Foliage is a recurring type of purchasable object in the Zoo Tycoon franchise. Foliage includes all kinds of plants, as well as other organisms such as mushrooms, anemones, sponges, echinoderms, etc. These are both functional and decorative items used in animal exhibits as well as guest areas.
Zoo Tycoon[]
Deciduous forest foliage in Zoo Tycoon.
In Zoo Tycoon, foliage is a fundamental component for reaching high exhibit suitability for virtually every animal. Each foliage item has a biome and world location associated to it. In turn, each animal has a preferred type of foliage, and as a general rule it will like foliage belonging to both the same biome and world location as itself, and dislike other foliage.
Chimpanzees can climb and swing on the Orchid Tree. If it is placed directly next to the fence, they can use it to escape their exhibit. Some foliage items also have a positive effect on guest happiness, namely flowerbeds, desert flowers, topiaries and a few select trees (Cherry Tree, Christmas Tree, Japanese Maple Tree, Pacific Dogwood Tree, and Wild Olive Tree).
Foliage clustering[]
Foliage in different arrangements. Left and centre foliage are not clustered within the same tile, the foliage on the right is.
Foliage clustering is the act of exploiting the game mechanics by placing foliage together in the same tile. Animals enjoy new foliage tiles (i.e. a grid square with at least one foliage item) up to a certain point. Past this point, they will dislike foliage placed in empty tiles, but will like foliage placed in tiles that are already occupied by foliage. Many land foliage objects only occupy 1/2x1/2 size on the game's grid, which allows for up to 4 foliage objects to be placed on the same tile, effectively quadrupling the foliage benefit otherwise received. This is an important distinction for maximizing habitat suitability, and means that for an optimized exhibit, foliage should be placed so it completely fills a square, instead of spread out.
- See also: List of Foliage in Zoo Tycoon
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Koala climbing a Sydney Blue Gum in Zoo Tycoon 2, which satisfies its stimulation need.
In Zoo Tycoon 2, foliage is a completely optional part of exhibit building, as animals from any biome can be completely happy in an exhibit with no foliage.
Foliage is split in two categories; plants (including all kinds of ground foliage, as well as marine foliage) and trees. The main gameplay difference being that plants are traversable, while trees are not. Like in the first game, each item has a biome and a world location associated to it, though the latter has no practical effects on gameplay. Most biomes have at least one plant and tree, with the exception of Tundra, Coastal, Benthic and Reef which have only plants, and the Pelagic biome which lacks foliage (as well as rocks) entirely.
Foliage can be purchased individually, or it can be placed automatically with the biome brush if the plants and/or tree filters are turned on.
Many animals will interact with foliage if present, such as grazing or hiding in plants, and browsing, climbing, scratching, ramming, and rubbing trees. These interactions can fulfill all kinds of needs. Animals do not care about foliage biome or location, while guests will complain if they see an animal using a foliage item belonging to a different biome.
- See also: List of Foliage in Zoo Tycoon 2