AT: HNPAT – NATIVE PLANTS FOR GREEN ROOFS

by Bruce Dvorak

Green roofs provide essential ecosystem services that can mitigate ecological imbalances caused by urbanization. Green roofs retain and delay stormwater runoff, conserve energy in buildings, reduce urban heat islands, and can recover habitat for native biodiversity. Although green roofs hold much promise to improve urban ecology in western cities, exotic sedum are perceived as the preferred choice by many designers for extensive green roofs. During five months of 2018, Bruce Dvorak visited over 140 green roofs in the western U.S. and Canada to observe prairie-based and climate-adapted green roofs, and gather materials for a book. This presentation explores how vegetation native to Texas, Colorado, Kansas, and the Western U.S. and Canada is being used on green roofs.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

To demonstrate how native plant communities can become a source of inspiration for green roofs
To demonstrate which kinds of native vegetation can be used on green roofs
Present maintenance findings and different watering treatments for green roofs
Discuss plants used on green roofs in Texas, and other hot and dry climates of the West

Bruce Dvorak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. He has taught landscape architecture and the application of green technologies since 2007. In professional practice, Bruce was involved with the design and management of a number of recognized green roofs including the Chicago City Hall Green Roof Pilot Project. In 2009, Professor Dvorak established the Interdisciplinary Green Roof Research Work Group at Texas A&M. Dvorak and his research colleagues have investigated over one-hundred plant species, and ecosystem services on green roofs and living walls at Texas A&M. Professor Dvorak received the 2017 Award of Excellence in Research from Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.