The new generation of groundcover roses are ideal for this application because they can spread out over a very large area and produce healthy root systems. Such plants are remondant vigorous bloomers, relatively disease free and available in a variety of colors. For dry climates there is the Australian native, Acacia redolens, a ground hugging plant as drought tolerant as most other members of the acacia clan. Its blue-gray foliage is no taller than about thirty inches and a single plant can cover an area fifteen feet in diameter when mature. Also from the land down under are various grevilias that are some of the most xeriphytic plants of all.
Many native shrubs require rapid drainage and an erosion prone slope mimics their preferred habitat.
Other members of this group with spreading habits include the various cultivars of Ceanothus horizontalis, Ceanothus gloriosus, and Ceanothus maritimus. Most often known as bearberry, uva-ursi or manzanita, this group of woody natives are notoriously finicky about too much water in the root zone. This makes them perfect for erosion control with the low, spreading habit of Arctostaphylos hookeri cultivars, 'Monterey Carpet' and 'Wayside', plus A. uva-ursi cultivars 'Point Reyes' and 'Emerald Carpet' being the most widely available. Among the rockrose clan, Cistus salvifolius, the sageleaf rockrose remains less than eighteen inches tall and covers an area about six feet in diameter. For colder climates, the cotoneaster family includes a number of spreading species with bright red berries that set off the winter garden.