Ditch barrier plants for the south

12 years ago

Hey guys,

I just built a house that is on a dead end bordering a drainage servitude (ditch). The loose dirt along the edge of the lot is getting washed out rather quickly by rain water (because my lot is elevated) and I thought about planting grass to prevent this. But the ditch is somewhat unsightly with plenty of "weeds" growing in it right up to my lawn so I'd rather plant something that serves the dual purpose of being a barrier to the unsightly ditch (tall, full) and also has roots that will hold that dirt tight and keep it from eroding further. The plant also needs to grow well in wet environments, in the south Louisiana climate and grow year-round and rather quickly. I'd plant a row of this plant along the ~50 foot area with the issue. Excuse my lack of horticulture lingo.

So far I've thought of bamboo (which I don't like that much, cat tails, day lilies and iris' but I think some of these are perennials and I'm not sure how rapidly they grow.

Thanks for the help.

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Comments (4)

plan9fromposhmadison
12 years ago
Traditionally, on the Lake Ponchartrain Northshore (before nature-hating types who should have stayed in New Orleans started ruining the place), the ditches were planted in Canna Lilies (there are native/wild cultivars)and Elephant Ears (again, I think there were native types).

Louisiana Iris, I've seen a lot around Ponchatoula. The common yellow variety seems to grow like Topsy in ditches.

And there are native bulbs, like Swamp Hymenocallis, which thrive in boggy conditions. You do realize that some Bamboo is non-invasive, right? It's grouped as 'clumping Bamboo'.

Rosa Palustris (swamp rose) tolerates wet feet, and is a real beauty (native to your area, too).

There's an 'Invasive Exotic' I've noticed in South Louisiana ditches (which adds much beauty to the landscape, with its Vermillion blossoms). Can't remember the name, and my browser is so 'improved', now, it's jumping around too much, and won't take me where I want to go (used to be easy to look it up). Anyway, it's in the Locust family, and is a small tree with fern-like leaves.
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bruglover
12 years ago
AFAIK, there are no types of Elephant Ears native to Louisiana or the U.S., if you're referring to the Colocasia/Alocasia seen growing in ditches everywhere. There is also no native Caladium, according to USDA Plants.

That "common yellow variety" of iris growing in ditches is Iris pseudacorus, and it is a foreign invasive. Please do not plant it.

Louisiana does have a lovely NATIVE bamboo, Arundinaria gigantea. It is not as difficult to control or remove as foreign bamboo if it overgrows its boundaries.

Highly recommend the Wildflower site for info about native substitutes for common non-native landscaping plants.

For other recommendations, google the phrase "native plant alternatives" and you will find a wealth of information.

Here is a link that might be useful: Native plants for Louisiana
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I can give you the benefit of my own experience in similar circumstances. When we built our house 7 years ago, we put in a variety of (mostly) conifers in various spots with an eye towards screening should the adjacent properties ever become developed. The first thing I would point out is that, if you want fast growth, you are going to have to have a way of regularly watering your plantings. We put a few Leyland cypresses in various spots and the one that was planted near the house, in the best soil, with the least root competition and the most regular supplemental watering is MUCH bigger than the others. It was about 6' high when we planted it in 2002, is now about as tall as the second story windows of the house -- I guess on the order of 19' or so. By contrast, other Leylands we placed in poorer soil and gave little extra water are closer to 14', some even smaller than that. Other evergreens we've planted: Arizona cypress: not quite as quick as the Leylands, but still fairly fast growing. As with the Leylands, the one that has the best growing conditions and least competition is much bigger than the one that has been left to fend for itself. Burke's red cedars: Seem to be pretty darn slow growing, but they have a lot of root competition and are pretty much on their own in terms of water. Incense cedar: I love this tree and don't know why it isn't used more for hedging in our area. Not as fast growing as the Leyland, but maintains a more columnar shape for a given height than the cypresses do. Thuja plicata 'Watnong' and 'Virescens' (which apparently are so similar that some people think they are actually the same variety): These seem to be spending their first few years putting-on bulk rather than height, but they have held their green color nicely in the winter (rather than turning brown). I'd also recommend looking into Azara microphylla. If you're really zone 9, you should have no trouble with hardiness and it has fragrant blooms to boot. And the suggestion of using Myrica californica gets seconded by me: it's been very fast growing in our yard, both in height and width. Oh, last thing: are you considering a mixed hedge, or all of one type of plant? I just want to give a nudge toward doing a mixed hedge, since you may run into pests or diseases down the road, and a mixed hedge is so much more forgiving in such a situation. You'll get more bird activity with a mixed hedge, as well.
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plan9fromposhmadison
12 years ago
Oh, I forgot to mention this one: This THRIVES with wet feet, and is perfect for a ditch in full sun:
Equisetum hyemale 'HorseTail' Rush. The Bamboo Plantation in Brookhaven, Mississippi carries it. But I'd imagine it's a popular item at plant swaps, too. My Grandmothers loved it for arrangements. If you're in a Modern/Midcentury house, you can make stylistically appropriate 'Oriental' arrangements using Horsetail Rush, straight out of the 1950s floral arrangement books.

I also forgot plain-ol' Swamp Palmetto, which is hideously expensive to buy (but you can plant the seeds...).
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Angelicisi
12 years ago
Banana trees do GREAT here providing sturdy soil along our ditches, as do the Elephant ears in shaded areas. The bamboo we have does an amazing job at preventing erosion but alas is so invasive itself, being in the grass family, it'll spread just like a lawn :-/
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Ditch barrier plants for the south

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plan9fromposhmadison

bruglover

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