Auckland Botanic gardens

Living roofs have environmental benefits, particularly in an urban setting, such as slowing water runoff, reducing runoff volume, improving air quality and promoting cooling evapotranspiration. This report presents the most successful native and exotic plants for living roofs in Auckland based on ten years of data collected in trials at Auckland Botanic Gardens. Twenty-nine species suitable for thin green roofs in Auckland are identified including several species native to New Zealand such as Coprosma acerosa, Leptospermum scoparium (prostrate forms) and Carex pumila, as well as exotic species such as Aloe humilis, Neoregelia and Tulbaghia violacea. Some well-known living roof plants from the northern hemisphere do not perform well, and the contrasts between northern hemisphere habitats and species choice, and those in the southern hemisphere are discussed. Lists of plants that have performed well and those that have performed less well are provided.

Read our full paper here.