Allium - MV's Bonsai-ed Variety - Green Roof Plants Florida

I'm sold on Allium species for both green roof and living wall plants.  Hardy, evergreen, tolerant of inundation and tolerant of drought, these hardy plants form the backbone of many non-irrigated green roofs.  MetroVerde's bonsai-ed variety is an especially hardy variety - grown in a greenhouse with limited watering - typically les than 1/4 inch per month for over a year.  This picture I took today at University of Florida - we have a panel there - as we've written about before - and the system is non-irrigated, been in a harsh test area for over a year now - and the Allium species are growing strong!  Call Kevin with your low weight, extensive, non-irrigated green roof questions. 904-294-2656.

Green Roofs in Florida and Irrigation. Is irrigation really necessary for green roofs in Florida?

Here we go again! The draft stormwater manual compiled by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection states that 'Green Roofs in Florida must be irrigated.'

The above statement is simply incorrect and is not a statement we should be hearing from the agency stressing xeriscaping and water stewardship!

I am immediately shut off when I even bring up the topic by many.

Why?

I don't know but it is true - Florida Green Roofs can prosper and thrive even without irrigation.

The roof above has done so beautifully! And in-fact is growing water loving sedges this summer (though I imagine they will die when the dry winter hits) - I suppose birds or the wind dropped seed.

Choose your plants wisely. Plant green roofs to survive without irrigation. Be water wise!

Even dead plants are a success with Florida Green Roof MV's trial panels...

Even dead plans on a roof can be considered a success with respect to understanding what species work well in Florida and what species do not like living on Florida roofs.

We at MetroVerde have years of hands on, practical experience watching plants both grow and die on Florida's finicky roof environments.

The three 'H's" as I call them - Heat - Humidity and Hurricanes are three HUGE issues a Florida Green Roof designer must deal with. Each alone can make or break the survival of a green roof. Together, they make designing a successful Green Roof real tough.

Understanding what species WONT work is just as important as understanding what species will work.

The above photo of a Sedum trial panel shows that in Florida many Sedum species - aggressive elsewhere - just melt....

See www.metroverde.com....

MetroVerde Vegetated Roofs Thrive through Tropical Storm Fay!!!

I've been excited about the possibility of filming the effects of a tropical storm or hurricane on a Florida Green Roof and got my wish last week when Fay came rumbling across Jacksonville dumping 15 inches of rainfall in a 24 hour period and buffeting us with 55 MPH winds. The adjacent crepe myrtles, hollies, roses, and trees were torn apart - great method of cleaning Spanish Moss out of trees. With the steady downpour and crisp winds, the green roof plants held their own and even thrived - you should see the spurt of growth they've added....

Check out the video...



see www.metroverde.com

I am sold on the MetroVerde mat process - plants in trays probably would have blown off the sloped roof - or floated out of the trays.... With the mat system the roots embed themselves into the woven fibers.....