Green Roof Alliums

The sides of the roof may also need to be built up to accommodate the additional layers.

Green roof alliums.

It is native across canada and the eastern us. Sedums and other low growing succulents that need little water and can survive in. Foliage may remain green in some locations or in mild winters. Two alliums that are useful on green roofs are allium cernuum and allium.

Alliums north america. Aside from chives there are a few native ones in north america that can used. For a green roof you need small hardy perennial plants that don t need much tending. Nodding onions are also sometimes referred to as lady s leek.

An allium is a member of the onion family hence the name. The combination of elevated temperatures wind exposure and high light provide challenging conditions for plant growth. Another allium that is native to the north america is the prairie onion allium stellatum. Like chives it is also edible.

Known for having leaves that look as good as it flowers turkistan onion is among the shorter ornamental allium varieties. It works well when planted in groups in rock gardens border fronts containers and window boxes its pink flower heads are 3 6 inches across held above 3 4 inch wide gray green leaves. A large and diverse genus of flowering plants with some 600 species sedums can shut down their systems in extreme heat and drought to keep from losing water to. Root rot may be a problem in waterlogged growing media but poor drainage should never be a problem on a properly designed and installed green roof.

Alliums have no serious insect problems as the sulfur compounds they produce apparently help ward off insect pests. Nodding onions on a green roof in edmonton canada. An allium is a member of the onion family hence the name. Green roofs are hostile sites.

Plant selection requires careful consideration of site microclimate substrate and maintenance factors linked to the desired aesthetic functional and management outcomes for the project. Nodding onions on a green roof in edmonton canada. While varieties of succulents and cactuses as well as short grasses from the allium family have proven to be successful green roof plants nothing seems to succeed like sedums. Extensive green roofs generally weigh between 12 50 pounds per foot versus 10 12 pounds foot for a conventional roof and 80 150 pounds foot for an intensive green roof not including snow.

Various low growing 6 10 tall alliums can be used for accent and they typically have green or bluish foliage and flowers of white pink or purple.