“We’ll be able to research plant survival and reproduction in a green roof environment,” Chair of Environmental Studies Jeff Sundberg said. “We’re also demonstrating the use of a roof as an ecosystem, not just a dead space, and we’re providing plants for insect pollinators in the area.”

The list of native plants the team of students and faculty members planted in the third-floor garden include:

• Milkweed - Asclepias sullivantii
  
• Poke milkweed - Asclepias exaltata
• Sideoats grama - Bouteloua curtipendula
• New Jersey tea - Ceanothus americanus
• Bottle gentian - Gentiana andrewsii
• Prairie smoke - Geum triflorum
• Royal catchfly - Silene regia
• Fire pink - Silene virginica
• Stonecrop - Sedum

“That’s just the beginning,” said Sundberg. “We will be adding a lot more plants next spring.”

Rooftop garden planting