A Selection of Plants for Green Roofs in Singapore

Rooftops have often been referred to as the last urban frontier of cities, in the sense that they represent the last significant remaining space to be exploited. Given the social, economic and environmental contributions of urban greenery to the quality of life in cities and the realization that cities more often than not lack sufficient greenery, greening of rooftops is therefore a logical, effective, and high impact way to re-inject the much-needed greenery in urban settings. The challenge is to do so in a cost-effective manner without compromising the primary functions of roofs. As we seek to use such technology in the tropics, adaptation of the technology to suit the climatic conditions of the tropics and the appropriate selection of plants are key factors of success. This handbook presents a selection of over seventy plants that are suitable for green roofs in the tropics.