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.
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.
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Sunday - April 04, 2010
From: Moon Twp, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Plants to hold a slope in Western PA
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
We have a hillside that keeps moving/sliding due to lack of vegetation. What kind of ground covering can we plant to help maintain and stabilize the hillside? If you need to know the climate here, we live in Western Pa.ANSWER:
You don't mention what the light exposure of your site is, if you are in a rurual or suburban setting and if you are looking for something manicured and restrained or if you would like something a little more wild.
Whenever you choose a native plant, you have the opportunity to restore some of the habitat you have taken by putting your house on the land and to increase biodiversity on your site.
In general, soils on a slope are quick draining so you will be looking for plants that are drought tolerant and have fibrous root systems (like grasses) or spread by underground runners. The plants you ultimately select will be dependant on what is available in the nurseries where you live, but you can create a wish list by visiting our Native Plant database. If you perform a Combination Search for Pennsylvania on that page selecting dry soil, your light conditions and then plant type (you can do separate searches for grasses, perennials and shrubs) it will generate plant lists for you. Each plant has a link back to a detailed information page with images.
Here are some plants selected from those lists that should work for you.
Grasses
Ammophila breviligulata (American beachgrass)
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)
Perennials (Herbs)
Anaphalis margaritacea (western pearly everlasting) (this can be a vigoros spreader)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Oenothera fruticosa ssp. glauca (narrowleaf evening-primrose)
Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia spiderwort)
Shrubs
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern)
Mahonia repens (creeping barberry)
Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac)
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Grasses for shady areas
November 24, 2013 - I would like to know which grasses would grow in mostly shady part of the house.
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Wildflower field for sewage leach field from Olga Washington
August 01, 2012 - I am interested in planting a large native wildflower field at a resort in the San Juan Islands in Washington State. It would be over a sewage leach field for many cabins and bathrooms. Are there any ...
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Help with Habiturf from Bertram TX
March 24, 2014 - I am a resident of Bertram..about 45 min northwest of Austin. I have 1.33 acres of land with my home on it. My front pasture is pretty nice native grass but my backyard is full of weeds. I'm guessing...
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Plants for a children's playground
April 20, 2015 - We have extensive native gardens on our 2 acre property, but my children want a garden of their own with plants they can hide under and that are good for imaginative play. Are there any native plants...
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Is nimblewil (Muhlenbergia schreberi) a turf grass or a weed
July 26, 2008 - Mr. SP,
I have seen nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) both promoted as a turf grass and disparaged as an invasive pest. Do you have an opinion on this grass and whether/where/how it should be us...
view the full question and answer
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