If you want low to the ground, you could do a mixture of ajuga and sedum. Ajuga can get in the lawn if it loves your property, but sedums rarely would. They can both handle your full sun. Regarding the junipers, I'm not sure that they would really "grow around" the spireas. I think they'd eventually end up competing and overcrowding each other.

When I first saw Sagina here, I had a difficult time determining ID. There seems to be a fine line between "matted" and "clumped". I finally read that S. decumbens typically has flowers with 5 petals, and S. procumbens flowers usually have 4. So my plant was probably S. decumbens and yours seems similar in general appearance. However, species is indeterminent, for me, from your photos. Maybe you can check your plant's petal count with a magnifying lens. If you do review the Sagina key from the following link, you can click on any of the species listed to see a more detailed description. Here is a link that might be useful: FNA Sagina key

To my surprise several very nice selections to take a look at. Thanks for all the suggestions. . Sedum certainly is a contender as I have Vera Jaemeson that I could divide. Apparently this sit took my pic from a couple years ago? Its not even a nice pic, lol http://claycord.com/?attachment_id=43434 gazania, very nice pics! Certainly two attractive choices I haven't considered. Karmina has always been a plant I wanted to use, would have never pegged it for droughty conditions though. nhbabs, I was thinking about using Cat's Meow actually. Do any of the Veronica, like Veronica umbrosa 'Georgia Blue' have mildew issues? I've always had issues with the foliage of Veronica going crappy on me. Any suggestions on epimediums cultivars? Thiis is going to be a small bed with an Autumn Fantasy Freeman Maple (needed reliable red fall color) then there would be a dwarf winter gold mugo pine. The ground cover is just added interest to maintain the shape of the bed. I don't want to be mulching every year anymore. The ground cover will be subjected to south and west sun. Grass has a hard time staying green during the summer its so dry. I guess the groundcover needs to be able to grow on shallow soils because of the root competition of the maple.

Look for Microbiota decussata, also known as Russian or Siberian cypress. It is a true groundcover-type conifer, only growing about a foot tall (and that's being generous) but spreads nicely to cover 5-6 feet. It has a soft, feathery foliage texture and turns color in winter, becoming a bronzy plum color. (Ignore the "dirty brown" comment in the attached link. This plant gets amazing attention in our display garden in midwinter due to its unusual and attractive coloration) Pines or spruces really are not ideal chioces for a groundcover conifer as few grow low enough or spread enough to be effective. That's why junipers are so popular for this purpose. The Microbiota is a much classier and less common choice. Very hardy as well. Here is a link that might be useful: Microbiota decussata