Pick the Right Plants
Riparian Plants for Streambank Stabilization in Western NC
Riparian plants are those that are naturally adapted to grow near streams. They are the plants to choose for streambank stabilization. Use this page a s a guide to native riparian plants in Western North Carolina.
Tall trees are the best option for streambank stabilization, but keep in mid that tall trees will shade out a garden. You’ll need to choose trees, shrubs, or herbaceous species based on your overall landscaping needs.
On the inland-most side of the buffer, try Clethera, Fothergilla, or Sweetspire.
Closer to the stream, continue with these, or consider shifting into Sweet Shrub or Button Bush if you think there is more moisture in the soil.
On the bank itself, consider live-stakings of Silky Dogwood, or Ninebark if it’s sunny. Harvest cuttings for live-stakings during the dormant season (winter).
It is good to use a nice mixture of species to obtain good biodiversity: monoculture is more vulnerable to disease. A basic estimate for shrubs is to plant one unit per 6’x6′ space. Live-stakings should be planted at 3’x3′ intervals.
If you go to a nursery, emphasize that you are doing landscaping for conservation purposes and want strictly local, native plants. Some exotic species may have characteristics similar to natives, and may serve the same function, but, for the integrity of our local ecosystems, we strongly encourage the use of only native species.
Recommended Plants by Type
Trees
| Latin Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Aesculus octandra | Yellow Buckeye |
| Betula lenta | Cherry Birch |
| Betula nigra | River Birch |
| Carpinus caroliniana | Ironwood |
| Carya cordiformis | Bitternut Hickory |
| Carya ovata | Shagbark Hickory |
| Diospyros virginiana | Persimmon |
| Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Green Ash |
| Halesia caroliniana | Silverbell |
| Nyssa sylvatica | Blackgum |
| Platanus occidentalis | Sycamore |
| Prunus serotina | Black Cherry |
| Tilia heterophylla | White Basswood |
Live-Stakings
| Latin Name | Common Name | Planting Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Cornus amomum | Silky Dogwood | good in sun or shade; fast stabilizer |
| Physocarpus opulifolius | Nine Bark | good in sun; fast-growing; attractive |
| Salix nigra | Black Willow | — |
Small Trees
| Latin Name | Common Name | Planting Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Acer negundo | Box Elder | fast-growing; less attractive |
| Alnus serrulata | Tag Alder | quick stabilizer |
| Amelanchier arborea | Serviceberry | quick stabilizer |
| Asimina triloba | Common Pawpaw | quick stabilizer |
| Cornus alternifolia | Alternate Leaf Dogwood | — |
| Crataegus crusgali | Cockspur Hawthorn | quick stabilizer |
| Hamamelis virginiana | Witch-Hazel | — |
| Lindera Benzoin | Spicebush | quick stabilizer |
| Magnolia tripetala | Umbrealla Tree | — |
| Salix sericea | Silky Willow | — |
Shrubs
| Latin Name | Common Name | Planting Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Aronia arbutifolia | Red Chokeberry | — |
| Calycanthus floridus | Sweet Shrub | like it a little wet; better closer to the stream |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis | Button Bush | like it a little wet; better closer to the stream |
| Clethra acumindada | Clethra “Hummingbird” | attractive; fall foliage & blooms |
| Corylus americana | Hazel-Nut | — |
| Fothergilla major | Fothergilla | attractive; fall foliage & blooms |
| Ilex verticillata | Winter Berry | — |
| Itea virginica | Sweetspire | attractive; fall foliage & blooms |
| Leucothoe axillaris | Doghobble | — |
| Lyonia ligustrina | Male-Berry | — |
| Rhododendron periclymenoides | Wild Azalea | — |
| Rhododendron viscosum | Swamp Azalea | — |
| Rosa palustris | Swamp Rose | — |
| Spirea latifolia | Meadowsweet | — |
| Spirea tomentosa | Steeple Bush | — |
| Symplocos tinctoria | Sweet Leaf | — |
| Viburnum cassinoides | Witherod | — |
| Viburnam dentatum | Arrowwood | quick stabilizer |
Herbaceous
| Latin Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Arisaema triphyllum | Jack-in-the-Pulpit |
| Asclepias incarnata | Swamp Milkweed |
| Carex crinata | Fringed Sedge |
| Carex intumescens | Bladder Sedge |
| Carex lupilina | Hop Sedge |
| Carex lurida | Lurid Sedge |
| Carex scoparia | Broom Sedge |
| Carex stricta | Tussock Sedge |
| Carex vulpinoidea | Fox Sedge |
| Chelone glabra | Turtlehead |
| Cyperus strigosus | Umbrella Sedge |
| Elymus hystrix | Bottlebrush Grass |
| Eupatorium fistulosum | Joe-Pye-Weed |
| Eupatorium perfoliatum | Boneset |
| Impatiens capensis | Jewel-Weed |
| Juncus effusus | Soft Rush |
| Leersia oryzoides | Rice Cutgrass |
| Lobelia cardinalis | Cardinal Flower |
| Lobelia siphilitica | Great Blue Lobelia |
| Ludwigia alternifolia | Bushy Seedbox |
| Panicum virgatum | Switchgrass |
| Polygonum sagittatum | Tearthumb |
| Scirpus atrovirens | Green Bulrush |
| Scirpus validus | Soft Stem Bulrush |
| Sparganium americanum | Bur-Reed |
| Thelypteris palustris | Marsh Fern |
| Uniola latifolia | River Oats |
| Veronica noveboracensis | Ironweed |
| Xanthorhiza simplicissima | Yellow-Root |
Other Resources
For a wealth of stream restoration information and resources, visit the website of the Stream Restoration Institute at NC State University.
For information on reducing stream volumes through stormwater management, visit the Stormwater Resources site.
The Mud Creek Watershed Restoration Project
The information on this webpage is adapted from a brochure produced and distributed as part of the Mud Creek Watershed Restoration Project. See a note from that document below:
Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914. North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age. or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina Stale University, North Carolina A&T University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.
2000 copies of this document were printed at a cost of $700.00, or $0.35 per copy. Funding for the Mud Creek Watershed Restoration Project is provided by the NC Division of Water Quality through a Federal 319 grant.
The initial document was prepared by Extension Agent Diane Silver and Area Specialized Agent Cliff Ruth with NC Cooperative Extension Services of Henderson County.