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Roof gardens bring nature to urban spaces. These green oases transform empty rooftops into lush retreats. We can grow plants high above the city streets, creating peaceful spots to relax and enjoy fresh air.
The right plants make roof gardens thrive in tough conditions. Some plants do better than others in windy, sunny spots. We’ve picked 21 great options that can handle life on a rooftop. These plants are tough enough to grow well and look good all season long.
1. Lavender
Lavender is a top pick for roof gardens in urban areas. We love its purple blooms and sweet scent that can fill the air. This plant is tough and can handle hot, dry spots.
Lavender doesn’t need much water once it’s settled in. It’s perfect for busy city folks who can’t water plants every day. The plant also attracts bees and butterflies, which is great for the environment.
We recommend planting lavender in pots or raised beds on your roof. It likes full sun and good drainage. With proper care, lavender can thrive and add beauty to your urban green space for years.
2. Rosemary
Rosemary is a fantastic choice for roof gardens. This hardy herb thrives in sunny spots and can handle dry conditions well.
We love rosemary for its fragrant leaves and pretty blue flowers. It’s also useful in cooking, adding flavor to many dishes.
Rosemary grows as a small shrub, reaching about 3-4 feet tall. It needs good drainage, so it’s perfect for containers on rooftops.
This plant is low-maintenance and doesn’t need much water once established. It can even tolerate some neglect, making it ideal for busy urban gardeners.
3. Thyme
Thyme is a fantastic choice for roof gardens. This hardy herb thrives in sunny spots and doesn’t need much water. It’s perfect for small spaces and containers.
We love thyme for its fragrant leaves and pretty flowers. It attracts bees and butterflies too. Thyme comes in different varieties, like common thyme and lemon thyme.
This plant is easy to care for and adds flavor to many dishes. It grows well alongside other herbs and flowers. Thyme can handle heat and wind, making it ideal for rooftop conditions.
4. Mint
Mint is a top choice for roof gardens. It grows fast and spreads easily, filling spaces quickly. We love its fresh scent and versatile uses in cooking and drinks.
This hardy herb can handle full sun or partial shade. It doesn’t need much water, making it perfect for busy urban gardeners.
Mint comes in many varieties like peppermint and spearmint. We suggest planting it in containers to control its growth. This stops it from taking over your whole garden.
Mint attracts bees and butterflies, adding life to your rooftop oasis. Its leaves can be used fresh or dried for teas and recipes all year round.
5. Basil
Basil is an excellent choice for roof gardens. This aromatic herb thrives in sunny spots and adds a burst of flavor to urban green spaces.
We recommend planting basil in containers or raised beds. It grows well in warm weather and needs regular watering to stay healthy.
Basil comes in many varieties, including sweet basil, Thai basil, and purple basil. Each type offers unique flavors and scents for your rooftop oasis.
This herb is easy to care for and grows quickly. You can harvest basil leaves often to encourage bushier growth and enjoy fresh herbs all season long.
6. Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are a great choice for roof gardens. They bring beauty and color to urban spaces. These flowering shrubs thrive in partial shade, making them perfect for many rooftop settings.
Some hydrangea varieties do well in city conditions. The bigleaf hydrangea is a popular option. It has big, showy blooms that can change color based on soil pH.
Oakleaf hydrangeas are another good pick. They’re tough and can handle different light levels. Their unique leaves add interest even when not in bloom.
For smaller roof gardens, compact hydrangea varieties work best. They don’t take up too much space but still offer lovely flowers. With proper care, hydrangeas can be stunning additions to any urban rooftop garden.
7. Ferns
Ferns are a great choice for roof gardens. They add a lush, green look and thrive in shady spots. Many ferns are tough and can handle different weather conditions.
Lady ferns are a popular option. They grow well in containers and don’t need much care. Boston ferns are another good pick. They have long, drooping fronds that look nice in hanging baskets.
Maidenhair ferns are delicate but beautiful. They need more water and care than other types. Japanese painted ferns bring color with their silver and purple leaves.
