Best Plants to Grow on a Green Roof

by southshore | May 24, 2018 | Sustainability | 0 comments

Best Plants to Grow on a Green Roof

Due to their many benefits, green roofs are a growing trend around the world. Also known as a living roof, it consists of a growing medium, such as dirt or soil, vegetation that covers the entire surface or parts of it, and a waterproof membrane at the bottom.

When it comes to large-scale green roofs on the rooftops of houses and building, they are usually installed by professionals, but it can also be a DIY project for those who want it done on a smaller scale.

Green roofs are both useful and appealing. They can function as habitats for wildlife, especially in urban areas lacking in green surfaces. Furthermore, you can turn them into a garden and grow your plants and vegetables, they create additional insulation to your home (among other home benefits), and also make your home visually appealing.

The process of installing a green roof can be relatively straightforward, depending on the type of green roof you choose to create. When it comes to maintenance, some green roofs can maintain themselves, while others that function as a garden need some specific care.

The type of plants you choose will ultimately determine how much maintenance is required, so here is a guide to help you decide which plants you may want and which will best fit your green roof.

1. Succulents

These plants are also known as water storage plants and have a thick, fleshy appearance. Because they do not need a lot of water nor soil to survive, they are excellent to grow in bulk on your green roof. Succulents can come in many different colors, so you can plant them accordingly to give your roof an aesthetic look.

Sedum

Sedum, also commonly known as stonecrop, is found in cliffside cracks and is among the first plants to be used in the green roof industry. It has a smooth texture that looks like polished stone, and there are hundreds of varieties to choose from that come in different colors.

Sempervivum

Sempervivum stays low on the ground and comes in many colors. Their name means “always/forever alive” in Latin, suggesting that a roof will be great looking all year round.

Delosperma

The flowers of these succulents will bloom throughout the growing season. They come in around 100 species with varieties of colors and shades of white, yellow, red, and purple, which change as the flowers fade.

Aeonium Arboreum

This plant grows like a tiny tree that is less than two feet tall. It will not spread on the ground, but it will add a nice looking vertical effect with a dark purple color to your roof.

2. Grasses

For a green roof, you need to have a particular grass species planted, as many kinds of grass would die on a living roof if they are not watered consistently during the summer. If you are not willing to wait for the grass to start growing, you can opt for green roof plant mixtures, which come ready to roll out, giving you an instant vegetation layer.

Armeria Maritima

This grass is perfect for roofs by the seaside. It looks like a tidy green clump of grass that is topped off with a pink or purple flower during the summer.

Carex Nigra

The grass has triangular stems with a root that requires less soil and is commonly known as sedge.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers create a marvelous habitat for bumblebees and butterflies. They require deeper soil and are therefore used sparingly on green roofs. Instead of planting wildflower seeds, you can also opt for a pre-grown mixture felt mat that can be rolled out like a carpet.

Aster Alpinus

Intense weather and thin soil present no problems for these vivid purple flowers, which makes them ideal for green roofs. They also help to attract loads of butterflies.

Achillea Millefolium

This flower will spread across the green roof and will provide your green roof area with aromatic foliage. They are ferny, tall, and have large blossoms, perfect for butterflies, and light foot traffic will not affect them too much.

3. Herbs and Vegetables

If you like to have your own home-grown food and are prepared to keep a well-maintained garden, then a green roof with herbs or vegetables is the solution for you. This is an intensive type of green roof that needs regular care. It has a deeper growing medium and is suitable for all types of planting, unlike extensive green roofs that have pretty self-sustainable vegetation.

Herbs

Some herbs that usually grow in dry, rocky areas can spread wildly on a roof garden. Here are three examples of herbs that do not need a lot of water and that are rather resistant to drought.

Thymes grow just a few inches tall, and apart from having uses in the kitchen they also give off a great aromatic scent.

The common oregano is widely known for the fragrance it brings to foods like pizza and pasta. It covers the rooftop ground and grows four to six inches tall.

The Roman chamomile that grows three inches tall also gives a ground cover with an aromatic smell and can tolerate foot traffic.

Vegetables

Keep in mind that vegetable garden will be an intensive green roof since vegetables require deeper soil for growing and a well-installed irrigation system. These kinds of green roofs are suitable for growing vegetables that require a growing medium of 12 inches up to 18 inches thick.

