That can be a tricky situation. I would suggest planting something like cotoneaster to help stabilize the slope and then something smaller around it to fill in for the mean time. You probably have enough light for daylilies (at least now) and they can grow on a pretty steep slope. Of course Liriope is always a good choice for those situations. Maybe not exciting but it will grow well there. There may be other grasses that could do well there too. Many grasses won't tolerate shade but I am pretty sure there are a few that do. Good luck. -Ais.

steppables website has a neat engine that you type all the parameters into and it spits out suitable candidates. esp since they have so many offerings, you get a good variety of choices. worth a whirl. of course, their prices are steep- but you can use the info & go elsewhere.

i've had pretty good luck with delasperma cooperi in the shade/sun. you could do what ais suggested, and use it to interplant, since it spreads fast. it'll die out as the bigger plants take over. it does better in full sun, but can handle some shade, as long as it's drained well. has nice flowers to boot, and is evergreen- well, it turns red in winter. good luck!

If the area is large and once you know what you want, check this out for seeds. Seeds may take a season or two to get to full spread but will save you tonnes of money.
http://www.outsidepride.com/store/catalog/Groundcover-p-1-c-297.html

Here is a link that might be useful: groundcover seeds

I think the shore juniper will do fine until there is deep shade. Mine is in a part sun situation and has thrived(too well actually for it's spot). I like the cotoneaster suggestion too.

I think juniper is difficult to maintain well. It doesn't do a good job of shading out weeds--and is tough to work in. Also subject to bagworms.

Like the lirope suggestion. It's tough enough that you can overspray it with Round-up at half strength to control weeds. Will also tolerate considerable shade.

All good suggestions - thank you! Is there also something similar to Juniper that grows quickly that could take part shade? I guess I'm looking for somthing with more of a dwarf 'evergreen bush' look and a little more height then typical sedum/vinca/liriope/etc.
Thanks!
Lori

There are some bush forms of St. John's wort (hypericums) that are evergreen or semi-evergreen. Most can take part shade and might be an alternative. Not sure if they are as low-growing as the junipers or cotoneaster though. Some hypericums can be a little aggressive, but I don't think the bushier types are too bad. -Ais.

How about Pachysandra?

I read this posting because I have the exact same problem, minus the shade, and I want to thank you for the link to purchase the groundcover seeds. The area I had to cover was so large, I was wondering how I'd ever be able to plant it and now I can. Thank you so much.

deirdre- please know that i ordered from this seed company last year and on the phone they were nice, but they/i screwed up and charged me $11 for shipping on 2 packets of seed (long story, but essentially the website setup makes it hard to tell what shipping is and to change it), for which i was pretty mad. found out the ONLY way to get in touch with them is via email - they refuse to talk on the phone (the phone order thing is a subbed out co who has no power to correct mistakes), and the guy i dealt with was EXTREMELY rude. i did end up getting a refund but not until i was verbally (in email) abused about daring to take a stand. so just double, nay triple check if you order from them, and hope you don't have any problems. it's shame, because they have a great selection. tam

I have had a slope like this in Cary and spent 7 years on it. The only thing that worked to any level of success was mat-forming junipers, which don't require pruning and do well in sun and shade and dry-dry-dry. My slope did also contain Russian sage, portulaca, daylily, hypericum, cotoneaster, sedums, creeping phlox, stachys, salvias, agastache, buddleia, daisies, asters, many others, but the conditions bonsai-ed them all. I would say that the buddleia came in 2nd to the junipers - they got huge and atttacted lots of butterflies, which are much more visible on a slope.

wonder if there are creeper sorts of butterfly bushes? would prostrate rosemary work there? in sun, and part shade, i think that the creeping form of heliotrope would do well. the roots are deep, and it's about impossible to kill (or move once it's established). it's not evergreen, but spreads to 3-4' in a season and would be green at that size at least 1/2 of the year. it blooms lavendar from spring til frost. also, perennial sweet peas will cover a slope and are semi evergreen, with a long season of flowers. you could plant a mixture of potentials and let the winners take all like brenda did.

I have cotoneaster on a very steep slope. It works well for me in that spot because it roots where the branches lay. Some prostrate shrubs don't "layer" like that so might not work as well unless they have great roots. I moght plant "the Fairy' roses or some other groundcover rose. I've found the roots to be very good, and you could interplant with a tough groundcover. The downside is that roses are deciduous, but "the Fairy" for me has been dormant for only a couple of months. You always see vinca or ivy in those situations. Personally I have and hate them but they must work well. -Ais. work