Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - March 09, 2016
From: Duck, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Ornamental grasses for North Carolina coastal region
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What ornamental grasses will grow in pure sand and withstand salt-laden winds in zones 8 a and 8 b?ANSWER:
Here are some native grasses that grow in North Carolina and are salt-tolerant and will grow in sand. You will need to be the judge of whether they should be considered ornamental.
Ammophila breviligulata (American beach grass) grows well in sand and is important in stabilizing sand dunes and preventing erosion. It is highly salt tolerant. Here is more information from the USDA
Spartina pectinata (Prairie cordgrass) and here is more information from USDA NRCS.
Uniola paniculata (Sea oats) and here is more information from USDA NRCS.
The Center for Coastal Resources Management (Virginia Institute of Marine Science) in its list, Teaching Marsh: Salt-tolerant Native Plants for Tidal Shoreline Banks & Slopes, gives both Spartina patens (Saltmeadow cordgrass) and Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass) as being salt tolerant. Here is more information from the USDA NRCS for Spartina patens and for Panicum virgatum.
Information on Salt Tolerant Pasture and Reclamation Grasses from Pawnee Buttes Seeds recommends Elymus canadensis (Canada wild rye) 'Mandan' as a highly salt tolerant species. Here is more information from the USDA NRCS.
You can find more possibilities for grasses in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Materials Program list of grasses, sedges and rushes that are Atlantic Coastal Plants for Protection & Restoration.
From the Image Gallery
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Assessment of Turffalo variety of buffalo grass (Bouteloua dachtyloides)
March 05, 2008 - Dear Mr.Smarty Plants,
Now its March 2008, and your trial installation of Turfallo has had a year to prove itself; I'm interested to know your opinion of Turfallo Grass. There are such good e-c...
view the full question and answer
Resources for a green roof project from Wayne PA
April 14, 2013 - Hello! I am researching a project to create a native wildflower/ turf mix for a green roof. I would ideally like to grow it as a sod mat, and then install it in rolls. I am currently working as an i...
view the full question and answer
Need plants for steep slope in Knoxville, TN.
January 10, 2013 - I have several steep banks that have to be weed-eated each year every week. Do you know if there are any kinds of ground cover that would take over the weeds on these steep dangerous banks. I live in ...
view the full question and answer
Hillside Erosion Control for Gainesville GA
August 07, 2013 - I have a steep bare hill and the runoff from it is heavy this year. I need help with a fast growing groundcover that will help control erosion and runoff. Planting on the hill is difficult because you...
view the full question and answer
Revegetating a hillside in western Washington state
October 10, 2012 - Removing several downed trees across my dock demolished the native plants growing on the hillside and the contractor pulled out their remains. The area faces east on an open freshwater bay. Close to...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |