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.

Through the use of tactics and strategies found in nature, green roofs can be designed to adapt to the inevitable cycles and stresses that climate can impose. This overview of ecosystem approaches shows how green roofs can be planted and designed for resilience, especially in hot, arid climates.

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.