Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Tuesday - December 08, 2009
From: Corneilius, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Need a ground cover to stop erosion on a slope next to a pond.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
I have a large natural pond. One side has a steep slope. I need a attractive,low/no maintenance, evergreen? plant to stop the erosion into the pond. Cornelius/charlotte ncANSWER:
Generally, when Mr. Smarty Plants thinks about stopping erosion, he thinks about grasses. Grasses and/or sedges are very efficient in controlling erosion since their fibrous root systems hold the soil very well.
Here is a short list of sedges and grasses whose distribution includes North Carolina
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)
Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill)
Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass)
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)
Also, here are some woody perennials that could help your situation.
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry)
Leucothoe axillaris (coastal doghobble)
Pieris floribunda (mountain fetterbush) plus images
Vaccinium crassifolium (creeping blueberry plus images
Morella caroliniensis (southern bayberry) plus images
For help closer to home, you might contact the folks at NC Cooperative Extension in Mecklenburg County .
More Erosion Control Questions
Smoky Mountains Shaded Slope Plant Suggestions
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...
view the full question and answer
Erosion Control in Bartlesville OK
May 10, 2012 - What kind of plants can we use to stop erosion and loss of bank on a creek that is mostly shaded? Is there any free advice/plants for people that are losing land due to water levels rising/dropping?
view the full question and answer
Retention ponds for states in southeast, from Greenville SC
July 14, 2012 - We provide maintenance for Stormwater detention ponds and are looking for native grasses to plant in the bottom and sides of typically dry detention basins. Prefer low growing grasses that spread to...
view the full question and answer
Limiting erosion around pond from Brooklyn Park MN
May 20, 2013 - Minnesota resident, wants to find plant limit erosion from pond?
view the full question and answer
Wildflowers for floodplain near Denton, TX
March 22, 2015 - Hello, I am a member of my HOA board and am researching the possibility of filling in our floodplains with wildflowers. Currently the floodplains are grass only and span a few acres.
Our goal is to t...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |