If you want an aggressive alternative, us crown vetch(deciduous). That stuff will eat your slope. You could also go a more tame route, and use vinca minor. It will cover the hill in a nice evergreen blanket. It will also take bot shade and sun, and show blue flowers in the spring.

:) you're local, so I can tell you there's a TON of choices, and half a dozen of them come with low-cost options.

things like Lamium, goutweed (false dead nettle) , spiderwort, and the local daylillies can be planted anywhere along the length of your slope, and they will adapt just fine- they will grow faster on the sunny side, but take shade very well indeed.

all of these will root in the darndest of places- and one plant will become five in just one year. The second year, you can break clumps up and spread them out, adding a layer of mulch, and by the third spring, the slope should be stable enough (and a living layer of topsoil created) that you can plant things like ferns, woodland phlox, and smaller hostas.

for the sunny side, the spiderwort and daylillies just grow faster in the sun, and can be joined by carpet roses, standing or creeping phlox, or sedums... and the sedums in particular are SO easy to propagate- break off a branch, let the end dry out, insert in dirt, keep from drying out completely for a week or so (or stick them in a pot of damp potting soil in the shade for a week) and they make roots. one quart size plant can make 12 babies in a month, and in another month, be ready to harvest again.

:) and if you're close to trenton, I can give you starts of the spiderwort and a sedum with little gold star-flowers.

Thanks everyone for the great info!

Not a fast spreader, but I like the odd look of hen and chick. They seem to be able to grow any where.

If you are in northern NJ, I have lots of variegated Bishop's weed you are welcome to!

If you are in northern NJ, I have lots of variegated Bishop's weed you are welcome to!

I have spiderwort to divide this fall if anyone wants some.
E-mail me at
evelynshackleydesigns@yahoo.com

Anyone have anything to divide they want to share this fall?