Green Roof Plant List Uk

The plants chosen must be appropriate for the roof type extensive intensive or semi intensive.

Green roof plant list uk. A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium planted over a waterproofing membrane it may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Mat forming species of sedum sempervivum and moss are good choices. Plants for green roofs. In temperate regions of north america we have recommended natives such as sedum ternatum white flowered sedum a shade lover opuntia humifusa prickly.

Learning how to plant a green roof is another proposition entirely and usually requires the help and assistance of an expert. Our bio diverse green roof species list includes comprehensive informa ti on on each plant species with an illustra ti on fl owering colour height and fl ower period where appropriate. Even though the list of native plants for use in extensive green roofs is relatively short there are a few selections that may grow well as native accent plants with occasional irrigation. Climate clearly plays a major role in choosing the best plants for a green roof.

Sedums and other low growing succulents that need little water and can survive in. Along with the makeup and depth of the growing medium selecting the right plants is crucial to the success of a green roof. Required to create a bio diverse green roof including species ecological and technical informati on with additi onal informati on on maintaining a green roof. Ferns such as polypodium vulgare and asplenium trichomanes could be used in dry shady conditions.

Careful plant selection and maintenance is needed to ensure annuals do not become weeds on a green roof. Some green roofs are constructed specifically to support sports turf. For a green roof you need small hardy perennial plants that don t need much tending. Vegetables are the other main group of annual plants used on green roofs.

Many common garden plants will not sur vive on a green roof. These require irrigation and a substrate depth of at least 200 mm. Try dry habitat perennials and. In green roof plants ed and lucie snodgrass succinctly describe the ideal traits for a good green 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.

These are the mainstays of any green roof and should form the bulk of the planting unless provisions are made for the roof to support soil deeper than the 3 to 4 inches that is typical. Container gardens on roofs where plants are maintained in pots are not generally considered to be true green roofs although.