The green roof supports over twenty eight different plant species ranging from sedums herbaceous plants tall grasses and small shrubs creating a rich and bio diverse community for local fauna.
Intensive green roof plants.
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.
Green roofs are categorized as intensive or extensive systems.
These roofs will have grasses ground covers flowers shrubs and even trees.
Semi intensive intensive plants.
By contrast extensive green roofs use shallower media depths less than 6 inches and require minimal maintenance.
Succulents such as sedum are often chosen for extensive green roofs because they withstand harsh conditions and minimize water loss.
The semi intensive green roof at hamerschlag hall features a 2 5 inch drainage layer with a 2 5 inch extensive growing medium mix.
Small succulents are low maintenance plants.
Intensive systems allow the designer to create a park like setting so they are the best option for roof gardens that will be occupied.
Here is a list of 10 of the best plants in various categories that you can use.
Green roofs are classi cally described by the depth of the growing medium extensive semi intensive and intensive.
They grow with little soil and practically no water.
Succulents these are exceptional plants to consider and they are used to cover an important area of green roofs.
Extensive green roofs have a growing depth of 3 to 6 inches and are typ ically lighter in weight with a saturated weight of 15 to 30 pounds per square foot.
Plants for an extensive green roof.
Intensive green roofs are similar to landscaping found at ground level and require media depths greater than 6 inches and have intense maintenance needs.
Plants for extensive green roofs should have low growth height rapid growth spreading and fibrous roots that have high drought tolerance.
Phlox subulata multiple varieties moss or creeping phlox.
Because extensive roofs are lighter than other green roofs they require a specific type of vegetation.
Intensive green roofs require the deepest soil and have the greatest impact on the structural design but they also accommodate all types of plantings including large shrubs and trees.
Intensive green roofs are widely used on commercial buildings where owners want to have large green areas that incorporate all sizes and types of plants.