Some of the best and most common vegetables you can plant and grow are lettuce, onions, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, peppers, cucumber, potatoes, summer squash, and many others.

Get Planting

A green roof is a specific type of garden that requires some special care and carefully chosen plants, but with a little effort, it too can thrive. If you don’t want to turn it into a big project, you can start by testing out a small scale green roof, for example on a shed or a gazebo and feel free to contact us at South Shore Roofing, one of the top roofers in Savannah, GA.

All in all, the most important thing to keep in mind is that by choosing the right plants that grow well in your environment, you can have a green roof that flourishes, adding benefits to your home and the environment.

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Terri Giannattasio

SSR (South Shore Roofing) has a very “Classy” business model. First touch call was with Erica and she demonstrated grand skills, collect data on our needs, received our emailed pics and set up the appointment. SSR sent and email confirming the on-site visit. Luke with SSR sent a text day before visit with his arrival time, picture and informative Bio! Luke texted us to share he was in route. Evaluation and next steps were COMPLETED! CLASSY! Thank you. The G’s

Lee Haight

Professional organization from the top down . Class act to hire for any roofing project

Kaye Torgerson

South Shore replaced our roof this past fall and made the entire process painless. From meeting with our insurance adjuster (as this was for a rental property we own) to keeping us updated with photos, they did an outstanding job throughout. The job supervisor even personally made sure the shingles were tucked under the siding to prevent leaks. All correspondence was courteous and professional. Would definitely recommend.

Steven Bicette

Kile and his team made me very proud,after building my roof,perfect job,i will recommend them to any home owner way to go.

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My husband spent a lengthy period of time researching potential roofing contractors and brand of material to be utilized. It is a critical investmnt both in terms of structure and cost. We narrowed the search down to three companies. It was a difficult decision, but now that the project is complete, we know we made the best choice. We are delighted with their honesty, professionalism, communication, follow-through, and outstanding workmanship. One note for constructive improvement would be the final nail pick-up (at least on our project). A thorough job is so important for all the obvious reasons. Again – we made the right choice with South Shore Roofing – Kyle Patrick and his entire team are the best. We recommend South Shore wholeheartedly.

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I needed my old roof replaced and was looking for a reputable roofer that I could count on. Ran across South Shore on the internet and saw their trucks around town. They looked very professional so I gave them a call. I was lucky to have the pleasure of talking with the office manger, Casey, who was very helpful and answered all the questions I had. She got the the ball rolling for me. Soon Kyle, the owner, and his crew had me scheduled and were on site shortly after. The roof looks great! I’m always nervous dealing with contractors but this is one that gets the job done right the first time.

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South Shore Roofing just finished, getting our new roof done. It was such a pleasure to work with them, especially our contact person Tyler McGowan. He is very quick to answer our phone calls, emails and text messages. Tyler was very patient with answering all our questions and took care of all our concerns during the project. He and others, Kyle Patrick and Luke Patrick, were very punctual and explained the process well. Working crew was commendable, hardworking, efficient workers and they did a wonderful job! South Shore Roofing worked very efficiently with our insurance company to get the claim going through very smoothly. South Shore finished the roofing job in a timely manner as promised. My house looks very beautiful now!

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I had a roof replaced after a free inspection that revealed hail damage. The workers were quick, efficient, and effective. The edge lines across the roof could not have been straighter had they been laid out with a laser. My vents that went through the roof were painted, from white to black, and visually disappeared. Just an example of the thoughtful attention to detail in their work. The sealant around the mounting points for my satellite dish guarantee it will never leak. I give them my highest possible recommendation. OUTSTANDING!

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We had been looking for a company to come fix our roof after the hurricane last October. After several failed attempts with other companies we finally asked a friend and were referred to South Shore. We met Luke and Tyler and were immediately impressed! They were professional, easy to talk to, and we ended up getting the pristine shingles from all the money we were able to save. The work was done almost immediately and only took a couple of days. Tyler came after it was done to check the work and make sure there were no nails left in our yard. Now we have a beautiful new roof and peace of mind the next time a major storm comes through! We will definitely be reccommending South Shore to anyone that asks!

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Thank you South Shore for doing such a great job on my granddads roof! The staff at South Shore were very professional and put him at ease enough to finally get the new roof he needed. We are SO happy that he didn’t try to keep patching it with duct tape and tar. We can rest easy that that roof will last a good long time and its all because of you! Thanks again SOUTH SHORE!!!You are AWESOME!!!!

