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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - April 16, 2009
From: Brookings, OR
Region: Northwest
Topic: Meadow Gardens, Erosion Control, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Flowering plant for hillside in Brookings OR
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
We live on the Chetco river and the bank in front of the house is on a hill. What would be a flowering plant that would maintain the integrity of the hill?ANSWER:
There are a number of nice, low-growing or sprawling shrubs that grow naturally in Curry County, Oregon that would bloom and some even provide berries for birds or people. If you have a large space on your hillside that needs retention and erosion control, these would probably be the best bet. If, on the other hand, it is a gentle slope and not very large in area, you might choose instead to have a wildflower meadow, including lots of native grasses. Grasses are the best tools in preventing erosion because they have long fibrous roots that can grab and hold the soil, are attractive, some of them year round, and provide nesting materials and seeds for the birds. Read our How-To Article on Meadow Gardening and we will give you a list of flowers and grasses native to Oregon that we feel would work well there, too. Follow the plant links to individual pages for each plant to learn how high they will grow, how much they will spread, colors and time of bloom, etc. These plants are all commercially available. If you have difficulty locating your choices, go to our Native Plant Suppliers section, type in your town and state and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed suppliers and landscape and environment consultants in your general area.
Native shrubs for hillside in Oregon
Arctostaphylos patula (greenleaf manzanita) - fire resistant, often used in erosion control
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
Baccharis pilularis (coyotebrush)
Ceanothus integerrimus (deerbrush)
Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus)
Ericameria nauseosa ssp. nauseosa (rubber rabbitbrush) - excellent for holding soil, but considered noxious weed on rangelands.
Mahonia repens (creeping barberry)
Rubus spectabilis (salmonberry)
Grasses for a meadow garden in Oregon
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint)
Carex stipata (owlfruit sedge)
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)
Perennial herbaceous blooming plants for meadow garden in Oregon
Anaphalis margaritacea (western pearly everlasting)
Arnica cordifolia (heartleaf arnica) - pictures
Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell bellflower)
Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium (fireweed)
Erigeron compositus (cutleaf daisy)
Gaillardia aristata (common gaillardia)
Luetkea pectinata (partridgefoot)
Lupinus sericeus (silky lupine)
Minuartia obtusiloba (twinflower sandwort)
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
What to plant between patio flagstones in Austin, TX?
May 16, 2011 - I would like to plant something between my flagstones on the patio. Something that doesn't require a lot of water, low growing, and can stand a little to moderate traffic. It is in a shade to partly...
view the full question and answer
Native Texas Hill Country nitrogen-fixing plants
June 07, 2006 - Please help me find a listing of native (TX Hill Country) nitrogen-fixing plants.
view the full question and answer
Container plants for Yakima WA
May 11, 2013 - My condo complex has purchased large, pottery pots for around our pool. I need to choose low maintenance plants. hopefully something that takes limited water, etc.
view the full question and answer
Drought-Tolerant Plants for Arizona
July 16, 2015 - Slowly turning south-facing lawn to drought-tolerant plantings with gravel paths. Mature Ponderosa and several blue spruce and junipers surround area. Grass area I'm converting with a few larger tr...
view the full question and answer
Root rot and transplant shock in Texas betony
July 13, 2006 - Texas betony is supposed to be drought resistant but also likes to be kept moist, but I have had trouble getting it established. These seem to be undemanding plants I have had entire stems dry up and...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |