I forgot to add that I live in San Diego, CA.

Thanks

Yellow moss sedum. Guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser! :) Handles dry conditions w/o missing a beat, grows quickly and flowers beautifully w/ yellow flowers.

junipers (especially blue pacific) and monkey grass. Blue Pacific creeps pretty low and monkey grass just spreads and spreads. Monkey grass roots are very webby in the soil and make for great erosion control. Monkey grass is easy to plant too

any others for zone 5? our slope isnt really steep, just long, and it ends at a lake. any suggestions for a novice?

A friend very kindly shared some pieces of aptenia with me. I just love it; it looks a lot prettier in person. I know it grows well in California, I've seen it growing there. It should meet all your requirements.

Here's some info from another posting:

Here is a link that might be useful: aptenia

Oops, that wasn't info it was just pictures.

I'll try it again:

Here is a link that might be useful: Aptenia cordifolia

Try creeping thyme! Also Mazus repetans (??sp). Both have done well for me- the Mazus is VERY hardy.

Not helianthemum? And what about the sedums--all of them love life. Maybe even lewisia--it loves dry places the best. And it blossoms beautifully and looks like a plant from another planet.

I live in Maryland and am looking for something also. I took this photo (see URL) of someone's groundcover (southern exposure).

Here is a link that might be useful: Name that plant! / ID This Groundcover

Try Nepta, catmint. NOTICE IT IS catMINT. There is a prostrate form.