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South Shore really did make my roofing experience easy. Tyler was prompt with the estimate and very responsive by text and phone. Kyle kept me updated once the project began and the working crew was efficient and cleaned as they went. I had a roof removal with some decking replacement and a new architectural roof installed. It looks great and I highly recommend South Shore to friends and family now. Definitely the team to work with!

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You won’t find a better roofing company anywhere than South Shore Roofing, definitely a 5 star roofing company. Top quality work delivered very professionally. Superior customer service. Luke and Kyle are the best! Luke was especially awesome with working up the estimate, explaining the options and the entire procedure, and helping with the insurance claims. The installation crew was top notch, hard working, very professional including great clean up afterwards. They even made a return visit a few days later for some finishing details. I recommend South Shore Roofing without reservation to any home owner.

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They did a great job. They we’re on time, efficient, did a great job from beginning to end. My yard is heavily landscaped, and I have a pool. They were very careful around my plants, flowers, and pool. They did an excellent job cleaning up during and after. My roof looks wonderful! Staff was very polite, and easy to work with. They even helped me with my insurance claim. Overall wonferful to work with. Would definitely reccomend them for roof work.

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I want to take the time to say how pleased I am with Kyle Patrick on his service with my new home recently we just got into a bad storm and I was looking everywhere up-and-down trying to find a great deal I happened to see A sign posted on Facebook and I called Kyle he was very nice and very professional of what he does and at a reasonable price !!!!thanks to him and his guys I am able to relax a little keep up the good work Kyle ! And I recommend everyone in Savannah area and pool area to give him a call he’s the best in town and he won’t lie or cheat you out of your money !!!!!!!

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The team at South Shore Roofing was fantastic, they were supporting, understanding and helpful.
They worked with my insurance company to get me the best outcome.
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Amanda Hedrick

Jessica Smith

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I feel confident recommending this company to anyone who will listen. Tyler did amazing work and left the workspace immaculate upon completion.
We know that Hurricanes are frequent in south GA- and while I hope my roof never needs their services again, *if* it does, they’re the ONLY ones we will call.

Thanks so much for everything.

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Neal Hamilton

After we encountered storm damage for the first time ever, I had no idea who to call and South Shore was one of the roofers recommended. From the moment I met Luke Patrick I knew my decision was made. His knowledge and experience in dealing with insurance company adjusters made South Shore stand out high above my other bidders. Luke’s efforts to negotiate a full roof replacement v. partial was masterful. Additionally, South Shore agreed to act as the G.C. to handle all other aspects of the remediation work. I HIGHLY recommend South Shore for any roofing needs! I only wish they did commercial work so I could ditch my so-so existing roofers.

Debbie Walker

South Shore Roofing gave me very professional service from beginning to end. I was emailed a picture and brief bio of the estimator who would be viewing my roof. Luke Patrick arrived on time, was very professional and was very knowledgeable. He met with my insurance adjuster and handled all the paperwork and phone calls. It was truly a blessing to have South Shore handle all the details. During the roof process, they kept me informed, answered all my questions and were very reassuring. I highly recommend them.

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We are so thankful to have come across South Shore Roofing while searching for contractors. Luke went above and beyond, to make sure the whole process was quick and painless. Erica was efficient, making sure the paperwork process went smoothly. Overall, South Shore is a phenomenal company. If you want a professional, hardworking company with great pricing, South Shore Roofing is the way to go!

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South Shore made the process of replacing our roof completely seamless. From meeting with our insurance adjuster when we could not be present to keeping us updated with photos of the work’s progress, they were professional and courteous all the way through. the work they did was top notch and the final product is beautiful. Would do business again in a heartbeat and have already recommended them to neighbors.

Craig Delaney

This was the best experience that I have had with any roofing company. They worked with us from start to finish and never once did we have to have them redo anything. They began work at 7 a.m. as stated in my contact with the tearing off of the roof and was finished with the replacement asking with clean up by 8:30 pm. Awesome job!

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An absolute pleasurable experience dealing with South Shore Roofing. From the first contact with Justin, to the last correspondence with Erica at the office and the dealings with the project managers (Brent & Kyle) in between, it has been nothing but a very smooth & professional experience. The new roof looks fantastic and workmanship top notch.
If you need a new roof these are the people to seek out! Highly recommend South Shore Roofing!