Native Plants
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.
rate this answer
Wednesday - April 07, 2010
From: Bethesda, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Plants for erosion of shaded slope in Bethesda MD
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have an eastern facing heavily shaded slope in Bethesda, Md. that needs a few good native plants to keep it from eroding. Ferns are not doing well on it. They do much better in the flats. So, anything else would be great especially if it is native.ANSWER:
We are glad you are asking for native plants because that is all that will ever be recommended to you by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - plants that are not only native to North America but also to the area in which they are being grown.
The best plants for eroding slopes are native grasses. These are not traditional lawn grasses that will be mowed, but of varying heights and appearances. Their long fibrous roots will hold the soil year round, and reduce runoff. We define "shade" as less than 2 hours of sun a day; that may limit the number of choices of grasses that we have, but we will try. In addition, we will look in our Native Plant Database for some low-growing shade tolerant herbaceous blooming plans and shrubs that could also help with the erosion and be attractive.
Fortunately, we have an excellent resource for information on the Chesapeake Bay area. Bethesda, at the southwestern tip of Maryland, on the Chesapeake Bay in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a, would definitely fall into that area. We suggest you first read the information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake Field Office Bay Scapes, to give you some information on the environmental situation there. From the same source, we have a list of in our Special Collections of the Plants of Chesapeake Bay. We will go to that list, use the Narrow Your Search function to select on Maryland, "grasses or grasslike plants" under GENERAL APPEARANCE and "shade" under LIGHT REQUIREMENTS. We will use the same technique to search for "herbs" (herbaceous blooming plants" and "shrubs." Since we will only give you some examples, you can repeat the process and make your own choices. Follow each plant link to our webpage on that particular plant to get more information.
Grasses or Grass-Like Plants for Shade in Bethesda, MD:
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint)
Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)
Herbaceous Blooming Plants for Shade in Bethesda, MD:
Aruncus dioicus (bride's feathers)
Asarum canadense (Canadian wildginger)
Caltha palustris (yellow marsh marigold)
Eupatorium purpureum (sweetscented joepyeweed)
Shrubs for Shade in Bethesda, MD:
Clethra alnifolia (coastal sweetpepperbush)
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry)
Viburnum acerifolium (mapleleaf viburnum)
From Our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Native grasses for bare shady spot in Austin
July 01, 2008 - My back yard is shady from old Arizona Ash trees. What native grasses can I plant in bare areas caused by my dog?
view the full question and answer
Ground cover for shady area in Maryland
April 27, 2010 - What ground cover grows well on a shady slope with close to surface tree roots?
view the full question and answer
Plants for shaded area in East Texas
July 23, 2013 - I live in East Texas and have an area that is shaded most of the day - it only gets sun in the middle of the day but it is direct. What would be best? I would prefer something that won't freeze, bu...
view the full question and answer
Shrubs for Shade in Annapolis MD
September 12, 2013 - Can you please recommend dense shade tolerant shrubs for Annapolis, Maryland.
view the full question and answer
Grasses for shady area with sandy soil
September 23, 2008 - We have very sandy soil, is there any type of grass that will grow well. Also, very shady.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |