Hi Sandy,

Could you tell me where in the state you are located?  That will help determine the best plants or seed mix. Thanks!

Sincerely,

Robin

Hi Sandy,

I sent an NRCS resource to your email about using native plants in landscaping in South Dakota because the file was too large to attach here.  

When planting on a steep, rocky slope it will be extremely helpful to plant seeds under a biodegradable erosion control blanket, otherwise the seeds will likely just get washed away when it rains.  These are available at most larger home and garden supply stores like Lowes, Home Depot, etc. or online, and can be made of straw or coconut fibers. Seeds can be spread either under or over the top of the blanket once it's placed. Check the erosion blanket directions to see if there is a preferred type of seeding for that particular blanket (seeds over or under).

Grasses are quickest to establish, but there are many seed mixes available that contain both grasses and wildflowers.  Just know that some of the flowers in native mixes may not show up for a couple of years, especially if you plant them now in the summer, since most native flowers need cold stratification.  There are a couple flowers that don't need a period of cold temperatures, so they will grow right away and are good for filling space before the other flowers fill in.  Rudbeckia fulgida (black-eyed susan),  Gaillardia pulchella (blanketflower), Linum lewisii (blue flax) and Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover) seeds could be used to supplement a seed mix to get earlier blooms.

I've listed a couple seed mix sources, but a quick google search will show a lot more sources if you look for native seed mixes.  Because of your location I would try to choose one that is more specific for short grass and wildflowers, or western areas. 

https://www.renovoseed.com/product-category/native-grass-wildflowers/native-mixes/

-Birds and bees native wildflower mix (no grasses, so you would want to add a grass mix too)

-Short and showy grass and wildflower mix

-Western native reclamation mix

https://www.highcountrygardens.com/category/wildflower-seeds/native-wildflower-seeds

-Native west wildflower seed mix

-Native bee habitat wildflower seed mix

If you'd like to add specific plants, the following is a good list of native plants for South Dakota from the Lady Bird Johnson Center.  You can narrow your search by checking the appropriate boxes for your site conditions.

https://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=SD

There are a couple books that list many of the plants found in the Black Hills area, so if there are certain plants you like, you can also supplement a seed mix with seeds for them too. Not all the plants listed in the books are native plants.

Wildflowers, Grasses, and Other Plants of the Northern Plains and Black Hills, by Van Bruggen

Plants of the Black Hills and Bear Lodge Mountains, by Gary Larson and James Johnson

I hope this helps get you started!  Please let me know if you have any other specific questions.

Sincerely,

Robin