Silky Willow is a native deciduous shrub that grows 6-12 ft. tall. This plant thrives in moist to wet areas. Its Latin name, Sericea, means “clothed in silken hair.” The shrub was given this name because of the silky white hairs on the underside of its leaves.

Silky Willow roots spread horizontally and tend to remain near the surface of the soil, making it great at erosion control. It is well-suited for wet environments, and aids in filtering pollutants from the water.

Silky Dogwood is a native deciduous shrub that grows 6-12 ft. tall. This plant is typically found in wetlands and near streams and ponds. The name comes from the silky hairs on its leaves and twigs. 

If this plant’s branches touch the ground, they can form new roots at the nodes, providing additional soil stabilization. Silky Dogwood roots can extend 2-3 times the width of the tree’s canopy, making it a good fit for controlling shoreline erosion.

Buttonbush is a deciduous, perennial shrub native to the Carolinas that typically grow 6-8 ft. tall and wide. This plant is usually found in low-lying areas, swamps, marshes, wetlands and along ponds and rivers. The name comes from the distinctive pincushion-like white, fragrant flowers. 

Buttonbush grows quickly and spreads easily to form thickets. This occurs through the process of suckering, or growing individual plants from its roots. These plants also attract many types of pollinators, waterfowl, songbirds and mammals.

Ninebark is a tough local shrub that grows between 5-12 feet tall and 6-12 feet wide. These plants get their name from their unique bark, which peels off in narrow strips, leaving behind sections of bark that vary in color due to their age and exposure to the air. 

Ninebark has dense, arching branches that create effective ground cover, which helps suppress the growth of invasive species and simultaneously stabilizes soil in areas prone to erosion.

American Elderberry is a native deciduous shrub that can grow 5-12 ft. tall and 6-10 ft. wide. This plant can be found throughout the Carolinas along streams, marshes, and moist forests. Elderberry fruit is edible when cooked and can be used in jams, pies, and wines.

Elderberry plants grow quickly, have extensive and shallow root systems, and are easy to grow from clippings. They send out new shoots (suckers) from their roots which develop into new plants and further stabilize the shoreline and reduce erosion.