Native Plants

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Friday - July 17, 2015

From: Pace, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like, Shrubs
Title: Hillside Erosion in Pace FL
Answered by: Larry Larson

QUESTION:

I have a hillside that slopes down about 10 feet to a spring fed pond. The pond drains into Escambia Bay. We have 2 dams with culverts to control the flow of water. Last year during a torrential rainstorm the bank eroded and the upper dam overflowed, depositing lots of dirt into the pond. I've had the pond scooped out and the dam repaired and dirt has been deposited onto the eroded bank. What can I plant in the hillside to prevent erosion, but not obstruct the view of the bay?

ANSWER:

This Mr Smarty Plants likes to review the archives for suggestions before inventing any new ones. The following MSP question/answer pairs address similar topics and come from areas that are not too far from yours.

Groundcover to prevent erosion in Florida

Plants for 60 degree slope in Mobile, AL

Plants for banks of a retention pond in Alabama

Planting for steep slope in Alabama

Privacy screen for Pace Florida

In addition to advice and discussion in all of the above, several native plants were suggested that coul dwell be useable for your situation. Consider the following:

Grasses: Carex blanda (Eastern woodland sedge), Andropogon glomeratus (Bushy bluestem), Andropogon virginicus (Broomsedge bluestem), Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass), Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats),

Groundcovers/wildflowers Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy), Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry), Packera aurea (Golden groundsel), Packera obovata (Golden groundsel), Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage),

Shrubs Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana), Hibiscus coccineus (Scarlet rosemallow), Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire), Lindera benzoin (Northern spicebush),

Several taller shrubs and trees were suggested, in particular in the last discussion of a privacy screen, if you can accept ten foot plants, you may want to consider a few of those.

Our philosophy about determining plants for erosion control was well described in the first discussion. This is: “Native grasses are an excellent choice for controlling erosion because they develop extensive fibrous root systems that hold the soil in place. Seeds can be sown under an erosion control blanket or grass plugs can be planted through the blanket. After the grasses have begun to establish themselves and stabilize the area you can add other plants. On the pond edge you could consider adding some attractive aquatic or semi-aquatic plants to help prevent the erosion.” This is good advice for your situation also.