Articles

Planting Rooftops for Therapeutic Environments

Plants have long supported human health, with modern medicine using them in over half of pharmaceuticals. Recently, their biophilic benefits, like reducing stress and lowering blood pressure, have gained recognition in hospitals. This article explores a case study of an outdated medical center transformed with plants, including rooftop greenery, for therapeutic effects.

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Spring 2024, Plant Profile, Bruce Dvorak Bruce Dvorak Spring 2024, Plant Profile, Bruce Dvorak Bruce Dvorak

Recovering Green Roofs to Feed Native Birds

Bird populations are an indicator of ecosystem health. Birds are in decline worldwide primarily due to the destruction and degradation of their habitat by humans. By design, green roofs can be planted to feed and shelter birds. This article reviews how green roofs have been planted to recover habitats for feeding birds.

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Plant Profile, Fall 2023, Bruce Dvorak Bruce Dvorak Plant Profile, Fall 2023, Bruce Dvorak Bruce Dvorak

Planting Green Roofs For Extreme Heat and Drought

Identifying plants that naturally adapt to heat and drought stress in any biogeographic region may be as simple as visiting a nature preserve. In this article learn how plants, native to glades, barrens and alvars may harbor a variety of species that thrive on green roofs with only marginal use of water. These “habitat templates” can inform which plants might survive extreme climate events (like El Ninos), even on green roofs.

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Fall 2022, Plant Profile Bruce Dvorak Fall 2022, Plant Profile Bruce Dvorak

Water and Plants for Wet, Mesic, or Xeric Green Roofs

This article explores several seasoned green roofs where designers selected plants for their preferences for wet to dry habitats. Plants that thrive in wet, mesic, or xeric (dry) conditions can be employed on green roofs to perform a range of integrated building functions such as energy conservation, micro-climate mitigation, or cleaning of wastewater.

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Plant Profile, Fall 2021 Bruce Dvorak Plant Profile, Fall 2021 Bruce Dvorak

Four Approaches to Making Living Roofs With Native Plants

There is a great potential for and an essential role for making green roofs with native plants. If conservation practices are not taking place at the ground level, or if the native plant communities have already been significantly altered, then living roofs may provide a last chance to support the ecological heritage of the region. This article explores four approaches to make living roofs with native plants.

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Plant Profile, Spring 2021 Bruce Dvorak Plant Profile, Spring 2021 Bruce Dvorak

Exceptional Green Roofs from the West

Howdy! so goes a proper greeting from Texas. I am honored to step into this column and continue the conversation about plants for green roofs. In this inaugural issue of LAM’s new and revamped all online format, I will discuss how green roofs can also undergo editing and revamping of the plant palette over time, using examples from the Western US.

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