We asked, you voted, here it is! Who’d have thunk it that Plant for That: Erosion Control would take 1st place, so without further delay here are 3 selections to consider:

Sorbaria sorbifolia – Ash Leaf Spirea

This is a terrific plant for bank stabilization and erosion control. Be sure to note that this plant freely colonizes and spreads, which makes for great cover but not for the “faint of heart.” It is not for a small space, nor intended to be a specimen. Properly sited, it does a tremendous job when it comes to erosion control. Again, it is for massing and grouping and requires room to spread out. It transplants easily and care is minimal following establishment. Ash leaf spirea can grow up to 6-8 feet high and blooms white in late June.

Diervilla sessilifolia ‘Butterfly’ – Butterfly Bush Honeysuckle

This plant is quite tough and able to withstand an assortment of conditions. While it can tolerate some shade, it performs best in full sun. Relatively low growing, 4-5 feet, it’s a good choice for banks, rough outs, or other areas one prefers not to mow. The cultivar ‘Butterfly’ has yellow flowers in summer and the foliage goes from green to purple upon the arrival of fall.

Myrica pensylvanica – Northern Bayberry

Myrica is one of those unsung shrubs that performs in sandy soils, yet can still tolerate heavy soil profiles as well. It performs in low fertility situations and deals with salt spray. For our climate, it’s important to validate seed source to insure maximum hardiness. This is an under utilized plant for massing, and needs to be considered more frequently for erosion control applications as a possible alternative to the ever-reliable sumac. Growing 6-9 feet, with blue/gray berries appearing in fall, this glossy green foliage is aromatic when crushed. In fact, the berries from this plant are used as the fragrance in Bayberry Candles.

So when you encounter a problem with a slope you prefer not to mow week after week, recognize that the pesky slope isn’t severe enough to require an engineered wall; Instead look for a botanical solution like the plants mentioned above. And when you are in search of a simple erosion control remedy remember… There’s A Plant for That.

Unfortunately we’re not lucky enough to have images of these erosion controllers in our snapshot library!