We recommend choosing ferns that match your roof’s conditions. Some need more shade, while others can take some sun. With the right care, ferns can make your roof garden feel like a green oasis.
8. Hostas
Hostas are excellent choices for roof gardens, especially in shaded areas. These hardy perennials come in many sizes and colors, from miniature varieties to large specimens.
We love hostas for their lush foliage and low maintenance needs. They thrive in containers, making them perfect for urban spaces with limited soil depth.
Hostas prefer moist, rich soil and partial to full shade. In roof gardens, they can create a cool, green oasis. Their leaves range from blue-green to variegated patterns, adding visual interest.
For small roof spaces, consider compact varieties like ‘Pandora’s Box’. Larger types like ‘Sum and Substance’ work well as statement plants in bigger areas.
9. Petunias
Petunias are a top choice for roof gardens in urban areas. These colorful flowers thrive in full sun and can handle the heat well. We love how they bloom continuously from spring to fall, adding vibrant pops of color to any space.
Petunias come in many varieties and shades, from pink and purple to red and white. They work great in hanging baskets or containers, making them perfect for small roof gardens.
These plants are fairly low-maintenance. They need regular watering and occasional fertilizing to keep blooming strong. Deadheading spent flowers encourages more blooms throughout the season.
Petunias attract butterflies and hummingbirds, bringing extra life to urban roof gardens. Their cascading growth habit creates a beautiful, softening effect on the hard edges of buildings and containers.
10. Geraniums
Geraniums are a top choice for roof gardens. They add bright colors and can handle full sun. These flowers come in many shades like red, pink, and white.
Geraniums are tough plants that don’t need much water. They can survive in hot and dry conditions. This makes them great for rooftops where watering might be tricky.
We love geraniums for their long blooming season. They flower from spring to fall, giving months of beauty. Geraniums also grow well in pots, perfect for roof spaces.
11. Heuchera
Heuchera, also known as coral bells, is a great choice for roof gardens. These plants come in many colors and add visual interest to urban green spaces.
Heucheras thrive in full sun to partial shade. They grow well in zones 4-9 and reach heights of 8-12 inches.
We love varieties like ‘Electra’ with lime green leaves and red veins. ‘Can-Can’ is another pretty option with ruffled silver-purple foliage.
Heucheras are low-maintenance and work well in containers. Their compact size makes them perfect for small roof spaces.
12. Succulents
Succulents are excellent choices for roof gardens. These plants store water in their leaves and stems, making them very drought-tolerant.
We love succulents for their low maintenance needs. They can thrive in the harsh conditions often found on rooftops, including strong sun and wind.
Some great succulent options include stonecrop (Sedum) varieties. Orange stonecrop and gold moss stonecrop add beautiful colors to green roofs.
Succulents come in many shapes and sizes. This allows for interesting visual designs in rooftop gardens.
Their shallow root systems put less stress on roof structures. This makes succulents ideal for lightweight green roof installations.
13. Sedum
Sedum plants are excellent choices for roof gardens. They’re tough, drought-resistant, and thrive in sunny spots. These succulents come in many varieties, offering different colors and textures.
We love sedum for its low maintenance needs. It doesn’t require much water or care once established. This makes it perfect for busy urban gardeners.
Sedum also helps with insulation and rainwater management. It can absorb excess water during storms and release it slowly. This helps protect buildings and reduce runoff.
Some popular sedum varieties for roof gardens include Sedum acre, Sedum album, and Sedum spurium. Each offers unique features and beauty to green spaces.
14. Sempervivum
Sempervivum, also known as hens and chicks, is an excellent choice for roof gardens. These succulents are tough and adaptable, thriving in harsh conditions.
Sempervivum forms rosettes of fleshy leaves in various colors. They spread by producing offsets, creating attractive clusters over time.
We love how low-maintenance these plants are. They need very little water and can withstand extreme temperatures. This makes them perfect for exposed rooftop environments.
Sempervivum works well in shallow containers or green roof systems. They add visual interest with their unique shapes and colors. Plus, they help insulate the roof and absorb rainwater.
