Developing Australian green roofs: Overview of a 5-year research program

Abstract

Green or vegetated roofs are increasingly built in cities to provide multiple environmental and social benefits and are an emerging horticultural industry in Australia. Since 2008, researchers at the University of Melbourne s Burnley Campus have undertaken transdiciplinary research developing and evaluating green roofs for southern Australian conditions which are characterised by hot, dry summers. We have quantified plant performance through experiments on roofs and in controlled environments, using both Australian native and exotic species, to identify plant physiological and morphological traits that will improve green roof performance. We have developed lightweight mineral substrates base..