I have dwarf mondo grass in some places, easy, indestructable, and you can take chunks, split them and replant. It is a ground cover, I guess, but it's attractive and where I am (zone 7, DC) completely maintenance free. You don't even have to trim it and it doesn't go brown here.
Hmm, otherwise it depends on where you are to recommend specific plants. Is it shade or sunny? I see trees.