Anti-Erosion Plants

Warm-Season Grasses

• Ornamental grasses are one of the best choices for erosion control, as they have extensive, fibrous root systems. Warm-season grasses grow most actively during the summer and lie dormant from late fall through winter. Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grows from 5 to 7 feet tall and self-seeds easily. This clumping grass grows in a range of foliage colors, from green-blue to yellow-orange, and produces long-lasting bronze inflorescences in late summer. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 4 to 9 and prefers full sun. Indiangrass tolerates drought and a range of soils. Big bluestem (Andropogon geradi) is also hardy in zones 4 to 9. This blue-green grass grows from 4 to 7 feet tall and turns orange to red in autumn. It produces red, forked flowers in late summer. Big bluestem prefers full sun and rich, well-drained soil. It tolerates drought, sand and clay.

Cool-Season Grasses

• Cool-season grasses grow most actively during spring and fall, and lie dormant during the summer. For year-round erosion control, plant a mixture of cool- and warm-season varieties. Erosion-controlling species include tufted fescue (Festuca amethystine), a 2-foot-tall grass hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8. This fine-foliage grass grows in clumps and produces purple stalks topped with small flowers in summer. Tufted fescue thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. Autumn moor grass (Sesleria autumnalis) grows from 15 to 20 inches tall and is hardy in zones 5 to 9. It thrives in sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Autumn moor grass has bright green, narrow foliage and grows in a tufted mound.

Groundcovers

• Groundcovers help reduce erosion with their spreading root systems and low-growing foliage. Moss phlox or thrift (Phlox subulata) grows from 4 to 6 inches tall but spreads to 2 feet wide. It forms a dense mat of creeping, gray-green evergreen foliage and blooms with red, pink, purple and white flowers. Moss phlox is hardy in zones 3 to 9 and prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Candytuft (Iberis umbellata) grows to 12 inches tall and spreads quickly to 12 feet. This evergreen has lustrous foliage and blooms with a profusion of white blossoms in spring. It prefers sun to light shade and tolerates a range of soils. Candytuft is hardy in zones 5 to 8.

Shrubs

• Shrubs help control erosion and can be a good choice for slopes. The University of Nevada Extension recommends willow shrubs (Salix spp.) as they spread easily. The basket willow (S. purpurea) is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 7a and prefers sun to light shade and moist to wet soils. It grows from 8 to 10 feet tall with a similar spread and has a rounded form. This deciduous shrub has glossy dark green foliage and produces red to purple-black catkins. The redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea) also controls erosion well, according to Ohio State University. This deciduous shrub grows to 9 feet tall with a similar spread and is hardy in zones 2 to 7. It grows quickly, prefers sun to partial shade and tolerates moist to dry sites. Redosier dogwoods have red branches and 5-inch-long deciduous leaves that turn red and purple in fall.