Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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

Wednesday - September 26, 2012

From: Round Rock, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Groundcovers
Title: Deer-resistant groundcovers for erosion control
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I need a ground cover (vine??) that will help me with erosion on a sloped front yard. It gets about 6-8 hours of sun and my main need is for something that the rats in our neighborhood will not destroy. By rats in mean the hundreds of deer.. Thanks

ANSWER:

Here are some recommendations for a deer resistant groundcover that will help prevent erosion in Round Rock TX:

GRASSES AND SEDGES:

Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss).  I recommend that you read our "How to Articles"—Native Lawns:  Buffalograss and Native Lawns: Habiturf™ – The Ecological Lawn.

Bouteloua rigidiseta (Texas grama)

Carex blanda (Eastern woodland sedge)

Carex texensis (Texas sedge)

VINES:

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)

Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba (Tievine)

PERENNIAL HERBS:

Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit)

Glandularia bipinnatifida (Purple prairie verbena)

Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy)

Oenothera speciosa (Pink evening primrose)

Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage)

 

From the Image Gallery


Buffalograss
Bouteloua dactyloides

Texas grama
Bouteloua rigidiseta

Eastern woodland sedge
Carex blanda

Texas sedge
Carex texensis

Virginia creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Tievine
Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba

Texas frogfruit
Phyla nodiflora

Prairie verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida

Blackfoot daisy
Melampodium leucanthum

Pink evening primrose
Oenothera speciosa

Lyreleaf sage
Salvia lyrata

More Groundcovers Questions

Phyla nodiflora as a ground cover
March 23, 2007 - I'm considering using frogfruit in my lawn and between stepping stones. However, I'm concerned about it being invasive. The tree is in the front lawn and don't want it to take over the Bermuda law...
view the full question and answer

Ground cover for heavily traveled walkway from Redondo Beach CA
April 23, 2013 - I am looking for a drought resistant ground cover that you can walk on. I live on a south facing, sunny corner lot, 2 blocks from the beach where people park and need to cross over to get to the sidew...
view the full question and answer

Planting Garry Oak in Kinnikinnick in WA
May 09, 2015 - I want to plant a Garry Oak tree in my backyard in an area currently covered in kinnikinnick planted by the previous homeowner. The kinnikinnick covers a large area - about 10 feet in diameter. Even...
view the full question and answer

Removing bermudagrass from buffalograss in Smithville TX
May 01, 2013 - I have a lawn created two years ago with buffalo grass sod in Smithville, TX. Recently several areas of bermudagrass have started to flourish in the buffalo grass lawn. Can you recommend a herbicide...
view the full question and answer

Vinca minor and St. Augustine grass
November 22, 2009 - Will St. Augustine grass choke out vinca minor?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.