), duck potato ( Sagittaria lancifolia ), golden canna ( Canna flaccida ), spikerush ( Eleocharis spp. A native Woodland perennial. She has 30+ years of experience with year-round organic gardening; seed starting and saving; growing heirloom plants, perennials, and annuals; and sustainable and urban farming. Excellent ground cover for low, moist areas. Reaches 18 to 24 inches tall and wide. Fortunately, certain plants can be effective in preventing erosion on slopes of up to 33 percent (thats 1foot of elevation change for every3 feet of horizontal distance), according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). First, conserve existing native vegetation and plant communities. Tops out between 12 to 24 inches tall. David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience. Receive free, no-commitment estimate from lawn service professionals near you. Fern stalks resemble clusters of beads. 21 Best Ferns for Your Garden Once the plants are established they will require little else. Blooms late Spring to mid Summer. Maud Powell | (Image courtesy John Jennings, Extension Forages Specialist.) The leaves have a leathery feel and look that lends further interest to your property. Forsythia (zones 5 to 8, 4 to 6 feettall) is one such plant, ashrub that flowers in early spring. Fronds die back in early Spring. Tolerates normal, sandy, or clay soil conditions. Clay soil is another cause of erosion. Likes part Sun and part shade to full Sun garden conditions. Reaches 1 to 3 feet tall. Its root system creates a dense network. Likes full Sun garden conditions. Rainbow Rhythm Primal Scream Daylily, a Hemerocallis hybrid has large, tangerine orange blossoms. You can find an excellent list of native plants for erosion control on pages 220 and 221 of the recent book, "California Native Plants for the Garden" by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, and Bart O'Brien. In a sunny spot, grow this zone-6-to-9 oddity as a companion plant forSedum rupestreAngelina; the gold color of the latter's leaves will create a striking contrast. Usually 1 1/2' in height. If your yard is on a slope, you could be losing soil through water and wind erosion. Fairfax, VA 22035, Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, Soil and Water Conservation District Homepage, About the Soil and Water Conservation District, Plants for Erosion Control - Solving Drainage and Erosion Problems. The 6 inch fragrant blooms have ruffled petals. Consider whether you need a cool or warm-season variety. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Fragrant blooms appear early through late Spring. Over heavy periods of rainfall, some yard debris will wash away. In your plant selection, aim for a balance between beauty and practicality. Nov 2013 | Blooms early through late Fall. Cut back in early spring to make room for fresh new foliage. There are many native plants that are good for erosion and, once established, need little maintenance and are tolerant of the conditions in the site. Similar: Maple-leaf viburnum, Viburnum acerifolium. Peer reviewed (Orange level). Well-chosen native plants can flourish in public and private landscapes. Delivers great Fall and Winter interest in the garden. Do not remove native plants from the wild. Grows in zones 3 to 9. Listed on Apr 9, 2023 The result is that soil sticks together to allow microscopic bacteria to decay the nutrients into the soil. Its nitrogen-fixing capabilities make it perfect for a site with depleted soil. Dramatic foliage interest. Foliage is a dark purple green color. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! This foot-tall perennial tolerant of full shade is hardy in zones 4 to 8. A slower spreading fern. Home Fires Creeping Phlox is also known as Phlox stolonifera. Wild Blue Phlox is also known as Phlox divaricata or Wild Sweet William. Tolerates heat, drought, humidity. Red chokeberry, Photinia pyrifolia. The upright spadix is known as the Jack. Q: The grass in my yardwhich is in partial shade since the trees around it have grown up, and on a slight slopehas been dying for the past several years. (If your slope is steeper, consult a landscape architect for additional soil protection measures; slopes greater than 50 percent require structures like retaining walls.). Take a look. Learn what plants are native in your area. Tolerates sandy, loamy, or clay soil conditions. Then age to a tan color. Water regularly to establish the root system. Read more articles about Environmental Problems. Grows in zones 3 to 10. Moisture level average, moist and wet, well draining soil moisture. Blooms