Green Roof Alliums

Various low growing 6 10 tall alliums can be used for accent and they typically have green or bluish foliage and flowers of white pink or purple.

Green roof alliums.

Each flower head comprises a tight cluster of tiny florets that emerge deep green but mature top to bottom to rose purple. Also known as round headed leek this allium species produces cute reddish purple egg shape flower heads. Foliage colors can vary from green to yellow red and blue and flowers from white yellow and pink to reddish. What are called extensive green roofs are usually planted with low growing plants heat and drought resistant species such as sedums or grasses such as allium.

Succulents particularly colourful sedums dominate shallow substrate green roofs across temperate europe and north america. Please contact us if you are interested in installing this plant as plugs. Their low growing and or spreading habits great drought tolerance seasonal flowers and contrasting foliage colours textures and forms make them ideal candidates for green roofs. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9 can go without water.

Allium summer beauty creates a visually noticeable vertical accent adding some height to an extensive roof planting while increasing the potential for biodiversity. Two alliums that are useful on green roofs are allium cernuum and allium schoenoprasum. Available as bare root bulbs. Furthermore there are native allium species across north america and europe including the uk and france.

Other common green roof plants include ice plant delospermum sp hens and chicks sempervivum sp creeping thyme thymus serphyllum chives and ornamental onions allium sp phloxes phlox sp pussytoes anntenaria sp thrift armeria sp and false rock cress aubretia sp. Alliums are always a great choice for green roofs. These roofs are essentially maintenance free. Called chives in english it is a widely used herb.

Species could include allium schoenoprasm and cultivars allium cernuum allium senescens and subspecies etc. Foliage may remain green in some locations or in mild winters. Evergreen sedum species especially the vigorous creeping varieties such as sedum album which is hardy in u s. Both have performed admirably in studies conducted at michigan state university.