Green Roof Plants For Shade

Emory knoll farms inc.

Green roof plants for shade.

Think of a green roof as a lasagne of ingredients. We get most of our native plants from nature by design and typically the plants below would work well in partial or full shade. Species such as sedum delosperma euphorbia and sempervivum are popular choices. Flowers give much needed color later in the season.

First down is the waterproof root barrier layer which will protect the surface of the roof. If your roof is shaded by trees or by other buildings you will need to choose shade tolerant plants such as woodland bulbs bluebells aconites etc woodland grasses red or white dead nettle and primrose. The leaf coloring of iresine can vary immensely depending on light with brightest color generally in full sun. Carex pennsylvanica pennsylvania sedge 8 1 qt.

Plants for extensive green roofs should have low growth height rapid growth spreading and fibrous roots that have high drought tolerance. 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. Sedum ternatum mossy stonecrop 8 1 qt. Shade tolerant plants are most likely to flower in spring and tend to offer foliage rather than colour for most of the year.

We are active in green roof plant research. Iresine or alternanthera is a tropical perennial with showy green foliage that is irregularly splashed with white and pink. The soil mix we like to use is 50 expanded shale 25 usda sand and 25 organic compost. Succulent plants are well adapted to the conditions often found on extensive green roofs because of their ability to limit transpiration and store excess water.

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. Founded the first green roof nursery in north america. This can be made out of timber while off the shelf installations are typically metal. Succulents particularly colourful sedums dominate shallow substrate green roofs across temperate europe and north america.

Succulents such as sedum are often chosen for extensive green roofs because they withstand harsh conditions and minimize water loss. Green roofs of creeping plants and herbs need some sort of frame around the perimeter to hold everything in place.