What vegetation option is right for your Extensive Garden Roof?

Vegetation selection requires understanding a wide range of factors, including microclimates, which could ultimately affect the success of a vegetated roof project. Hydrotech has 20 years’ experience on vegetated roofs all across the country and can assist in vegetation selection for your project based on your design intent.

Hydrotech offers a wide variety of extensive plants including perennials as plugs and sedums in several formats including cuttings, plugs, and pre-vegetated InstaGreen® Sedum Carpets and InstaGreen® Sedum Tiles. Each planting method allows for various degrees of design flexibility and coverage rates. Each method has particular requirements for establishment and maintenance

Hydrotech offers city specific plant lists which can be used as a great starting point for your vegetation selection. These lists include natives, grasses and succulents appropriate for your projects location.

Vegetation selection factors include:

  • Climate
  • Hardiness Zone
  • Rainfall
  • Wind
  • Sun / Shade
  • Visibility
  • Biodiversity
  • Desired coverage at installation
  • Year round interest
  • Life span
  • Vegetation size
  • Growing media depth
  • Planting time
  • Anticipated level of maintenance
  • Warranty
  • And many more…

Extensive Vegetation Options

Sedum Cuttings

Cuttings from sedum plants can provide a very effective and economical vegetated roof. Blends of cuttings can provide a wide array of textures and flower colors for the vegetated roof.

Sedum and Perennial Plugs

Custom grown plugs of a wide range of sedums, natives, grasses and other perennials are also available. Plugs can give the designer nearly unlimited freedom to create swaths of color and texture on the roof.

InstaGreen® Sedum Carpet

For a vegetated roof that is completely green once completed, Hydrotech offers InstaGreen® Sedum Carpet. Provided in approximately 4' x 6' (25 S.F.) rolls that are laid out onto the prepared media like sod, Sedum Carpet has a range of sedums that provide nearly complete coverage on Day 1 of the vegetated roof. Using sedum carpet can greatly decrease installation time and maintenance.

InstaGreen® Sedum Tile

In another format that creates an instantly green roof, Hydrotech offers InstaGreen® Sedum Tiles. Created in a 15" x 20" (2 S.F.) tile format, Sedum Tiles are available in four standard blends to address most roof top conditions, Sedum Tile is also available in custom blends.

Southern Climates

In the southern part of the country most sedum are not a viable option. While most sedum is not recommended for the south, there are many types of succulents, natives, grasses and perennials that can be used to vegetate your Garden Roof. Please contact Hydrotech for specifics.