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Project |
County |
Drought tolerant plants |
Docs |
| 1 |
Storage Building, Wayne Community College |
Wayne |
Plant species that have done especially well at this site are Sedum Reflexum, Delosperma Nubigenum, Sedum Album, and Sedum Album Murale, all drought tolerant succulants. These species have done well in both 2 in. and 4 in. soil media depths; however there is on average a 30-40% difference in plant coverage of the soil between the 2 in. and 4 in. media depth. Little maintenance has been needed for this site. Clearing debris from the drain of the roof has been the only maintenance needed for this roof.
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| 2 |
Offices of Brown Architecture (Now Rosies Plate) |
Wake |
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| 3 |
Third Creek Elementary School |
Iredell |
All of the trees planted on the site were selected to be fast growing and drought resistant. “Learning Gardens” will be planted with drought-resistant native vegetation.
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| 4 |
Willow Spring Fire Station |
Wake |
In lieu of removing the main temporary sediment basin at completion of grading, the grades were slightly modified and planted with water and drought tolerant landscaping. This “rain garden” fills with water after rains and slowly releases the water into the sandy soil or by evaporation. The plants thrive on the nitrogen-rich storm water runoff. The nitrogen is captured by the rain garden and absorbed by the plants.
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| 5 |
RAFI-USA (Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA) |
Chatham |
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| 6 |
Mint Hill Middle School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
Mecklenburg |
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| 7 |
US EPA RTP (Main Building) |
Durham |
EPA saved on the cost of campus maintenance by minimizing turf and foregoing a lawn sprinkler system. Native or non-invasive adapted species are used throughout the campus, ensuring hardy plantings that will withstand the frequent droughts experienced in the Research Triangle area.
These landscape features save more than just water. Since the need to mow has been greatly reduced, there is a savings in resource use and related gasoline combustion pollution avoidance. Fertilizer needs are reduced, and Integrated Pest Management practices reduce or eliminate the need for pesticides and herbicides.
Native trees and shrubs – Landscape plantings of only southeastern US native trees and shrubs are planted along the site perimeter to enhance indigenous habitat disturbed during site clearing.
Native grasses and wildflowers – Wildflower meadows, comprised of indigenous warm season grasses and naturalized wildflowers, are sowed along most roadways for aesthetic value and wildlife benefit. Six successive planting stages over a three-year period insure effective establishment and viability. Twice yearly mowing to control volunteer tree growth is expected to be the only long-term maintenance required.
For more details about this technology/strategy and project, including photos, a video, detailed documents, and specifications, see
http://www.epa.gov/rtp/new-bldg/environmental/environmental.htm
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| 8 |
US EPA National Computer Center |
Durham |
Instead of expansive fields of ornamental grass and plants that require maintenance and heavy watering in the summer months, the landscape incorporates native and adapted species of non-invasive plants. As a result, there are no water sprinklers on the entire campus, as watering is not necessary.
For more details about this technology/strategy and project, including photos, a video, detailed documents, and specifications, see
http://www.epa.gov/rtp/new-bldg/environmental/environmental.htm
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| 9 |
T.S. Designs, Inc. |
Alamance |
The site has gone from mowing and fertilizing to a no-irrigation, natural landscape. The edges are still mown in order to make the site look cared for. Many tree seedlings were planted, and sheet mulch – biodegradable cardboard under mulch – is used around the base of the trees. Native and drought-tolerant plants were planted around the site. A mulched path circles the 4-acre site, and the mulch comes from chipped storm debris from the city. For more about all the sustainable features of this manufacturing facility, including its use of organic cotton, see its website: www.tsdesigns.com
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| 10 |
Creech Road Elementary School, Wake County Public School System |
Wake |
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| 11 |
Mickey’s Pastry Shop |
Wayne |
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| 12 |
Solterra Common House |
Durham |
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| 13 |
EcoDorm at Warren Wilson College |
Buncombe |
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| 14 |
Eno Commons Cohousing Neighborhood |
Durham |
Landscape Team of residents helps individuals with plant choices, if asked, and distributed lists of native plants and the sites to which they were suited.
Natives are encouraged, but not required. Most common area landscaping is with natives.
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| 15 |
Saver & White Residence |
Dare |
Native plants were conserved in the development of the site. Revegetation materials include native grasses and flowers such as purple muhly, tickweed sunflower, passion vine, cross vine, viburnum, etc but also well adapted cultivars including azaleas, japanese maples, and gardenias.
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| 16 |
Apex Elementary School |
Wake |
Drought tolerant and low maintanence planting was used.
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| 17 |
Cary Elementary School |
Wake |
Type of plants used: swamp blueberry, bottombush, pepperbush, swamp blackgum, bald cypress, swamp chesnut oak and wax myrtle.
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| 18 |
Westwood Cohousing Community |
Buncombe |
Many gardens were planted to withstand drought conditions.
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| 19 |
Orange Water and Sewer Authority Operations Center |
Orange |
Drought tolerant plant selection eliminated the need for an irrigation system.
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| 20 |
Greenroof Garden Shed, Raleigh |
Wake |
Drought tolerant plants were planted on the green roof and include species of Delosperma, Sempervivum, Euphorbia, Sedum, Talinum, Allium, and Daffodil. Also, a native species of club moss (Lycopodium) collected from a sandy scrub community has performed well on the green roof. The club moss sticks to Sempervivum leaves thus keeping it from blowing off the roof. The peak of the roof is the most challenging area to keep plants alive. Presumably this is caused by the higher rate that the media on the peak of the roof is completely dry. Species of Sempervivum seem to be the best plant for this extremely xeric region of the roof. Some of the plants were provided by Emory Knoll Farms.
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