Researchers explore green roof plant options

Friday, June 3, 2011

by SUSAN MANN

Scientists in Ontario and Nova Scotia are studying the suitability of 22 different plant species and how they will survive for use in green roof habitats.

The researchers are from the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and Nova Scotia Agricultural College. The Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance and the federal government are sponsoring the project.

Dr. Rumen Conev, Vineland’s ornamental plant breeding scientist, says they’re looking to move away from more common green roof plants dominated by Sedum species to a broader selection of native plants that demonstrate sun, wind, cold and drought tolerance.

They’ve finished the construction portion of the project and have started planting. “The most important part of our research will be plant performance,” he explains.

The project will take three years to complete. When its done researchers will make recommendations on which plants performed the best and had the best survivability.

Conev says Dr. Norman Goodyear is also working on the project in Nova Scotia where one of the two test sites is located. The other site is at Vineland.

The research will help both homeowners wanting to install green roofs and companies that build them, Conev says.

In a Vineland Centre press release, it says green roofs contribute to a significant reduction in a building’s heating and cooling costs. They also help with storm water runoff management and natural habitat creation. But lack of research in planting options and managing green roof health in Canadian climatic conditions has been a barrier to their uptake.  BF