Planting ideas for a slope

[cjb]

We have a large, sloped area that is very visible from the house that is currently just covered with grass, weeds and fir saplings. We cut down most of the saplings because we don't want full sized trees there.

My main concern is erosion control but would also like the plantings to be attractive. The slope backs up to a fenced area with goats so I shouldn't plant anything that would be poisonous, as sometimes the kids get out and wander a few feet from the fence and nibble.

There is a natural crevice where water drains so I am planning to put in a dry creek bed there. We live in Oregon (zones 8-9) and am looking for a nice mix of plantings that would look ok with the rustic goat area and fir trees as the backdrop.

Any ideas? I don't want it to look commerical, more of a somewhat organized naturalized slope. Does that make sense?

I would like to do some grasses, probably a few small/med sized trees and most mass plantings of various textures. I would like at least some of the massed plantings to be evergreen as well.

Most importantly, the plants need to be hardy and able to thrive on a fairly steep slow.

Any ideas? I wouldn't mind getting stuff that may spread as there is ALOT of space to cover. It won't spread into the goat pen for long I like some of the grasses and was wondering if there are bamboos that might work. The latter might look funny in the NW, though?

Thanks in advance
Cliff

[MN Gardener]

I don't know much about your area, but I have heard that vinca is a good plant for steep hills, maybe some creep phlox too? Just wanted to "bump" you up!

[frankva]

No idea about toxicity. From a short distance crown vetch is quite pretty in a mass. Same with rubeckia.

Lupine grow there? Russell lupine can bloom the first year, but I favor the blue.

I got asking around about false indigo, and instead of answers will be getting a hunk come spring. Mildly invasive here. (Means it will grow for me.)

I bet you could find some local form/type of rosa rugosa. (Or some similar indestructible mildly attractive bush.) I have some that can be mowed, can't kill it. I respect a plant like that. Might help down the road if you need to clean up some stuff on that bank.

[Danaus29]

You don't want vinca. It not only spreads way beyond where you want but it also kills off other vegetation and earthworms. You can't decide you don't like it and just pull it out or mow it off. I've been trying for 6 years to get rid of the patch of vinca that I stupidly planted in the woods.

[Callieslamb]

I think bamboo that is edible by your goats would be a good thing. Maybe the goats could help keep it from running away from you....

I am totally unfamiliar with your climate
ornamental grasses
Blueberries - will rabbiteyes grow in your zone?
raspberries
daylilies
black eyed susan - they spread nicely and different varieties can grow quite tall

[geo in mi]

I'm looking at a slope project this Spring. I'm thinking of Blue Girl Holly, or Chokeberry(not chokecherry), or Hazelnuts(Filberts). Each take more than one bush for good pollination(male/female thing), and some Filberts will 'sucker' sprout. Those might work in your area, too.

[cjb]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Keep em coming please

[Maria]

We had hairy vetch on the slope behind our house until last year when we turned the sheep out in our yard. They loved the vetch, and kept it eaten down, and the grass finally got ahead of the vetch, so now it's a grassy slope.

The vetch had pretty purple flowers most of the summer. It looked nice in a large mass, and easily reseeded itself every year.