[r schipul]

I need to plant a s-t-e-e-p slope. 5 hours of morning sun. Could be perennial or woody. Something that needs little care spreads and is under 2-3'. No junipers. Any ideas?

[P-Train]

You could try winter jasmine or cottoneaster. They'll get a little taller than 2'. Maybe 3'. Both are great for erosion control.

Maybe even preriwinkle would be a good choice.

Liriope?

St. John's wort?

[GLAN]

would you have to clean leaves and debris from this slope in the fall or spring?

[Nebraska]

They use crown vetch around here for "useless" slopes.

p.s. it's toxic to horses

[VoodooChile]

'Goldstrum' Black Eyed Susan. Leave the seed heads on and let self-sow.

[Fine Edge]

Bamboo, I have all you need and it's free. Come on down and dig it out!!!

[r schipul]

I probably wouldn't have to clean out the leaves but some poor sole will. That's why I like to stay away from cotoneaster. I thought of ST john's wort although I've only planted it once and do not have much experience with it. I was thinking a perennial would be nice. String trim it in the fall and blow the leaves out. Once the deer found Rudbeckia it probably wouldn't flower much. I was thinking lysimachia clethroides. I'm looking for a fast growing and spreads but maybe Lysimachia might be to invasive. Other current thoughts include Diervilla, Itea, Stephanandra. Any quickly spreading, perennials anyone can think of?

[GLAN]

Gooseneck Loosestrife spreads quick......Very invasive......and I wasn't thinking along that line.

I think so pretty popular plants for your location have already been mentioned.....except my favorite.......Ajuga. LOL

One other.....I don't know the name.........a Loosestrife....Mimics Ajuga but has Yellow flowers on 12 - 18 inch stalks


What about Ferns?

[TrickyDick]

I don't know how big the area is but why not do mixed perennials? If deer are an issue.....Plumbago, Sedum, grasses (pennisetum would be the right size) Rudbeckia, Iris ensata, ferns, Asclepias, Geranium are all good choices. Other shrubs could be Clethra alnifolia "Hummingbird" or a low bush blueberry.

[r schipul]

Thanks for your responses everyone. I'm concerned about creating too much of a garden because of maintenance issues. It really is a steep slope and could use a wall but the owners aren't interested in spending that kind of money. The area is approx 20 x 50. Looking for a "plant it and forget about it" type of plant. Knowing the property owners, maintenance will be totally neglected once the plants are established.

[GLAN]

Depending on what the yard looks like....A monoculture planting on the slope may look fine......after wall what do we do with all the wide open flat areas?.........plant grass.

[Mark Oomkes]

Diervilla is beautiful as is Hypericum, probably not too fast spreading though. Liriope would be good as well.

Fragrant sumac, I've used honeysuckle on one bank, but that might get invasive as well. Chelone, Fallopia, Kalimeris. Not sure if any of these would be considered invasive where you are. Or Oenethera fruticosa or missouriensis are beautiful as well.

Aren't cotoneasters one step above weeds? (I know, I'm a plant snob)

[VoodooChile]

Monarda!!!

[r schipul]

Would chelone do well on a gravelly dry slope? I know a lot of wetland type plants do fine away from water. Primroses, hadn't thought of that. I does spread rather quickly. Vodo, I went through a monarda kick for a season. It seems like they all get too much mildew to thrive in these parts.

[ScottishWallet]

I have the same problem. We have a 12 foot high slope/hill on one side and in the back. At places, it's quite steep.

Finding something that is economial, this is quite a large amount of area, grows close to the ground and doesn't require much maintenance has been a challenge since we moved in 2 years ago.

Right now, it's a big hill of reddish NC dirt/clay. Quite an eyesore.

Can any of the suggestions above be bought as seed in bulk?

Thanks...