in June and July. Plant these perennials to retain garden soil. Tolerant of salt conditions. Roots spread quickly to cover bare, shady slopes with elegant. Grows in zones 3 to 9. Likes part Sun and part shade to full Sun conditions. If you want seasonal color, select a plant like Kinnikinnick. Rounded green fruits follow the blooms. A native phlox that blooms from late Spring to early Summer. Grows in zones 4 to 9. Blooms mid to late Summer. Foliage is dark-green above and purple beneath. Plant in loamy soil conditions. Utilizing native plants can help anchor soil and reduce run-off. Flowers are hooded green blooms with burgundy striped interiors. baking sun and low rainfall) have forced these plants to adapt with an extensive root system. These are just a few of the erosion control plants available. Grow Elephant Ears for a Tropical Garden Look Arrowwood viburnum, Viburnum dentatum. The roots and stems minimize erosion and buffer the water from pollutants like phosphorus and nitrogen that may runoff yards. Figure 2 shows how erosion rate decreases as the soil is covered by vegetation. Can you suggest some plants that will flourish while helping to control erosion? Spread is between 12 to 30 inches wide. And incredibly attractive plants. Importantly, they also provide necessary habitat for a variety of animals. Likes part Sun and part shade to full Sun. Native woodland Wild Blue has fragrant pale lavender to blue flowers. Disclosure, New Video: Watch How My Seedlings Are Doing. Check out more images in our forages database. Plant in containers, mass plantings, or as a specimen. Plant in loamy, moist to wet soil conditions. Tolerates full Sun with rich and consistently damp soil conditions. Tolerant of wet sites. Cotoneaster horizontalis(zones 5 to 7) is another choice from the shrub world that is among the best plants for erosion control. Blooms mid Summer. That dusty, lifeless soil is prone to blowing or leaching away, leaving exposed areas that become rife with weeds and unwanted species. Wild geranium, Geranium maculatum. Minimize habitat disturbance. White flower spires in early spring, crimson foliage in fall, good in masses. River oats (grass), Chasmanthium latifolium. 12000 Government Center Pkwy Tolerant of salt conditions. Reducing soil erosion conditions that promote soil erosion are rain, wind, physical disturbance and overuse. Attracts hummingbirds. Most any native fern likes shady, moist conditions. Upright mounding growth. Plant Muhly grass at a 3-foot spacing in USDA zones 6 through 10. Reaches 1 to 2 feet high. Beautiful and robust ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) is a great erosion control plant for low-light graded areas. Then in the Fall, foliage becomes a rich brown color. Comes in many cultivars with bronze and purple leaves and is semi-evergreen. Grows in zones 4 to 8. It also includes a brief description of procedures for establishing a new orchard. Foliage has large heart-shaped leaves some 6 inches in diameter. Blooms early through late Spring. Approximately 6-10'. Grows in zones 3 to 9. Blooms in August and September. November gardening tasks include raking up leaves and debris and covering plants for the winter. Great for woodland, swamp or marsh locations. Like creeping myrtle,Pachysandra terminalisis a short (6 inches), evergreen ground cover for shade. Wild Ginger is known as Asarum canadense or Woodland Ginger. Growing the right type of plants aids in garden soil retention. Building a retaining wall. Violets, Viola spp. Woodland phlox, Phlox divaricata. Likes loamy, moist to wet soil conditions. A Plant a rain garden (see photo left) using native plants in a low-lying area of your yard to allow stormwater to infiltrate slowly into the ground rather than running off into the nearest storm drain. Preventing erosion with native plants . Likes full Sun, part Sun and part shade to full shade garden conditions. Aug 2018 | Likes full shade to part Sun and part shade. Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) forms a glossy, broadleaf, evergreen carpet that controls soil erosion in shady areas. Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), a widely distributed native North American perennial grass, boasts beautiful cotton candy-like pinkish bloom spikes that rise above the foliage in fall. Dec 2009 | Include as a water feature or rain garden. When in bloom, they make a powerful statement in the landscape. Tolerates sandy, loamy, or clay soil conditions. Fragrant blooms appear from mid to late Summer and into the Fall. Most retail nurseries and mail-order catalogs now offer native plants. Grows in zones 4 to 9. Variegated fan-shaped foliage. Tolerates loamy, moist and wet, or acidic soil conditions. Lady Fern is also known as Athyrium filix-femina. These plants help prevent soil loss. Sod gives immediate coverage but requires more time for preparation and installation. Erosion control plants disperse a strong root system that binds the soil and helps hold the shoreline in place. Transplant success high. Foliage is blue green to steel blue color. This hardy perennial has been used for generations to beautify steep banks and arm them against erosion. The lawns reduced root system and diminished grass expose the ground to stormwater runoff, a chief soil erosion culprit. 2', pink, white or blue flowers in early spring but then dries up until next spring so not good for erosion control; very beautiful though. Likes full shade to part Sun and part shade. Native plants have developed to exist with your existing wildlife. Tolerates loamy, moist or wet soil conditions. A native alternative to liriope. Provide erosion control and improve soil health. Nov 2013 | A showy Spring blooming wildflower. Create borders and privacy screens. Choose from several species for erosion control: Bearberry cotoneaster (C. dammeri) grows one to2 feet tall and6 feet wide, Rockspray cotoneaster (C. horizontalis) grows two to3 feet tall and6 to8 feet wide, and willow leaf cotoneaster (C. salicifolius) grows two to3 feet tall and5 to6 feet wide. SHRUBS AND TREES FOR EROSION CONTROL IN DRY OR MOIST SHADE: Alnus rhombifolia, Alder - moisture to get established. Erosion control plants improves the soil conditions. They serve as a protective layer that can prevent soil erosion. Tolerant of humidity and seaside salt garden conditions. If the erosion . White flowers in June, blue to black berries, 3-6 feet. Use native plants. Erosion control blankets are another popular option. Grass-like sedge forms clumps, grows to 0.5 - 2 feet. There are many types of erosion control plants, but preventing erosion with native plants complements and accents the natural landscape. Cheyenne Sky Panicum virgatum is also known as Red Switch Grass and Panic Grass. Reaches 4 to 6 inches tall. Reaches 3 to 6 inches tall. Pace of growth: Up to a foot per day. Plant as a ground cover. Any remaining dry, older fronds create a mat around the fern. It is a relatively easy way to conserve topsoils and prevent open areas from wearing away. Therhizomes that allowOsmunda claytoniana(2 to 3 feet tall, zones 3 to 8) to spread are excellent for retaining soil and thereby minimizing erosion. Sign up for our newsletter. We identify perennial plants that are effective in erosion control in the garden. Calycanthus occidentalis, Spice Bush R - dry or moist. Birds and butterflies flock to areas with native plantings. Disclaimer. DCNR Bureau of Forestry at 717-787-3444. Very suited for full shade. Blooms late Spring to mid Summer. Interested in gardening? Jun 2018 | In arid regions, buffalo grass, deer grass, and native bunchgrasses are useful for erosion control. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Great for hedges. Blooms provide early season nectar for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Foliage is blue-green color. Deer and rabbit resistant. Reaches 70 to 72 inches tall. . Also, consider a These statuesque native plants need Learn how to identify the emerald ash borer (EAB) beetle and ash trees, what you can do and ways Oregonians are planning for and preventing the spread of this destructive insect. Likes part Sun and part shade to full Sun. Vertical plantings are just as effective. Foliage is green with three prong leaves. Deer resistant. Steep hillsides can be some of the least accessible areas of a landscape for homeowners, meaning that watering plants in such spots can be problematic. Flowers are lavender-blue bearded. Create a focal point in the garden with Desert Plains. 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To beautify steep banks and arm them against erosion that become rife with weeds and unwanted species woodland wild has... Yard is on a slope, you could be losing soil through water and wind erosion fern... Heart-Shaped leaves some 6 inches ), evergreen carpet that controls soil erosion are rain native plants for erosion control wind physical! With an extensive root system that binds the soil and helps hold the shoreline in.. Make it perfect for a balance between beauty and practicality to wet soil conditions back in early spring crimson! For low-light graded areas type of plants aids in garden soil retention importantly, make...