Native Plants
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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
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Thursday - April 16, 2009
From: Brookings, OR
Region: Northwest
Topic: Meadow Gardens, Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Flowering plant for hillside in Brookings OR
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
We live on the Chetco river and the bank in front of the house is on a hill. What would be a flowering plant that would maintain the integrity of the hill?ANSWER:
There are a number of nice, low-growing or sprawling shrubs that grow naturally in Curry County, Oregon that would bloom and some even provide berries for birds or people. If you have a large space on your hillside that needs retention and erosion control, these would probably be the best bet. If, on the other hand, it is a gentle slope and not very large in area, you might choose instead to have a wildflower meadow, including lots of native grasses. Grasses are the best tools in preventing erosion because they have long fibrous roots that can grab and hold the soil, are attractive, some of them year round, and provide nesting materials and seeds for the birds. Read our How-To Article on Meadow Gardening and we will give you a list of flowers and grasses native to Oregon that we feel would work well there, too. Follow the plant links to individual pages for each plant to learn how high they will grow, how much they will spread, colors and time of bloom, etc. These plants are all commercially available. If you have difficulty locating your choices, go to our Native Plant Suppliers section, type in your town and state and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed suppliers and landscape and environment consultants in your general area.
Native shrubs for hillside in Oregon
Arctostaphylos patula (greenleaf manzanita) - fire resistant, often used in erosion control
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
Baccharis pilularis (coyotebrush)
Ceanothus integerrimus (deerbrush)
Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus)
Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa (rubber rabbitbrush) - excellent for holding soil, but considered noxious weed on rangelands.
Mahonia repens (creeping barberry)
Rubus spectabilis (salmonberry)
Grasses for a meadow garden in Oregon
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint)
Carex stipata (owlfruit sedge)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)
Perennial herbaceous blooming plants for meadow garden in Oregon
Anaphalis margaritacea (western pearly everlasting)
Arnica cordifolia (heartleaf arnica) - pictures
Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell bellflower)
Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium (fireweed)
Erigeron compositus (cutleaf daisy)
Gaillardia aristata (common gaillardia)
Luetkea pectinata (partridgefoot)
Lupinus sericeus (silky lupine)
Minuartia obtusiloba (twinflower sandwort)
More Erosion Control Questions
Need suggestions for plants for a 45 degree slope in Falls Church, VA.
January 23, 2013 - Have a 45 degree hillside 50 feet wide by 60 feet long on north side of 26 story building. Very little sun with the need for soil retention plants. Would like a native plant or plants to cover area...
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Ground cover that won't hide snakes from Asheville NC
June 29, 2012 - I have an unusual situation: several bare areas in an otherwise wooded area, which receive partial sun, and are not near water -- it rains here frequently, but the soil can become quite dry at times. ...
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Need plants for steep slope in Knoxville, TN.
January 10, 2013 - I have several steep banks that have to be weed-eated each year every week. Do you know if there are any kinds of ground cover that would take over the weeds on these steep dangerous banks. I live in ...
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Slope Erosion control for Fairview NC
August 19, 2012 - Please recommend plants to help with soil erosion on a slope. The soil is red clay and area gets full sun. The slope is approximately 12' x 12'. I live in Fairview, NC
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Plants for steep slope in Virginia
October 24, 2008 - Please help! Looking for landscaping ideas for a very large Steep hill. Features: slope is approximately 45-60 degrees, clay soil mixed with fill dirt, lots of deer, partial sun, seeking minimal maint...
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