimensional scaffolding of trees.
• And of course, they provide sustenance—food and water for countless species, from koalas dependent on eucalyptus to leafcutter ants cultivating fungi from harvested leaves.

Stechshulte emphasizes, “These interconnections remind us that animal behavior cannot be separated from the vegetation that surrounds them. The two evolve together, thrive together, and must be designed together.”

Designing with Plants in Mind

When we apply this understanding to our work, the results can be extraordinary. Plants become both artistic and functional tools. They can define space and set the tone. They also foster wellbeing for the animals.

At the Louisville Zoo, Glacier Run uses conifers and scrub to evoke the rugged northern wilderness—a narrative transition that prepares guests for encounters with polar bears and pinnipeds.

At SeaWorld San Diego, the Jewels of the Sea employs ponytail palms, succulents, and vibrant plantings to mirror the patterns and whimsy of the underwater world, setting the stage for the jellyfish experience.

But plants aren’t only for people. When prioritized, selected, and designed thoughtfully, they profoundly affect animal welfare.

At the St. Louis Zoo’s Primate Canopy Trails, three mature trees were carefully preserved to maintain canopy complexity for the animals and provide natural shade for both primates and guests.

At the Columbus Zoo’s Heart of Africa, specimen-grade honey locusts replicate the look and function of African acacias, while native grasses provide browse and behavioral enrichment for hoofstock across the habitat.

Now imagine these spaces without plants. The environments—and the experiences—would feel flat, sterile, incomplete. Plants bring them to life.

Stechschulte says, “Plants are so much more than background elements. They are active, essential participants in storytelling, habitat creation, and the guest journey. So, as you think about your next project or visit to the zoo, remember: Plants are awesome. They’re the invisible architects of wonder. You can’t plant any trees if you haven’t botany.”