Question
I live in the L. a. area.  my hill is a 45 degree slope about 55 ft up and down and 70 ft wide. I know i must irigate. Help the rains are coming.  I dont like red apple groud cover.  Help the rains are coming.  thanks don

Answer
By "apple groundcover", do you mean Carpobrotus/Ice Plant?  This is a common plant for southern California slopes - unfortunate; because it can "matt" and actually pull the slopes down by it's own weight!  It is a native to the area, and requires litle to NO water.  The 16 or so inches/year you get will keep it alive...

Some other options for a sloping hillside (some require NO water in your area, once established):

Cotoneaster
Euonymus f. coloratus
Hedera (ivies)
Hemerocallis (day lily)
Hypericum calycinum
Liriopes
Ophiopogons (mondo)
Vinca major
Minca minor

Here is a site dedicated to plants native to California, plus some really great tips for slope protection:

http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/howto/slope.html

Its a good idea to see what the other neighbors have used, too.

I grew up in LA (the "flat" part - Wilshire/Fairfax), so I am somewhat familiar with the perennial sliding of houses & whole blocks of houses.  Gravity and wet slopes are a hard combo to beat!  

If your lot is in a severe location, or the neighbor's have experienced slope failure (like just about anywhere in Laurel Canyon!), you may need to consult a civil engineer, as just covering your slopes with plants may not be enough.

Hope it helps. -Marc