Urban green spaces, such as urban parks, are at a high risk of alien species introduction. Understanding the invasion characteristics and phylogenetic diversity of alien invasive plants within urban parks is crucial for assessing their impact on urban ecosystems and for formulating effective control and prevention strategies. From July 2023 to April 2024, we surveyed alien invasive plants in 33 parks located in the Luocheng District of Wenzhou City, Zhejiang using the quadrat sampling method. We analyzed invasion characteristics by comparing species richness and phylogenetic diversity metrics across different park types, combined with information regarding the plant origin, life form, invasion level, and primary introduction pathways. The results revealed a total of 48 alien invasive plant species, belonging to 36 genera and 22 families, with the majority originating from the Americas. The Asteraceae family exhibited the highest species richness, and annual herbs were the predominant life form. A high proportion of invasive plants resulted from intentional introduction (e.g., Alternanthera philoxeroides, Trifolium repens, Pontederia crassipes) and included some of the most worst invasive species (e.g., Bidens pilosa, Solidago canadensis, Pistia stratiotes). Although species richness varied significantly among park types, none of the phylogenetic diversity metrics showed statistically significant differences, suggesting that the alien plants were concentrated within a few dominant phylogenetic lineages. This study advocates for the implementation of differentiated control strategies for alien invasive plants based on the characteristics of various park types. Prevention efforts should prioritize controlling introductions at the source, focusing on high-frequency and the worst invasive species to mitigate their negative impacts on the ecosystem.
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