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.

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue)

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue) is a vigorous, hardy NZ native climber or groundcover. It features wiry, twining stems and small, glossy green leaves that create dense coverage. Growing up to 4 m wide and 2 m high, it’s perfect for fences, banks, or walls. Pohuehue tolerates wind, salt spray, and dry conditions once established. Small, white flowers are followed by black berries, attracting birds and making it an excellent choice for both erosion control and biodiversity.

Buy Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue)

From $25.58

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 30 cm

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind

Garden uses: Arches, Banks, Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Patios, Pool areas, Topiary, Walls

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

Isolepis cernua (Fiber-Optic Grass)

Isolepsis cernua (aka Scirpus cernua), commonly known as Fiber Optic Grass, grows as a tidy clump to about 25 cm tall and the same wide with green foliage and interesting silver flower heads. Isolepsis cernua is commonly planted alongside a pond or stream, planted around outdoor living areas, mass planted on a bank, or maintained in a container.

Buy Isolepis cernua (Fiber-Optic Grass)

From $16.13

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Grasses

Height: 25 cm

Spread: 25 cm

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Hardy, Wet, Wind

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

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

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

Muehlenbeckia complexa (Pohuehue)

Isolepis cernua (Fiber-Optic Grass)

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Why Planting Steep Banks Matters