Green roof plants should also have a long life expectancy or the ability to self propagate and they should require minimal nutrients and maintenance need less to say selecting the right plants for green roofs is anything but simple.
Illinos green roof plants.
Their low growing and or spreading habits great drought tolerance seasonal flowers and contrasting foliage colours textures and forms make them ideal candidates for green roofs.
Partial to full shade.
Emory knoll farms inc.
With all this in mind here are ten of the best green roof plants to choose from.
Solomon s seal polygonatum biflorum.
Roof plant the most successful green roof plants are low growing shallow rooted perennial plants that are heat cold sun wind drought salt insect and disease tol erant.
Many commercial landscapers recommend succulents mostly nonnative sedums because of the high rate of evaporation transpiration on a rooftop due to sun and wind.
Succulents particularly colourful sedums dominate shallow substrate green roofs across temperate europe and north america.
Prairie plants for dry soil may also be used especially those with shorter root systems.
Sedums are one of the star plants for creating a green roof and a sedum roof needs no extra growing medium.
Calico aster aster lateriflorus.
These plants are very well adapted to hot windy dry conditions the prairie in august.
Jack in the pulpit arisaema triphyllum.
Succulents such as sedum are often chosen for extensive green roofs because they withstand harsh conditions and minimize water loss.
It tends to grow in a dry rocky location like its native mediterranean basin and the plants grow to a few inches tall with purple and pink flowers in the early summer months.
Virginia bluebells mertensia virginica.
Also known as stonecrop because the succulent foliage resembles smooth polished stone sedums are the royalty of living roof plants.
Palm sedge carex muskingumensis.
Gold sedum sedum kamtschaticum.
On top of city hall in chicago 11 stories up there are 20 000 plants of more than 100 species including shrubs vines and even trees.
Green roof or rooftop garden requirements and plant list.
Wild columbine aquilegia canadensis.
Prairie plants for dry soil may also be used especially those with shorter root systems.
A honeybee enjoys feeding from the flowers of sedum kamtschaticum.
Plants for extensive green roofs plants for extensive green roofs should have low growth height rapid growth spreading and fibrous roots that have high drought tolerance.
Jacob s ladder polemonium reptans.
As the nation s leading supplier of plants for green roof systems since 1998 our accomplished horticulture team has more experience than any other nursery in the united states growing plants for successful green roof projects.
Standard garden thyme thymus vulgaris is another edible herb you can plant along your green roof.
Woodland plant list.