Perfect Plants for a Heavenly Hellstrip in Northern California

Transform a high-traffic, full-sun spot into an oasis with these five plants

Reflected warmth , passing metrical foot dealings , wretched stain , restrict space , and irrigation obstruction are just a few of the challenges faced by any flora grown in a “ hellstrip . ” This spot is the narrow strip of dirt between the street curb and sidewalk ( or along a driveway ) in front of a mansion . Compacted , rut - baked , and dwelling house most often to weeds , dog waste , and farting - blown trash , hellstrips are ripe for reformation and transformation into a street - side pocket paradise .

Though there ’s not much a gardener can do about the heat , foot traffic , or the median strip ’s straight footage , the soil ’s fertility rate , wet - apply capacity , drain , and grain can be greatly meliorate with the addition of well - aged , hoummos - plentiful , organiccompost . First , remove all Mary Jane , then dig deeply , kick downstairs up the pack together soil and working in as much organic affair as potential . Add well - balanced , all - purpose , granular organicfertilizerat the same time . Fluff it all up , and irrigate it well . Then gear up to fill your freshly improved — soon to be heavenly hellstrip — with rugged yet beautiful plant .

The plants you pick out must be resilient , well-heeled to wish for , and able to withstand period of time of neglect . They should be heat anddrought tolerantand , in many parts ofNorthern California , deer resistive . Your alternative should also be tidy in maturation riding habit and easily kept within the confines of the circumscribed quad . A marvelous order ? Not for many native plants or the following bomb calorimeter - proof perennial beauty .

Note : If you ’re within city limits or part of a homeowner ’s association , it ’s a good mind to check ordinancesbeforeyou commence digging in instance there are restriction dictating what you may do with your median strip .

‘Purple Haze’ catmint

Nepeta‘Purple Haze ’ , Zones 6–9

The feel - textured , blue - green leaves of ‘ Purple Haze ’ are redolent and unusually large for a catmint . The foliage is carry on outward - spreading , sprawling stems . The mass of greenery is exceed with fat , fragrant , lilac-colored - blue flower spikes ( that can measure up to 6 foot long ) from later spring through surrender . This well - behaved , land - embrace perennial reaches 8 inches tall in full heyday and spreads 30 in wide in full sun , opt well - drain dirt and unaccented tearing during hotter summer months . high temperature loving , drouth tolerant , and cervid - proof too bang , ‘ Purple Haze ’ can be fleece back in belated winter to freshen its show .

Shara™ mat rush

Lomandra fluviatilis‘AU807 ’ , zone 8–10

For an elegantevergreenwith a grassy - look , try this blue - dark-green clumping perennial from Australia . One of the easiest flora you could grow , Shara ™ mat charge has graceful , fine , arching , grasslike leafage that moves almost hypnotically on a windy 24-hour interval . Abundant fat , thorny , creamy yellowed , love - odorize bloom spike are nest among the slim blades from late leap through summertime . This pest - free plant is large-minded of Sunday , shade , wind , salt air , clay grunge , anddry soil , and it grow 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet panoptic . It ’s truly mythical when massed or when edging adry brook . It also has minimal care and water need .

Rock purslane

Calandrinia spectabilis , Zones 8–10

This is a spectacular Chilean perennial with close to day-and-night production of raging - garden pink - to - purple single salad days from bound until surrender ’s first Robert Lee Frost . These prime trip the light fantastic beautifully over the low - growing , dense gym mat of blue - greensucculentfoliage . The showy blooms are attractive to bee and otherpollinators . Easy to grow , deer - proof , water - wise(perfect for any hard - to - irrigate spot ) , sway purslane grows 16 to 18 inch high ( in salad days ) and spread up to 4 base wide . acquire it in full sun and well - drained filth , and water it lightly during the summer month . Cut it back to 6 inch tall in late winter .

Chef’s Choice®rosemary

Rosmarinusofficinalis‘Roman Beauty ’ , Zones 8–10

Chef ’s Choice ® is a thick , dense , slow - growing , ornamental ediblefrom the Mediterranean . It is perfectly suitable for unmanageable spots such as the dreaded hellstrip . hard , Lord’s Day loving , drouth and cervid tolerant , this rosemary also graciously copes with heat , wretched grease , and intermittent watering . Its woody , arching stems — covered with aromatic , needlelike evergreen plant foliage — will easy fill your hellstrip or shed freely over arock wallor container boundary with ease . Delightful violet - blue flowers appear in spring . you may expect this perennial to grow 1 to 3 feet gamey and wide in full Lord’s Day .

Hairy canary clover

Dorycnium hirsutum(syn . Lotus hirsutus ) , Zones 8–10

This easy - textured , billowy , low - uprise Mediterranean native is the stark choice for mince up the hard edges of a sidewalk . Well suitable to our Northern California climate , it thrives in any sunny , water - conscious landscape with minimum care and minimum water . Clusters of pink - vein , bloodless , cloverlike blooms — much loved by bees — are held on the branch ends from summer through fall . These salad days are follow by shinyseedpods . drouth tolerant and not at all cross about grunge conditions , this low - grow evergreen reaches 1 to 2 feet marvelous , spreading 2 to 3 feet wide of the mark , and is happiest in full sun . Cut it back in tardy wintertime or former spring to goodly and refresh .

A helpful tip

When your work is done and your flora are planted , be sure tomulchyour fresh garden with 3 to 4 column inch of compost to continue to improve the soil ’s nutrient level and water - sustain capacity . Come up with a plan for meeting your new planting ’s lacrimation needs ; though the plants cite here are alltoughand drought tolerant , some supplemental summertime water will be necessary to get them ground .

— ‚ Fionuala Campion is the owner and manager of Cottage Gardens of Petaluma in Petaluma , California .

Photos : Fionuala Campion

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