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)
Wednesday - January 11, 2012
From: Hebron, CT
Region: Northeast
Topic: Plant Lists, Erosion Control, Groundcovers
Title: Ground cover for Connecticut sandy gravel bank
Answered by: Marilyn Kircus
QUESTION:
What ground cover plant can I use on a sandy gravel bank behind my house?ANSWER:
You can visit the Recommended Connecticut page to see a list of plants native to Connecticut that are commercially available for landscaping. You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to select by General Appearance, Light Requirement, Soil Moisture, etc. From that list (and elsewhere) I found several plants that should work well as a groundcover depending on the light conditions of your slope.
Sun = 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part shade = 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Shade = less than 2 hours of sun per day
Sibbaldiopsis tridentata (Shrubby fivefingers)—sun in gravelly soils
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick)—sun, part shade and shade in rocky or sandy soils, evergreen
Dryopteris marginalis (Marginal woodfern)—part shade and shade in rocky soil, evergreen
Gaultheria procumbens (Checkerberry)—part shade and shade in variable soils, evergreen
Maianthemum stellatum (Starry false lily of the valley)—part shade and shade and likes sandy soils
Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry)—part shade and shade and will grow in sandy soils, evergreen
Phlox pilosa (Downy phlox)—sun and part shade in sandy or rocky soil
Juniperus horizontalis (Creeping juniper)—sun and part shade in dry rocky soils, evergreen. Here are photos and more information.
You can see more possibilites on the Connecticut Botanical Society webpage.
Grasses make good taller groundcovers that are excellent for erosion control because of their extensive fibrous root systems that hold the soil in place. Here are a few suggestions for native Connecticut grasses:
Andropogon virginicus (Broomsedge bluestem)—part shade and will grow in dry, sandy soils
Bromus kalmii (Arctic brome)—sun and grows in sandy soil and rocky banks
Carex blanda (Eastern woodland sedge)—sun, part shade and evergreen
Schizachyrium scoparium (Little bluestem)—sun and part shade in sandy soils
From the Image Gallery
More Groundcovers Questions
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
Is Phyla lanceolata (frogfruit) poisonous to dogs fromTitusville FL?
June 01, 2014 - Is Phyla lanceolata, also called Fogfruit, Lanceleaf Fogfruit, or Northern Fogfruit, toxic to dogs? We have it growing amongst our grass. I can't find it on any toxic plant list.
view the full question and answer
Compatibility of mixed ground covers with St. Agustine grass
March 04, 2015 - My husband and I live in Northwest Austin. We have removed lawn from our front yard and replaced it with mulch and some trees and other plantings.
We would like to replace the lawn in our backyard ...
view the full question and answer
Native ground cover to replace grass in Florida.
February 04, 2008 - Where can I find a list of ground covers to replace my grass. I live in the south of Ocala Florida.
view the full question and answer
Identification of groundcover plant in north Georgia mountains
September 16, 2011 - Was trail riding in N GA mountains - saw pretty ground cover plant ? vine - small green leaves with whitish borders almost look like clover leaves and has small bright red red berries - this was Aug 2...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |