That's a tough combination: native, evergreen, under 30 inches AND fast-growing. Not sure you can have all those characteristics (and be able to locate some of it). A classic ground cover is Rhus aromatica 'Grow Low', but it is not evergreen. Leucothoe axillaris is evergreen but not necessarily fast (not the first two years) and is more than 30 inches tall. Phlox subulata is native, evergreen and low growing - readily available in stores all over the place right now because it is blooming. Don't know how fast it is. You could certainly consider a mix of things. Shrubs and trees usually provide the best root system to hold a slope, so a few of those strategically placed with some groundcovers for looks might be a good approach. Here is a link that might be useful: Georgia Native Plant Society

Wax Myrtles have been trouble for me here in the city. a) they are hard to find and extremely expensive b) those I've personally planted in very urban areas have died. Blue Mountain & Hillii are possibilties, but I do no think we have enough root space for either of them, unfortunately. The only things that are growing in this area right now are dreaded "Tree of Heaven" and some canna (which look horrible in drough and then fall over because of the steep slope). The Hazelnut would probably be the best if it indeed does produce nuts, and we could mass plant it in this area. Our first and foremost priority is providing nutritious foods our congregation - many of whom are poor and live in group homes with no personal access to good nutrition (what they are provided with is very sub standard in many cases). Food plants that are natives would be wonderful! Thank-you all, GGG

Those wildflowers at the top of the slope look like mallows of some kind, maybe Lavatera. I like your palm tree. Looks like Trachycarpus. Very hardy and has flowers when it's taller. It also drops fronds, but not often. What you put on your bank really depends on how much time you have to stay on top of the care needed for the first year or so until any plantings get established. There have been some lovely suggestions offered already: the iceplant and the local Ceanothus. There are varieties that spread beautifully to smother. Otheres are taller and more bushy. They come in a small range of colours, mostly blues and purples and they can provide a succession of flowers over weeks. I liked the idea of the California poppies. They are so tough! And there are colours other than the standard 'orange'. You might want to plant 'pools' of them among Ceanothus to give a fairly strong visual impact. A 'Pacific' colour scheme suitable for strong sunlight. Pastels tend to get a bit lost in hard light. The iceplants can be very effective - big sheets of colour usually in 'hot' tones, although there are softer pinks available. And, for seriously tough sites - Gazania, Arctotis, Anigozanthis (kangaroo paw - which comes in a pleasant range of flower colours dark red to interesting green.) They're usually perennial. Climbers and sprawlers - Bougainvillea, Campsis, Trachelospermum (which smells delightful). Instead of climbing a trellis they can sprawl down the bank, needing only a trimming with shears to stay civil. Bougainvillea has thorns, however. As do the carpet roses and Rosa 'Nozomi'. That's a fairly steep slope so work across it rather than 'up/down' to reduce the risk of rain damage. Leave strips of grass to catch the run-off and protect your pool from mini-mudslides. At least until your plantings are spreading out. Before planting ANYTHING - check with your local garden centre to see if it's safe for newbies. Some things look so innocent when you see them as a cute little cutting in a teeny pot... and then you find they have rule-the-world tendencies. English ivy would be one. Cortaderia would be another. Many South African bulbs, such as Watsonia, can happily fill acres. So can Ornithogalum. And, if it's not too hot where you are, asparagus fern and ginger plant can take over in no time. If you should chance to like them - and don't mind some spiny-ness consider bromeliads. There are many hardy varieties that happily live outdoors, flower fairly regularly and make a good groundcover. And aren't fussy.

Wintergreen does not spread very fast at all and kinnikinnick only moderately faster. To get full coverage and decent weed suppression you would need to space them relatively closely. The typical recommended spacing is 18-24" but you could go closer for faster coverage. I'm not sure you'd be happy with the results of a wider spacing although I understand that if a big slope, economy alway factors into the equation :-) Because of the kinnikinnick's growth habit, you will still get some weed development (although the mulch will help), so be prepared to do some weeding until it is established. And keep on top of the weeds going forward........it is almost inevitable that you will get some alder seedlings or blackberries popping up and whatever else might be common in your area and if they get a toehold into the slope and groundcover, it will be far more difficult to remove them than if without any groundcover. Unfortunately, NO groundcover is 100% effective at weed suppression.