The ESF Gateway Center: Use of Native Plants on an Intensive Green Roof

The use of plant species from native plant communities is an emerging element of landscape design that focuses on learning lessons from plants’ native growing environments. Species from very difficult growing conditions can be particularly useful in built landscapes. SUNY ESF applied these concepts to the Gateway Center garden using plants native to two New York communities – the alvar grassland community and the East Ontario dune community.  FLNPS members who have visited this garden have had wildly enthusiastic reports. Come hear about the evolution of this green space, its successes and its challenges.

PHOTO by SUNY-ESF