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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Sunday - October 03, 2010
From: Binghamton, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Plants to prevent riverbank erosion in NY
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I'm doing research into riverbank erosion in Broome County, NY, and I was wondering if you had some sort of resource that would be able to tell me which species of grasses, shrubs, and trees native to Broome County are best for reducing/eliminating erosion.ANSWER:
Plants that have fibrous root systems or spread by runners are the best for preventing erosion.
You can select plants native to NY by searching our Plant Database using the Combination Search feature and selecting the plant type (trees, shrubs or grasses) and light and moisture conditions. You will also find the Evergreen.ca database helpful since most of the plants native to your area are also native to Ontario. On their Advanced Search page simply select Ontario, native species only, Riparian Habitat and check yes for erosion control. You can cross reference that list of 67 plants with the combination searches for NY on our database and select plants that are readily available in your area.
Here are some of my favourites from those lists:
Grasses
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye or canada wild rye)
Hierochloe odorata (Sweetgrass)
Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass)
Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (Softstem bulrush)
Shrubs
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick)
Cephalanthus occidentalis (Common buttonbush)
Cornus sericea (Redosier dogwood)
Physocarpus opulifolius (Atlantic ninebark)
Rubus odoratus (Purpleflowering raspberry)
Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (Common elderberry)
Spiraea alba (White meadowsweet)
Trees
Abies balsamea (Balsam fir) Images (from Evergreen.ca)
Larix laricina (American larch) Images (from Evergreen.ca)
Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)
Thuja occidentalis (Arborvitae)
More Erosion Control Questions
Plantings for sides of retention pond in Willits CA
July 02, 2012 - I am looking for recommendations for ground cover for the outside of embankments which impound wastewater. This is to improve the aesthetics and deter weeds. The slopes are 1V:2H, so if we can avoid...
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Need plants for a slope in KY.
September 29, 2012 - I have a slope in my back yard that is mostly a slate shelf, grass and
Weeds will grow but not well, very spotty. I am wanting a ground cover that blooms. Would like to not have to mow. This is a ve...
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Native Plants for a Steep Slope in TN
July 15, 2014 - Hello, I live in Knoxville, TN and have a very steep slope in our backyard. There is a lot of water erosion causing our grass to be covered with red dirt. I would love to try to plant something on thi...
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Restoring a slope in the Mississippi sandhill region
August 01, 2011 - We are building on 5 acres (leaving 60% as is, natural). Only building a small (900-1200 sq ft house) & clearing 1 acre of the valley for a pond. There is a steep slope (where we had to put field dra...
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Native plants for erosion control in sun in Canton PA
August 03, 2010 - We just cleared a bank and need native plants and shrubs to grow for erosion control. Much sun.
Thank you.
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