15. Calibrachoa
Calibrachoa, also known as Million Bells, is a great choice for roof gardens. These small, colorful flowers bloom all season long and are easy to care for.
We love Calibrachoa for its compact size and trailing habit. It works well in hanging baskets or containers along the edges of a roof garden.
Calibrachoa comes in many vibrant colors like pink, purple, yellow, and red. The flowers look like tiny petunias and attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
These plants need full sun and well-draining soil. We recommend watering them regularly, especially on hot days. A slow-release fertilizer will keep them blooming strong all summer.
Calibrachoa is heat-tolerant and doesn’t need deadheading. This makes it a low-maintenance option for busy urban gardeners.
16. Echinacea
Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a great choice for roof gardens. These tough plants thrive in full sun and can handle dry conditions.
We love echinacea for its colorful daisy-like flowers that bloom from summer to fall. They come in shades of purple, pink, white, and even yellow.
Echinacea attracts butterflies and bees, adding life to your rooftop oasis. These plants are also low-maintenance, making them perfect for busy urban gardeners.
For roof gardens, we recommend compact varieties like ‘Sombrero Salsa Red’. They grow to about 50-60 cm tall and wide, fitting well in containers.
17. Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a great choice for roof gardens. These cheerful flowers bring bright splashes of color to urban green spaces. We love how they bloom all summer long with minimal care.
Coreopsis plants are tough and can handle hot, dry conditions. This makes them perfect for rooftop environments. They come in shades of yellow, orange, and red.
We recommend planting coreopsis in containers or raised beds. They need well-draining soil and full sun. Water them when the soil feels dry. Deadheading spent blooms will keep them flowering longer.
These plants attract butterflies and bees. They add beauty and support urban wildlife at the same time. Coreopsis is a smart pick for any roof garden.
18. Daylilies
Daylilies are great plants for roof gardens. They’re tough and can handle different weather conditions well. These flowers come in many colors, giving us lots of options to brighten up our urban spaces.
We love how easy daylilies are to grow. They don’t need much care and can thrive in containers. This makes them perfect for busy city gardeners.
Daylilies bloom for a long time, giving our roof gardens color all summer. We can plant different types to create eye-catching patterns. Their grass-like leaves also look nice when they’re not flowering.
19. Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies are a great choice for roof gardens. These cheerful flowers have white petals and yellow centers and bloom from late spring to midsummer.
Shasta daisies grow well in full sun and need well-draining soil. We can plant them in spring or fall. These flowers reach 1-3 feet tall. They spread about 1-2 feet wide. Shasta daisies are hardy in zones 5-9.
When first planted, Shasta daisies should be watered regularly. Once established, they can handle some drought. Deadheading helps keep them blooming longer. Shasta daisies attract butterflies to our roof garden. They also make nice-cut flowers for indoor bouquets.
20. Japanese Maple
Japanese maples are stunning trees for roof gardens. They come in many varieties with beautiful foliage colors. These trees thrive in zones 5-8 and can grow up to 25 feet tall.
Some compact varieties only reach 4-5 feet, perfect for smaller spaces. Japanese maples prefer partial shade in most areas. They need protection from strong winds and hot afternoon sun.
Popular varieties include ‘Bloodgood’ with deep purple leaves and ‘Red Dragon’ with a weeping habit. The ‘Osakazuki’ type offers brilliant red fall color. We love Japanese maples for their elegant shape and colorful leaves that change with the seasons. They add a touch of zen to any rooftop oasis.
21. Boxwood
Boxwood shrubs are excellent choices for roof gardens. These compact evergreens add structure and year-round greenery to urban spaces. We recommend Japanese boxwood for rooftop gardens. It’s heat-tolerant and has a slow growth rate, making it ideal for container planting.
Boxwoods thrive in partial sun to partial shade. They adapt well to various soil types but prefer well-draining mixes. Regular pruning keeps boxwoods in shape.
We suggest trimming them in spring or early summer to maintain their desired form. These plants are low-maintenance once established. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
