Reference Community: Adapting Native Plants to North American Green Roofs

The North American design community typically regards green roofs as inhospitable environments for native plants due to the infrastructure's characteristic thin soils, low organic matter, temperature fluctuations, and wind exposure. Consequently, green roofs are often planted with an industry-standard palette of non-native Sedum and Phedimus species that are adept at withstanding stress, but lack biodiversity and visual interest, and offer little food or shelter to native birds and insects. Regionally specific reference plant communities that thrive in similarly harsh growing conditions can positively influence green roof design throughout North America, and consequently provide ecosystem services, contribute to habitat conservation, and increase human exposure to the beauty and benefits of native plants.