Native Plants
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Wednesday - June 05, 2013
From: Los Angeles, CA
Region: California
Topic: Erosion Control
Title: Erosion control for steep slope in Southern California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I need help for soil erosion control for a steep slope in sunny Southern California. Thank you.ANSWER:
Las Pilitas Nursery in Escondido and Santa Margarita has an article, Erosion Control for Hillside or Garden Slope, with excellent recommendations for assessing and stabilizing your slope geared for Southern California sites. They also have recommendations for plants for various slope conditions. Since I don't know your situation precisely I can only give a few general plant recommendations but you can find more on the Las Pilitas site.
California Salvias are drought tolerant and beautiful when they bloom. Here are a few that do well in Los Angeles County:
Salvia clevelandii (Fragrant sage)
Salvia columbariae (California sage)
Salvia leucophylla (San luis purple sage)
Read more about these sages and others on the Las Pilitas Nursery California Native Sages page.
Artemisia californica (Coastal sagebrush) is very useful in erosion control and is evergreen.
Verbena lasiostachys (Western vervain) is another very useful erosion control plant. Here is more information from Las Pilitas Nursery.
Eriogonum cinereum (Coastal buckwheat) and other Eriogonum species make good erosion control plants.
Adenostoma fasciculatum (Chamise) is another evergreen shrub that is an excellent erosion control plant. Here are photos and more information from Las Pilitas Nursery.
From the Image Gallery
More Erosion Control Questions
Erosion control on partially shaded slope
November 27, 2010 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I live in Atlanta, GA. My house is on a hill, and I am beginning to have erosion at my backyard porch (concrete slab, on the corners especially). The soil is mainly red clay, a...
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Erosion control after loss of large trees
July 19, 2007 - Our steep 40' river bank (NY near eastern shore of Lake Ontario - zone 4) has recently lost two 50' oaks, leaving enormous holes in the bank itself where they tore out. What should we do immediately...
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Erosion control in New York
July 21, 2008 - I am in zone 5/4 New York and I recently purchased a house with two erosion problems- 1. a seasonal stream has cut a gorge about 20 'deep X 40' long.Mature hemlocks are toppling into this hole. it i...
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Steep slope from Charlotte NC
May 03, 2012 - I live near Charlotte, NC and I have a very steep sloped area from the edge of our front yard down to the road. It's a huge eyesore mainly because it is red clay dirt and has nothing growing on it. W...
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Plants to prevent riverbank erosion in VA
March 05, 2011 - Looking for a plant to prevent erosion on a riverbank on the Rappahannock River in Virginia. Prefer something low, bank is a bit steep for regular mowing but could be mowed infrequently. Riverbank h...
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