Ten-year persistence of native plant species on a green roof in Northeast US

We evaluated persistence of 28 northeastern or Midwestern US native plants for 10 y after installation on the green roof of the Wellesley College Water Treatment Facility. After 10 y, 50% of the original 28 species had perished and 29% had greatly expanded their presence on the green roof. Allium cernuum Roth (nodding onion; Liliaceae), Antennaria plantaginifolia (L.) Richardson (pussytoes; Asteraceae), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.) Spreng. (kinnikinnick; Ericaceae), Campanula rotundifolia L. (bluebell bellflower; Campanulaceae), Carex pensylvanica Lam. (Pennsylvania sedge; Cyperaceae), Eurybia divaricata (L.) G.L. Nesom (white wood aster; Asteraceae), Fragaria virginiana Duchesne (Virginia strawberry; Rosaceae), (Oligoneuron album (Nutt.) G.L. Nesom (prairie goldenrod; Asteraceae), Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash (little bluestem; Poaceae), Solidago sciaphila Steele (shadowy goldenrod; Asteraceae), and Symphyotrichum laeve (L.) A. Löve & D. Löve (smooth blue aster; Asteraceae) were able to persist and grow in response to the challenging green roof conditions, and we recommend them for use on green roofs. Twenty-seven emergent species were present on the green roof at the end of the study. Emergent Solidago L. (goldenrod; Asteraceae) species, Solidago caesia L. (wreath goldenrod), Solidago odora Aiton (anise scented goldenrod), and Solidago rugosa Mill. (wrinkleleaf goldenrod) should be investigated further for their suitability in green roof installations.

Lubell JD, Connolly B, Jones KN. 2017. Ten-year persistence of native plant species on a green roof in Northeast US. Native Plants Journal 18(3):227–234.