Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Friday - November 20, 2009

From: Wayne County, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Green Roofs
Title: Plants for green roofs in Wayne County TN
Answered by: Barbara Medford and Joe Marcus, Mark Simmons

QUESTION:

Are any of the plants recommended for green roofs more subject to fire during drought conditions? Our application will be on a rustic wood cabin, thus the importance of safety from fire.

ANSWER:

If you have not already read it, please see our article on Green Roofs. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has been very active in research and development of this fairly recent technology. The lead person for that project is Dr. Mark Simmons who passed on this piece of advice.

"Although the plants are flammable, the fact that you have growing media on the roof actually can improve fire protection (this according to Austin Fire Dept). Alternatively to improve this, however, it makes sense to use a carpet of succulents - you will have to check the best species for your area." Dr. Simmons also recommended you get a copy of Green Roof Plants: A resource and planting guide. See the Bibliography below for more information. 

Another staff member at the Wildflower Center, Joe Marcus, offered these observations. 

"I would think that the relative fire susceptibility of green roofs would depend on four factors: the materials used to construct the roof, the growing media, the plants used on the roof and the moisture content of each of these."

"For example, if the roof is constructed of steel, has media high in clay content and is planted with succulents, then it would seem the fire potential would be very low. In fact, it would help prevent fires. On the other hand, if the roof of the cabin was constructed of flammable materials - wood and/or plastics - the media had high peat content (which is burned for heating and cooking in many parts of the world) and was planted in grasses, then it might be quite a fire hazard during times of drought. "

From these thoughts, we can draw a tentative conclusion that most green roofs are more fire retardant than more traditional roofs - especially more traditional cabin roofs. If you could, as Dr. Simmons suggests, incorporate succulents, a group of plants that contain quite a bit of moisture,  that would help even more.

The problem then becomes finding succulents native to Wayne Co. TN that would thrive there. Three that we found native to Tennessee and your area: 

Manfreda virginica (false aloe) More information and pictures of this plant from missouriplants.com.

Sedum ternatum (woodland stonecrop)

Sedum pulchellum (widowscross)

We suggest that you go to our Species List for Green Roofs and see what plants in that list would grow in your area. Also try this website on Succulents.

From our Native Plants Image Gallery:


Manfreda virginica

Sedum ternatum

Sedum pulchellum

 


 


 

 

 

 

 

More Green Roofs Questions

Resources for a green roof project from Wayne PA
April 14, 2013 - Hello! I am researching a project to create a native wildflower/ turf mix for a green roof. I would ideally like to grow it as a sod mat, and then install it in rolls. I am currently working as an i...
view the full question and answer

Plants for green roof gardens in Beijing, China
April 20, 2006 - I`m wondering if you would know what plants native to the area around Beijing China would be good candidates for extensive green roof gardens? Also, do you think that those hearty little pesky plants ...
view the full question and answer

Can you grow wildflowers on a Zoysia greenroof?
June 09, 2015 - I have a 700 square foot zoysia grass roof with irrigation on a pool cabana that I would like to sprinkle with wildflower seeds (bluebonnets, indian paintbrush etc) Is this possible? What is the best ...
view the full question and answer

Green roof in New York City
August 26, 2007 - Hi, I am interested in planting native plants on green roofs in New York City. I am wondering how deep your soil is on the center's native plant green roof and if it is irrigated, or was it ever irr...
view the full question and answer

Need Plants and Soil for a Green Roof in Buffalo, TX
September 13, 2010 - I'm building a green roof on my cabin in the Buffalo, Texas, area. Would you know what soil and plants would be best suited for that area? I have a lot of sand I could use, but didn't know if that...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Bibliography

Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide (2006) Snodgrass, E. C. and Snodgrass, L. L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography