Illinos Green Roof Plants

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.

Illinos green roof plants.

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. Sedums are one of the star plants for creating a green roof and a sedum roof needs no extra growing medium. There are literally hundreds of varieties found growing in. 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.

Partial to full shade. 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. 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. 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. With all this in mind here are ten of the best green roof plants to choose from. 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.

Wild columbine aquilegia canadensis. Founded the first green roof nursery in north america. A honeybee enjoys feeding from the flowers of sedum kamtschaticum. Succulents such as sedum are often chosen for extensive green roofs because they withstand harsh conditions and minimize water loss.

Jacob s ladder polemonium reptans. Prairie plants for dry soil may also be used especially those with shorter root systems. Also known as stonecrop because the succulent foliage resembles smooth polished stone sedums are the royalty of living roof plants. 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.

We are active in green roof plant research. These plants are very well adapted to hot windy dry conditions the prairie in august. Green roof or rooftop garden requirements and plant list. Palm sedge carex muskingumensis.

Emory knoll farms inc. Jack in the pulpit arisaema triphyllum. Gold sedum sedum kamtschaticum. Woodland plant list.

Many commercial landscapers recommend succulents mostly nonnative sedums because of the high rate of evaporation transpiration on a rooftop due to sun and wind.