Abstract: [Objective] The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate patterns of waterfront plant landscape construction and provide a theoretical basis for plant landscaping and landscape assessment through a scientific evaluation of the landscape quality of Lingnan region.[Method] 64 landscape units of waterfront plants in Lingnan region were investigated for landscape quality assessment using scenic beauty estimation procedure (SBE) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and the applicability and relatedness of the two methods were also explored. Plant species richness, abundance, and the typical Lingnan waterfront landscapes were assessed and analyzed using cluster analysis and stepwise regression analysis. [Result] The number of landscape units with a ranking difference between SBE value (YSBE) and landscape quality value (Y_AHP) ≤ 20 accounted for 75% of all the landscape units assessed using SBE and AHP, indicating that the two methods for waterfront plant landscape assessment had high consistency. The cluster analysis divided the 64 waterfront plant landscape units into 5 groups. The first group was excellent assessed with both AHP and SBE methods (Y_AHP ≥ 6.00,Y_SBE ≥ 0.50)and most landscape units in this group had a ranking difference < 20. Landscape units of the 4th and 5th groups were ranked at the last seven by SBE, and their ranking difference was < 12, indicating that the evaluators have similar aesthetic values, and thus it is feasible to reveal the intrinsic rules of plant landscaping through scientific methods of assessment. Plant diversity of artistic configuration (x₆) and stability of plant community structure (x₉) had significant effects on SBE outcomes (P<0.05), which was represented by stepwise regression analysis with dependent variable YSBE against independent variable xi of landscape units: Y_SBE=－4.234 3+0.300 4 x₆+0.357 7 x₉. The excellent landscape units were characterized by plant richness disposition of various growth forms as: 2 species of evergreen trees, 1 species of deciduous trees, 3 species of shrubs, 2 species of aquatic plants, and 4 species of groundcover plants, and plant abundance disposition as: 4 evergreen tree individuals, 1 deciduous tree individuals, and 12 shrub individuals. Spatially, aquatic plants and groundcover plants should cover an area of 18 m² and 74 m², respectively.[Conclusion] SBE is a simple, reliable, easy-to-master and easy-to-promote method, while AHP reflects both aesthetic and ecological functions of landscapes at the same time and can yield objective and comprehensive assessment results. The waterfront plant landscape with Lingnan local characteristics should represent a neat and natural style, with tall trees as background. Trees or shrubs resistant to wet stress and with soft branches, beautiful tree forms, flower, and leaves should be chosen for the waterfront. The foreground of plants should be the bright-colored shrubs or herbs such as red or yellow ones. Plants should be selected with appropriate richness and abundance to promote robust growth. The canopy line of plant community and plant outer line should have changes, leaving places for people to get close to the water. Additionally, the waterfront plant landscape composed of clear and open water, natural revetment and rocks, coupled with high-quality green maintenance, contributes to the offering of high scenic beauty and ecological benefits.

Key words: waterfront plant landscape, landscape assessment, scenic beauty estimation procedure, analytic hierarchy process, Lingnan region