You need an evergreen groundcover, not something that disappears in winter when slope erosion is most likely to occur.

Low growing junipers, cotoneaster or bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, aka kinnikinnick) would all work. But you will need to remove the river rock first.

Thanks gardengal, that's a good point. I don't like the look of cotoneaster, but creeping juniper sounds like a definite possibility. I might pair it with something else on the flatter section up top for some variety.

I've seen pictures of it combined with winterberry, which I really like.

Ice plants for color. Have them here z5

Which Cotoneasters did you look at? Have you checked out C dammeri? And do you intend to only remove the rocks but leave the fabric? That could lead to trouble down the line.

Honestly, I'm looking for whatever will be the least amount of work, and not cause any issues in the future. Since I made the original post we got some free plants from a neighbour, so I've put some hostas in (I just cleared some spots in the rocks, and cut holes in the landscape fabric), and some ribbon grass (there I cleared away an 8x8 ft section of rocks and pulled up the landscape fabric). So far the hostas have definitely been the least amount of work.

After googling c dammeri, I think that's what we have growing in the neighborhood. I don't mind the look of it as an edging plant, or between rocks, but I don't like the look of a whole big section of it.

C dammeri is unlikely to be used as an edging plant. It’s a shrub which can cover a large area. It’s great attribute is that it is one of the few plants which will actually grow downwards, not just hang or droop down.

I really would urge you to get rid of the fabric sooner rather than later. It’s a nightmare in waiting.

Perhaps I'm using the term "edging" incorrectly, but several of our neighbours do have what looks like c dammeri, planted in large groups and I don't really like the look of it. In a more limited use, I don't mind it.

What's the reason for removing the fabric immediately? I dare not do it before I have plants to put in place, or the whole hillside could wash away.

If you do a search on the garden web forums you’ll find a lot of posts about how bad landscape fabric is. If the slope is really unstable there are other materials available which will biodegrade in due course.

Remove the rock and landscape fabric and put down a good layer of arborist’s chipped trimmings or gorilla hair mulch, both of which are highly texturized and should stay well on the slope. Then when it’s time to plant, pull aside the mulch and plant. It will take time for groundcovers to cover and hold soil well, so you need something covering the soil while plants fill in, but I guarantee landscape fabric isn’t it. As you’ve noticed, it doesn’t prevent weeds, and without a covering, it breaks down in sunlight. It also interferes with plant growth because it interferes with the exchange of air, water and nutrients with the soil, so IMO, the only place landscape fabric belongs is somewhere like under a masonry path. Trying to remove it after planting will be far more difficult than doing it sooner.

I have used daylilies in an area where the bed isn’t visible in winter, but having mostly evergreen shrubs like those suggested above will work better in such an exposed spot at the front of the house. Adding some smaller areas of flowering plants may work if you want a more varied look. I still have to weed my slope a couple of times a year.