Green Roof Plants

A Resource and Planting Guide

In just a few years, green roofs have gone from a horticultural curiosity to a booming growth industry — primarily because the environmental benefits of extensively planted roofs are now beyond dispute, whether for industrial or governmental complexes or for private homes in urban or suburban settings. Despite the high level of interest in green roofs, until now there has been no reliable reference devoted exclusively to the various species of drought-tolerant plants that are suitable for use on extensive green roofs. Green Roof Plants fills that void. The book contains photographs and cultural information for more than 200 species and cultivars of plants, including valuable data on moisture needs, heat tolerance, hardiness, bloom color, foliage characteristics, and height. Concise, accurate, and easy to use, this book is destined to become an indispensable practical reference guide, not just for architects, landscape designers, engineers, and environmentalists, but also for environmentally conscious home gardeners.

Media reviews of this book:

"A desirable companion book for anyone who owns a rooftop garden or is interested in designing or installing one."

—Joel M. Lerner, Washington Post, November 11, 2006

"Supported by 300-plus color photographs and including cultural details on more than 200 species and cultivars, this is an essential resource for home gardeners, landscape architects, and designers looking for environmentally friendly choices."

—Carol Haggas, Booklist, October 2006

"The beauty of Green Roof Plants lies in its concise, clear, and extensive ... coverage of the authors' years of knowledge. ... An easy, reliable reference and a practical must-have handbook for all of us in the green roof industry, weathered professionals or novice do-it-your-selfers."

—Linda S. Velazquez, GreenRoofs.com, January 29, 2008

"Offers a thorough explanation of plants, including color photographs, that have performed well on roofs."

—Joel M. Lerner, Denver Post, December 4, 2007

"I have been thinking about the possible uses of ... drought-tolerant, low-maintenance plants. It was [this book] that started me on this journey."

—Anne Raver, New York Times, November 15, 2007

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Customer reviews of this book:

"Much more readable than other books on the subject."

—Jesse M. from Seattle, Washington, December 14, 2007

"This has proven to be a great resource for me — the photos are excellent!"

—Douglas M. from Kensington, Maryland, November 11, 2007

"I'm very happy to have found this wonderful reference."

—Adrianne W. from New York, New York, January 12, 2007

An excerpt from this book:

Green roof planting designers must consider multiple criteria when planning a design, including design intent; the client's needs and expected outcomes; budget and maintenance parameters; life expectancy of the green roof; access and safety issues; location; micro and macro-environments; exposure; humidity or dryness; maximum and minimum temperatures; medium weight, depth, and composition; and irrigation. Careful plant selection is essential to the green roof's success, as traditional rules used for ground-level plant selection simply won't work on a roof. By necessity, green roof plants must be tougher and less nutrient-reliant than plants found in most gardens ...

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