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the Landscaper - a Green roof

So what plants can you grow on a green roof?
Firstly plant choice depends on the structural integrity of your roof. You need to make sure
the plants you choose will not exceed the weight-bearing capacity of the roof i.e. no trees
unless your roof can support them. Drought tolerant plants reduce the ‘water weight’.

Secondly your choices will also be determined by the climate. So unless the roof is under
a tree, most species will need to be tolerant of direct sun, and the easiest species to find
and use for this would be succulents like Portulaca, Crassula ‘fire’, Sedums, Echeverias,
Lampranthus and other succulents that spread laterally rather than vertically, and need little
water.
It can look good year round if you use a mix of evergreen and deciduous plants, as well as
annuals that self-seed easily and some perennials.
Indigenous species like Aptosimum elongatum, Gisekia africana, Portulaca quadrifida, Geigeria
ornativa, Barleria macrostegia, Euphorbia serpens, Blepharis transvaalensis, Commelina africana, Tribulus
excrucians, Dicerocaryum senecioides and Hirpicium bechuanense would do really well. Add in a few
indigenous Asclepiads too like Stapelia gigantea or Piaranthus atrosanguineus.

If you have a partially shaded green roof, then you could choose plants like: Chlorophytum
comosum, Erigeron karvinskianus, Nephrolepis exaltata, Tradescantia species, Centella asiatica,
Lysimachia nummularia, Festuca glauca, and Arctotheca calendula.

You’ll find it’s less of a green roof - and more of a colourful one! S.C (pics Pixabay)

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