Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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plants for steep banks

Finding the right plants for steep banks is essential for stabilising soil, enhancing your landscape, and reducing erosion in challenging areas. If you’re dealing with a sloping garden or embankment in New Zealand, selecting plants that thrive on steep ground can transform the space into a beautiful, low-maintenance feature. Well-chosen varieties offer both practical and aesthetic benefits, creating lush greenery while protecting your property.

Carex flagellifera 'Green'

Carex flagellifera 'Green' is a NZ native, ornamental grass grown for its attractive foliage. It produces slender and lush, green leaves as it grows to 50 cm tall and the same width.

Buy Carex flagellifera 'Green'

From $12.95

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Grasses

Height: 50 cm

Spread: 50 cm

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy, Wet, Wind

Garden uses: Banks, Borders, Containers, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Ponds, Pool areas

Garden styles: Alpine, Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native, Riparian

Hardenbergia 'Happy Wanderer'

Hardenbergia 'Happy Wanderer' is a vigorous evergreen climber grown for its masses of deep purple pea like flowers and glossy green foliage. Well suited to New Zealand gardens, it flowers generously from late winter through spring, bringing colour when little else is in bloom.

Buy Hardenbergia 'Happy Wanderer'

From $33.05

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Climbers

Height: 4.50 m

Spread: 3.00 m

Flowering time: Spring, Winter

Tolerances: Extended dry periods, Hardy

Garden uses: Arches, Living areas, Pool areas, Screening

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern

Why Planting Steep Banks Matters

New Zealand’s hilly landscapes are picturesque, but they often come with their own set of challenges—erosion, runoff, and difficulty accessing sloped areas. By planting steep banks with hardy, spreading species, you can prevent soil loss, increase biodiversity, and create eye-catching garden features. Groundcover plants are particularly valuable for their root systems, which work to bind soil together and minimise maintenance.

Top Plants for Steep Banks

Choosing tough, resilient plants is key. Native and exotic varieties suited to New Zealand’s conditions can handle challenging slopes and create beautiful, layered foliage.

Aristea major

This striking perennial adds colour and texture to embankments. Aristea major is known for its upright blue flower spikes and robust grass-like foliage. It’s drought-tolerant and thrives in poor soils, making it a great solution for difficult hillsides.

Juniperus conferta

If you need a dense, spreading groundcover, Juniperus conferta is ideal. Its needle-like foliage forms a thick carpet over the ground, helping to suppress weeds and prevent erosion. Juniperus conferta is salt-tolerant and works well in coastal areas, too.

Brunfelsia Scent sational

For those seeking both colour and fragrance, Brunfelsia pauciflora Scent sational (Yesterday Today Tomorrow Plant) offers lovely purple, lavender, and white blooms. It works well on sunny banks, providing interest and stabilising the soil with its strong root system.

Muehlenbeckia axillaris

Native to New Zealand, Muehlenbeckia axillaris (Creeping Wire Vine) is a hard-working groundcover. Its wiry stems and small leaves snake along the soil, anchoring it and reducing erosion, even on steep slopes. It’s also a favourite for creating natural, low-maintenance embankments.

Pimelea mimosa

Another excellent choice for stabilisation and ground coverage is Pimelea mimosa. This low-growing shrub is well-adapted to New Zealand’s conditions, producing clusters of soft pink flowers and a matting habit perfect for steep banks.

Planting Tips for Steep Banks

Establishing plants for steep banks requires careful planning. The best approach is to start with robust groundcovers and low shrubs to anchor the soil, then layer in taller species for structure and visual interest. Mulching between plants can also help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Always consider sun and shade patterns, moisture levels, and drainage before you plant.

A wide range of plants for steep banks are available to suit every garden style and slope. Browse our selection of proven groundcovers, perennials, and shrubs to create a beautiful, stabilised garden that thrives even in the steepest spaces.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

plants for steep banks

Carex flagellifera 'Green'

Hardenbergia 'Happy Wanderer'

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Why Planting Steep Banks Matters