From Guest Blogger Matttea Jacobs: Best Plants for Green Roofs

If you are considering to install a green roof, then a living roof is one of the options at hand. However, growing plants on your roof are not quite the same as growing plants in a natural garden as you need to keep in mind that the plant is going to be growing in different conditions.

First of all, rooftops can only handle a certain amount of soil which will limit the plant options you have as you will need to consider what type of plants will thrive best in your rooftop soil. Secondly, just like the roof is exposed to extreme weather conditions, so will your plants, therefore, choosing the right plants that can handle the exposure is a must.

 

How to Choose the Right Plant

 

Some plants need more sunlight, maintenance, and watering while others need less. Besides that, there are those who will not survive in extreme weather condition and some plants which will not be able to handle it. These are essential factors to keep in mind when choosing your roof plants.

 

Here are some plant characteristics to look out for when choosing your rooftop plants.

 

1.  Try to plant native species – native plants are those plants that are indigenous to your area. Therefore, they are already accustomed to the surrounding conditions (the climate, types of soil, and the amount of sunlight and rain). These plant will generally be more resistant.

 

2. Consider planting drought-resistant plants – they need less water to survive, and it is easier to take care of them as opposed to the more sensitive ones which require more water and attention.

 

3. Pest-resistant plants are a good idea – they will need less or no chemical pesticides as they have developed defense mechanisms against specific pests. For example, species such as rosemary and sunflowers.

 

Types of Plants for Green Roofs

 

There are plenty of plants that will do well in our rooftop garden. Here are a few examples of plants that do well if they are planted on a green roof. Read on and find the one that meets suit you best!

 

1. Succulents

 

Succulents are an excellent choice for rooftops gardens as they can withstand extreme heat and cold. They also require little maintenance, and most of them can grow in very little soil. There are many stunning species available, and some are even edible or otherwise useful.

 

Stonecrop

These plants come in different hues and textures which makes it ideal for decorating your green roof. Hundreds of varieties are available for you to choose from.

 

Sempervivum

For filling up those empty spaces, you can use houseleeks. They look very attractive spread over a green roof and come in many different colors.

 

Delosperma

Their daisy-like flowers can recognize these type of succulents. They too come in a variety of shades.

 

Zwartkop

For great texture and color on your green roof, you can go with a Zwartcop succulent. They are deep purple which almost looks black.  

 

Sedge

Sedge require very little soil which makes them ideal for rooftops.

 

2. Grasses

 

Most grasses need constant watering during the summertime and therefore are likely to fail on a living roof. However, some grass-like plants can withstand harsh conditions and will bring a pleasing contrast to your rooftop. Some can even seed themselves which will turn your roof garden into a self-replenishing landscape.

 

Armeria maritima 

This type of grass plants is mostly found on the side of cliffs and dunes by oceans, which makes them especially suitable for green roofs that are by the sea. They grow pink or purple flowers in the summer.

 

Carex nigra 

Also known as sedge, the roots of these grasses do not need much soil for them to thrive, making them an excellent choice for a rooftop garden.

3. Wildflowers

 

Most wildflowers should be used cautiously as some might they need deeper soil. You can mound the planting medium here and there to create a taller accent in specific locations.

 

Aster alpinus

This is a type of aster that comes from the alpine regions. Therefore, they can withstand intense weather and grow in less soil. They have purple flowers which will attract butterflies.

 

Achillea millefolium 

Wildflowers like these make a good ground cover as they spread well across the surface. They can also tolerate light foot traffic, provide aromatic foliage and are known to be a powerful medicinal plant. They are ferny with tall flower stalks that blossoms.

 

Final Thought

 

Many plant species will do well on a living roof. It all comes down to your taste and whether it will be possible for you to keep up with the maintenance. And in case when a regular maintenance isn’t possible, then it is better to opt for plants that can take care of themselves.

 

Author: Mattea Jacobs

Short bio:

Mattea Jacobs is a freelance writer who mostly writes about both interior and exterior home design, and environmentally-friendly ways to improve homes. She is also a green activist and a mother of two beautiful sons.