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Saturday - April 25, 2009
From: Salisbury, CT
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Native plants to retain slope in Salisbury, CT
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
We want to plant a newly dug out slope with native plants that will retain the dirt. It is sun to part sun near a lake summer cottage. Thanks!!!ANSWER:
The best thing for retention of that slope would be a meadow garden, which combines grasses, which are world class erosion preventers, and wildflowers for a pleasant view from your cottage. Begin by reading our How-To Article, Meadow Gardening. We will follow up by going to our Recommended Species section, clicking on Connecticut on the map, and searching for grasses and wildflowers native to your area that you can plant. You can repeat the same process, going to the Native Plant Database for the grasses, and make your own choices. Follow the plant links to each individual plant webpage to learn propagation techniques, amount of moisture needed,etc.
Herbaceous blooming plants
Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) - perennial, 1 to 3 ft. tall, blooms white, pink April to September, sun, part shade
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) - perennial, 1 to 2 ft., deciduous, blooms orange, yellow May to september, sun, part shade
Anemone canadensis (Canadian anemone) - perennial, 1 to 2 ft., blooms white April to June, part shade, shade
Chamerion angustifolium ssp. angustifolium (fireweed) - perennial, 3 to 5 ft. tall, blooms white, piink purple June to August, sun
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower) - perennial to 3 ft., blooms blue, purple July to November, sun, part shade
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - perennial to 1 ft. tall, blooms yellow April to June,
Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia) - perenial, 2 to 3 ft., blooms blue July to October, sun to shade
Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm) - perennial, 3 ft., blooms red May to October, sun, pat shade
Grasses
Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) - warn season perennial, 4 to 8 ft. tall, sun, part shade
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) - warm season perennial, 1 to 3 ft., sun, part shade
Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) - perennial, 1 to 3 ft., sun
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint) - perennial, 3 to 5 ft, sun to shade
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye) - cool season perennial, deciduous, 3 to 6 ft., sun, part shade
Muhlenbergia capillaris (hairawn muhly) - perennial, 1 to 3 ft., sun
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) - perennial, 18 to 24 inches, sun, part shade
Tripsacum dactyloides (eastern gamagrass) - perennial, 3 to 6 ft. part shade
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
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March 15, 2013 - What is the best shade-tolerant grass?
What is the best shade-tolerant ground cover?
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When to plant grasses on Long Island, NY
December 06, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants;
Are there any grass seeds that I can plant NOW, early December, on Long Island, NY? The planting environment is on and near a sandy bluff on a bayshore, where it can be windy ...
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Native grasses for medians in Colorado Springs
June 11, 2010 - Our city has stopped watering our historic landscaped medians due to severe budget shortfalls. The medians were historically tree boulevards but have had curb and gutter and blue grass added over th...
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Can Carolina wild petunia be planted over septic tank in Nokomis FL
July 10, 2011 - Could you tell me the root depth of the Ruellia caroliniensis/ Carolina wild petunia? Trying to determine if I can plant it over septic tank.
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Source for Saltmarsh cordgrass from Houston
April 16, 2013 - I work for a consulting firm and we are looking to do more of our wetland creation/restoration. Do you know where one can purchased Spartina alterniflora?
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