Extensive Green Roof Plants

Plants for extensive green roofs should have low growth height rapid growth spreading and fibrous roots that have high drought tolerance.

Extensive green roof plants.

Emory knoll farms inc. The growing medium depth for an extensive green roof system is typically 6 inches or less. Because of the challenges of selecting plants for shallow media this publication focuses on extensive green roofs. Small succulents are low maintenance plants.

Green roofs are classi cally described by the depth of the growing medium extensive semi intensive and intensive. The planting medium in extensive green roofs ranges from 1 6 to 6 inches deep and while deeper systems have been installed they are not favored as much as the shallower systems drought tolerant sedums succulent plants and grasses are the typical plants used since they are shallow rooted and use little water plant diversity on these roofs is kept low to simplify care and to be sure all plants have similar moisture requirements. Founded the first green roof nursery in north america. Careful plant selection and maintenance is needed to ensure annuals do not become weeds on a green roof.

A 10 4 acre extensive green roof in dearborn mich. By contrast extensive green roofs use shallower media depths less than 6 inches and require minimal maintenance. We are active in green roof plant research and collaborate with educational institutions and nurseries worldwide. Extensive green roof an extensive green roof system is characterized of its vegetation ranging from sedums to small grasses herbs and flowering herbaceous plants which need little maintenance and no permanent irrigation system.

Vegetables are the other main group of annual plants used on green roofs. Green roof plants this is an example of tolerable plants to create diverse extensive green roof habits e g. Succulents these are exceptional plants to consider and they are used to cover an important area of green roofs. These require irrigation and a substrate depth of at least 200 mm.

2 inch drainage and 3 inch fll certified growing media. They grow with little soil and practically no water. Try dry habitat perennials and ornamental grasses such as rudbeckia achillea potentilla armeria dianthus helictotrichon sempervirens stipa tenuissima and even bulbs such as muscari or small allium species such as allium flavum and a. At the ford motor co.

Succulents such as sedum are often chosen for extensive green roofs because they withstand harsh conditions and minimize water loss. Plant diversity is the key for long term sustainability reduced maintenance and enhanced green roof benefits. River rouge assembly plant. 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.