Florida Green Roofs, Living Wall Permaculture Plant, Seminole Pumpkin, Cucurbita Moschata

Seminole Pumpkin should always be considered for tropical green roofs and living walls due to its amazing leaf color and massive summer biomass production.

Summer time here in Florida usually brings the rains.  Rains mean more water on the green roof.  Seminole pumpkin drinks water like a thirsty athlete.  She also casts a fair amount of sprawling shade to help cool the roof from solar rays, in addition to the evaporative effect of photosynthesis and plant respiration. 

So it is easy for me to say, one of my favorite vines this year is the Seminole Pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata. 

Florida Green Roof and Living Wall plant, Seminole Pumpkin (Permaculture Food)

An adapted garden wonder to Florida, the Caribbean and Latin American, this variety of pumpkin or squash is acclimated to the harsh, humid climate of the region. 

Unripe Seminole Pumpkin, resistant to pests

A fast grower who provides ample shade, Seminole Pumpkin makes a great end of summer living wall and green roof plant.

Florida Living Wall plant, Cucurbita moschata

Thriving on neglect and drought, Cucurbita moschata, is ultra resilient to squash vine borers and other pests.  Here she is used as a cover to our geese pen, providing a wall of privacy, security, shade and food.

Seminole Pumpkin creates a living wall and green roof for the Urban Farm fowl

When thinking of drought tolerant plants for tropical green roofs and living walls, they don't just have to be wildflowers.

Seminole Pumpkin is a heavy food producing plant

 Nature has provided us with some awesome  food plants who will thrive well in the permaculture garden and on the hot roofs and walls.

Florida Native Food Plant for Living Walls, Florida Green Roofs and Backyards, Seminole Pumpkin, Cucurbita Moschata

One of my favorite vines this year is the Seminole Pumpkin, Cucurbita moschata.

Florida Green Roof and Living Wall plant, Seminole Pumpkin (Native Food)

A native to Florida, the Caribbean and Latin American, this variety of pumpkin or squash is adapted to the harsh, humid climate of the region.

Unripe Seminole Pumpkin, resistant to pests

A fast grower who provides ample shade, Seminole Pumpkin makes a great end of summer living wall and green roof plant.

Florida Living Wall plant, Cucurbita moschata

Thriving on neglect and drought, Cucurbita moschata, is ultra resilient to squash vine borers and other pests.  Here she is used as a cover to our geese pen, providing a wall of privacy, security, shade and food.

Seminole Pumpkin creates a living wall and green roof for the Urban Farm fowl

When thinking of native plants for tropical green roofs and living walls, they don't just have to be wildflowers.

Seminole Pumpkin is a heavy food producing plant

 Nature has provided us with some awesome native food plants who will thrive well on the hot roofs and walls.

Green Roof Plant, Sesbania herbacea, Danglepod

Danglepod is a great native green roof plant for many reasons, including habitat, forage, food for Lepidoptera, nectar provider, nitrogen fixer, shade producer, wind break plant, native species and so much more.

Sesbania herbacea, Danglepod flowers ont he Green Roof

Sure to catch anyone's attention Danglepod is also known by its scientific name Sesbania herbacea.  Danglepod grows wild across Florida and many of you may remember seeing broad patches alongside road and highways blooming during the summer.

Sesbania herbacea growing on the Breaking Ground Contracting Green Roof

I like Danglepod as a green roof plant for a number of reasons, including all of those listed above.  Very resilient to wind Danglepod makes a great permaculture type windbreak and provides shade, so though welcome anywhere on the green roof I especially like to see the plant grow around the perimeter.

Danglepod is a summer annual, however the hot tropical desiccating winds are what I most like to protect against.

Moreover, Danglepod is a fertilizer plant for green roofs.  A member of the Fabaceae family, Danglepod fixes nitrogen into the soil and has been listed in many permaculture and biodiversity online databases, including international sites such as EcoCrop.  The USDA NRCS plant website refers to Danglepod as being native across the southern US.

Danglepod's Seeds

Research is presently being conducted across the world on the economic and ecological potential of the plant, including fiber utilization and biofuel production.  The Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants has several great photos of Danglepod along with considerable botanical data.

Danglepod and other Sesbania are used by numerous Lepidoptera for food sources.  The Orange Sulfur,  Gray Hairstreak, Zarucco Duskywing and others use the plant as larval food.

The plant reseeds itself prolifically and is considered a 'weed' by many.  In fact, many herbicide companies and 'weed' organizations recommend applying chemicals to this plant to kill it (along with the butterflies and pollinators using the species).

Being a native weed I consider Danglepod a wildflower with benefits and the plant is welcome on all green roofs I work on.  If too many appear it is easy to pull a few up.

As to the free nitrogen, shade, wind protection and wildlife habitat, Danglepod packs a powerful and beneficial punch!