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.

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Tuesday - December 08, 2009

From: Corneilius, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Need a ground cover to stop erosion on a slope next to a pond.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

I have a large natural pond. One side has a steep slope. I need a attractive,low/no maintenance, evergreen? plant to stop the erosion into the pond. Cornelius/charlotte nc

ANSWER:

Generally, when Mr. Smarty Plants thinks about stopping erosion, he thinks about grasses. Grasses and/or sedges are very efficient in controlling erosion since their fibrous root systems hold the soil very well.

Here is a short list of sedges and grasses whose distribution includes North Carolina

Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)

Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill)

Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Also, here are some woody perennials that could help your situation.

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)

Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry)

Leucothoe axillaris (coastal doghobble)

Pieris floribunda (mountain fetterbush) plus images

Vaccinium crassifolium (creeping blueberry plus images

Morella caroliniensis (southern bayberry) plus images