Native Plants
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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Friday - May 08, 2009
From: Leavenworth, KS
Region: Midwest
Topic: Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Native plants for eroding hillside in Kansas
Answered by: Nina Hawkins
QUESTION:
We have a creek running thru our property and the hill running down to it is about 30 feet tall, in some places almost straight down, some sloping. Some is in shade, some full sun. We would like some flowering plants, if possible, that will aid with erosion since the rain water is washing the hillside.ANSWER:
Your best bet for effective erosion control is definitely grasses because their fibrous roots hold soil very well. But there's certainly no reason that should stop you from having wildflowers too. Grasses are not to be underestimated - they provide interest when your flowers aren't blooming and many look great en masse. You can find a wide variety of native plants that are recommended for your area on our Recommended Species page, where you can also narrow your search to certain characteristics and choose the water and light requirements specific to a spot on your hillside. Below are some beautiful grasses and a few wildflowers that often grow among grasses. These plants are native to Kansas and several are known to reseed freely to form colonies.
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Koeleria macrantha (prairie Junegrass)
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
Echinacea angustifolia (blacksamson echinacea)
Liatris pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)
Tradescantia ohiensis (bluejacket)
Chamaecrista fasciculata (partridge pea)
More Erosion Control Questions
Plants for steep clay bank in Summerfield OH
April 07, 2012 - Hello, We have a steep 15-20 foot high bank behind our house here in southern Ohio. Probably 50 ft.long. What could we plant for beauty and erosion control. It is nasty clay soil with lots of shale an...
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Plants for a bank too steep to mow
June 24, 2009 - Like the inquiry made in late June of 2008, mine involves a bank that is too steep to mow. However, ours is facing south. I am looking for a native grass, plant or groundcover. Any suggestions?
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May 24, 2012 - We are trying to beautify and stabilize a relatively large lakeside steep slope with a southern exposure in central Virginia. The soil is characterized by red clay and shale rock. How can we turn this...
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April 29, 2013 - We live in a very shady spot in Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. We would like to plant vegetation on a sloped area behind our cottage to stop erosion after building an addition. Our h...
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Landscaping on South Padre Island
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