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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

Not Yet Rated

Monday - July 16, 2007

From: Harpers Ferry, WV
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Erosion preventing plants for West Virginia
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and I've got a hillside that's too steep to mow. I'd like to put in plants that other than weeding and regular tending, will take off and hold the dirt. My home is in the woods and the hill gets full sun. It's rocky soil, but there is dirt. Can you please suggest some plants that can be encouraged to take off? Thank-you.

ANSWER:

Grasses are excellent plants to prevent erosion because the extensive fibrous root systems that they develop work well holding the soil in place. Grasses could help get the soil stabilized for adding shrubs, subshrubs, and perennials. The plants recommended below are native to your area and grow in full sun under dry conditions.

Grasses and Sedges

Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)

Bromus kalmii (arctic brome)

Carex texensis (Texas sedge)

Shrubs and Subshrubs

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)

Juniperus communis (common juniper)

Rubus pubescens (dwarf red blackberry)

Perennials

Antennaria plantaginifolia (woman's tobacco)

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)

Pityopsis graminifolia var. graminifolia (narrowleaf silkgrass)