Plants for Erosion Control

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Compiled by the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers and Native Plants, Inc.

GROUNDCOVERS (for surface soil retention)

• Achillea millefolium, Yarrow  P/R/W – full sun or part shade; spreads
• Baccharis pilularis ‘Twin Peaks’ or ‘Pigeon Point’, Dwarf Coyote Brush  W
• Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’  B
• Grasses with tough fibrous root systems (many choices)
• Mimulus spp., Monkey Flower  O/P/R/Y
• Salvia spp., Groundcover Sage Varieties such as ‘Gracias,’ ‘Pt. Sal,’ ‘Bees Bliss’
• Epilobium canum and E. canum latifolia, California Fuchsia  P/R/W (white form requires some shade)

SMALL SHRUBS (for soil retention and limited hillside stabilization):

• Artemisia californica, Coastal Sagebrush  G/Y – aromatic, super-tough plant for dry spots
• Brickellia grandiflora, Brickell Bush  W – easy to grow and tough; good for partially shaded dry spot
• Encelia californica, California Bush Sunflower  Y – fast-growing and easy; reseeds; seeds appeal to birds
• Eriogonum spp., Buckwheat P/W – especially E. fasciculatum, California Buckwheat
• Fallugia paradoxa, Apache Plume W/Y – tough plant with lovely tufted seedheads
• Isocoma menziesii, Coast Goldenbush  Y – cheerful fall bloomer
• Isomeris arborea, Bladderpod Y –bright yellow flowers attract hummers and bumblebees; interesting seed pods
• Iva hayesiana, San Diego Marsh Elder – crisp green color, soft texture; spreads, takes sun or shade
• Romneya coulteri, Matilija Poppy W/Y – tough root system spreads by rhizomes
• Salvia spp., Sages B/P/R/V/W – shrubs such as Black and White Sages, Cleveland Sage, San Miguel Mtn. Sage
• Trichostema lanatum, Wooly Blue Curls B/V – likes a dry sunny spot with excellent drainage
• Yucca whipplei, Our Lord’s Candle W

LARGE SHRUBS AND TREES (for hillside stabilization):

• Adenostoma fasciculatum, Chamise  W – tough-as-nails, with striking white flower clusters in spring
• Aesculus californica, California Buckeye  W – one of the most ornamental native shrubs/trees
• Arctostaphylos spp., Manzanita  P/W – very deep root system; many stump-sprout after fire
• Ceanothus spp.,  California Lilac  B/V/W – especially local species; hybrids best with a little afternoon shade
• Cephalanthus occidentalis, Button Willow  W – ornamental ball-shaped flowers; deciduous; likes water
• Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon  W – excellent for screen or bird habitat; adaptable to wet or dry, sun or shade
• Juglans californica, Southern California Walnut – excellent small- to medium-sized shade tree; edible nuts
• Rhus spp.: Laurel Sumac, Lemonadeberry, Sugar Bush P/W  -- drought-resistant, aromatic, attaining large size
• Pinus coulteri, Coulter Pine; at higher elevations: P. jeffreyi, Jeffrey Pine or P.  ponderosa, Ponderosa Pine
• Quercus spp. (Oak) such as Q. agrifolia, Coast Live Oak; Q. dumosa, Scrub Oak; Q. wislizenii, Interior Live Oak
• Sambucus mexicana, Elderberry  W/Y – pretty flower clusters and berries; takes moisture or drought

SHRUBS AND TREES FOR EROSION CONTROL IN DRY OR MOIST SHADE:

• Alnus spp., Alder – moisture to get established                  
• Brickellia grandiflora, Brickell Bush  W – dry                        
• Calycanthus occidentalis, Spice Bush R – dry or moist   
• Cercis occidentalis, Western Redbud  P – dry             
• Cornus spp., Dogwood  W – moist                           
• Euonymus occidentalis, Burning Bush P – moist
• Iva hayesiana, San Diego Marsh Elder – dry or moist
• Quercus chrysolepis, Canyon Live Oak – dry or moist
• Ribes spp., Currants and Gooseberries – dry or moist
• Rosa californica, Wild Rose  P – moist; tolerates dry
• Salix spp., Willow – moist or wet  
• Spiraea douglasii, Spiraea  P  – moist
• Symphoricarpos mollis, Snowberry P – dry or moist
• Umbellularia californica, CA Laurel  W – dry or moist