Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Edmund C. Snodgrass (Author), Lucie L. Snodgrass (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2006

In just a few years, green roofs have gone from a horticultural curiosity to a booming growth industry — primarily because the environmental benefits of extensively planted roofs are now beyond dispute, whether for industrial or governmental complexes or for private homes in urban or suburban settings. Despite the high level of interest in green roofs, until now there has been no reliable reference devoted exclusively to the various species of drought-tolerant plants that are suitable for use on extensive green roofs. Green Roof Plants fills that void. The book contains photographs and cultural information for more than 200 species and cultivars of plants, including valuable data on moisture needs, heat tolerance, hardiness, bloom color, foliage characteristics, and height. Concise, accurate, and easy to use, this book is destined to become an indispensable practical reference guide, not just for architects, landscape designers, engineers, and environmentalists, but also for environmentally conscious home gardeners.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Although relatively commonplace in Japan and throughout Europe, green roof gardening is just a grassroots movement in the U.S. But ecological and economic concerns are pushing what was once a landscaping anomaly into the forefront of environmental design. It is, however, not as simple as merely re-creating a ground-level garden high atop a building. Green roof gardening must take into consideration structural engineering issues such as load bearing, waterproofing, insulation, drainage, and maintenance. These same concerns make selecting suitable plant material a challenge. The authors have compiled the first reference tool designed to help green roof gardeners determine the best drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, temperature-hardy plants. Supported by 300-plus color photographs and including cultural details on more than 200 species and cultivars, this is an essential resource for home gardeners and landscape architects and designers looking for environmentally friendly choices. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Supported by 300-plus color photographs and including cultural details on more than 200 species and cultivars, this is an essential resource for home gardeners, landscape architects, and designers looking for environmentally friendly choices."—Carol Haggas, Booklist, October 2006 (Carol Haggas Booklist )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 204 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press (October 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881927872
• ISBN-13: 978-0881927870
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Roofing

More About the Author

Edmund Snodgrass started the first green roof nursery in North America and has collaborated on green roof research with colleges and universities. He is co-owner and president of Emory Knoll Farms Inc. Ed speaks and lectures widely on green roofs and has presented in England, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada and the US. Ed in 2009 was the recipient of the Spencer P. Ellis award from the Maryland Chapter of ASLA and is the 2011 recipient of the G.B. Gunlogson Award from the American Horticultural Society.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must read on Greenroof plants, January 11, 2007

By 

Robert Long (Western NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide (Hardcover)

I am in the greenroof nursery business and found Ed Snodgrass' book informative, well organized and written. It is going to serve as one of the most useful reference books in my business library. It will be especially useful for greenroof planners when deciding on plant species to use.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Guide by the Definitve Experts, October 27, 2007

By 

Steven Seelig (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide (Hardcover)

I first must confess that have a green roof on my 2 car rear garage here in Washington, DC and worked directly with the author on choosing the proper plants to thrive in our little micro-climate. So I already know the Snodgrass' are the pre-eminent experts in the United States on the types of plants suitable for a given situation.

That being said, this book provides an invaluable resource for those interested in, or who may become interested in, having a green roof for their home. When we installed our roof 4 years ago, had we not met the authors we would have had great difficulty in even knowing where to begin. Now all of us have that starting point: by reading Green Roof Plants.

And don't think you must be an environmentalist to consider installing a green roof - many do so simply for the aesthetics. In fact, as city dwellers with limited space, we chose a green roof to have something beautiful to view from our kitchen. I suspect there are many of you who really never have thought of having a green roof and would be consigned to a lifetime of looking down or up at a plain shingled, painted or tarred roof. Don't be that homeowner! Installation of a green roof adds perhaps 10-20% to the cost of a painted roof, extend the roof's life and provides significant environmental benefits. Go for it, and buy this book first!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A basic overview of green roof plants, January 15, 2007

By 

James Barnard (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide (Hardcover)

The book gives a basic introduction to Vegetated roofs and then provides the best comprehensive and well organized list of potential roof plants I've seen so far. Its going to be an excellent reference book when we begin to experiment with different plant varieties atop our manhattan apartment building.