Snow on the mountain or vinca as an erosion control?

Hello!

I've been offered to dig a good bit of both of the above ground covers for free. I won't be putting them in my mixed gardens (perennial cottage/butterfly and wildflower/butterfly) because they can be...well...rather aggressive, or so I've heard. One Wisteria that's planted entirely too close to butterfly bushes and forsythia is enough for me to fight with (it's been there quite a while, I found it funny when I peeked "into" it and found the twisted remains of a metal garden arbor). However, I have a steep slope/cliff directly on Lake Ontario at one end of my property that I was considering them for. Someone previously planted some Crown Vetch there, but it's patchy and I would like to fill in. We do have a beach area, although I imagine in the winter the ice and waves to contact the cliffs (we just bought the property this summer and I've been working on it since-so I haven't see what winter brings). I know Snow On The Mountain is supposed to be pretty deeply rooted so I thought it might work well here, and since it's bordered by beach on the bottom and lawn which will be mowed on top, about the only spreading it could do would be in either direction on the cliff, and I'm sure if it helps control erosion my neighbor's won't mind it one bit!

Thoughts?

Is this the Snow on the Mountain you're talking about??
http://www.naturehills.com/product/snow_on_the_mountain_bishop_weed.aspx
That is a taller ground cover than vinca.
Is the area full or part sun or shade? Vinca prefers shade so that help in your decision.

Snow on the mountain dies back to the ground here. It also dies back here when it gets too hot or too dry. It will reappear later when it gets cooler. Because it dies back I don't think it will help with erosion control. It was in a bed surounded by concrete and appeared on the other side of one of the walkways. Looked to me like possibly from a underground runner. It is invasive in Kansas so I would think it would be a nightmare in an area like yours where it would get more moisture.

The perinnial vinca is an evergreen with spring blooms. You can mow it to keep it in check and also keep it looking plush. Although it would be a pain to be mowing on a cliff side. I would think that the lake front cliff might be a good place to plant grasses (anr other native cliffside plants ) and let the area go relatively natural.

Is the cliff soil sandy?

Here is an article for plantings on Lake Michigan for the Buffalo area. Looks like the web site has other articles on erosion control.
http://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=2359

If the cliff faces east or north, then its shady. South or west could get too hot. The vinca won't HAVE to be mowed.
Some ornamental grasses are really tough- natives would be nice, Northern Sea Oats might work, will self sow plenty of happy but the leaves dry out completely over winter.

I'd vote vinca, and you might consider the grasses too,.