Choosing the Right Plants for Your Green Roof
There are many types of green roofs, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach to plant selection isn’t always best. Every green roof environment is unique and ranges in light levels, moisture, wind shear, and sunlight exposure. That is why it is important to examine the needs of each project to aid in the selection of the best green roof plants.
In many instances, green roofs can even be exposed to ‘extreme’ conditions, such as heat and wind pressure. When reviewing the unique site microclimate, we encourage selecting plants that are well-suited to the challenges of that environment, while also considering important factors such as soil depth, plant development attributes (i.e. height), soil preferences, drainage requirements, shade tolerance, light requirements, hardiness, aesthetics, habitat potential, seasonal interest, and ongoing maintenance requirements.
Uninformed plant selection may lead to poor plant health, and in some instances, plant death, turning your beautiful green roof into a brown roof. Not coincidentally, to realize the many potential benefits of a green roof, it is best if it stays green.
Plant selection can be one of the most enjoyable and creative aspects of designing a green roof! If you are unsure of where to start or need some assistance planning your green roof, please contact our Green Roof Professional (GRP) at NATS Nursery:
Shauna Beaudoin BA, GRP
LiveRoof, Green Roofs & Permaloc Sales
NATS Nursery Ltd.
shauna@natsnursery.com
Office: 604.530.9300 | Fax: 604.530.9500 | Cell: 604-830-6549