Hellstrips are the narrow spaces between sidewalks and streets, and they often present unique landscaping challenges. However, with the right selection of hardy plants, these areas can be transformed into beautiful, low-maintenance gardens. This guide highlights a variety of resilient plants that work in hell strips and offers tips on planting and maintaining your streetside garden.
How To Choose Plants For Your Hellstrips
Selecting the right plants for hell strips can transform these narrow spaces into vibrant landscape features. Use the tips below to guide your hellstrip design process.
- Plant combinations: Combine plants with varying heights, textures, and colors to create visual interest. For example, pair low-growing groundcovers like Blue Fescue with taller plants such as Beardtongue to add dimension.
- Color schemes: Select plants with complementary or contrasting colors to enhance the visual appeal of your hellstrip. Consider seasonal changes in foliage color and flower blooms to maintain year-round interest.
- Cohesive look: Use a consistent design theme to tie the plantings together. This could be based on color, texture, or the plant’s growth habit. Arrange plants in groups or clusters to create a unified appearance.
What Plants Do We Recommended for Hellstrips?
Here are our top recommendations for landscaping plants for hellstrips. All of these plants are hardy enough to last in this challenging environment.
Blue Fescue (Festuca glauca)
Blue Fescue is a resilient, attractive choice for hellstrips. This evergreen grass features light-blue leaves and buff-colored seed heads in summer. It grows up to 12 inches tall and 10 inches wide, fitting well in narrow spaces. Tolerant of drought and salt, it thrives in urban environments and areas exposed to de-icing salts. Preferring full sun but adaptable to some shade, Blue Fescue requires minimal maintenance and is hardy in USDA zones 4-8, suitable for various climates.
Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow is a versatile perennial ideal for hellstrips. Compact options like Woolly yarrow (A. tomentosa) reach about 10 inches tall with bright yellow flowers, while the ‘Moonshine’ variety grows to 2 feet tall with similar blooms. Yarrow thrives in dry to medium-damp soil and full sun, making it adaptable to hellstrip conditions. Its strong scent deters garden pests. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, yarrow suits most temperate climates.
Moonbeam Coreopsis (C. verticillata ‘Moonbeam’)
Moonbeam Coreopsis offers a long blooming period with little maintenance. It produces butter-yellow, daisy-like flowers from June through August. Unlike other coreopsis varieties, Moonbeam is sterile and won’t spread uncontrollably. Growing up to 2 feet tall and wide, it fits well in most hellstrip spaces. Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, it adapts to various climates and is deer-resistant, making it suitable for urban and suburban areas.
Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Sweet Woodruff features delicate white flowers from April to May, contrasting beautifully with its rich green foliage. It grows up to 12 inches tall and wide and fills bare spots quickly. This plant spreads by runners, making it suitable for hellstrips with built-in edging. It thrives in shaded areas, including under black walnut trees, and has a subtle, sweet scent. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8, Sweet Woodruff is a reliable choice for diverse climates.
Beardtongue (Penstemon)
Beardtongue, or Penstemon, offers versatility for hellstrip gardens with various species and varieties. For low-growing needs, P. caespitosus has lilac-like flowers and bright-green leaves, reaching only a few inches tall and wide. For vertical interest, P. canescens features pink to dark-violet tubular flowers and grows up to 3 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet wide. Penstemons thrive in full sun and medium to dry soil, suitable for hellstrips. These plants are hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and attract pollinators, helping to enhance urban biodiversity.
Lavender Cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus)
Lavender cotton, a Mediterranean native, adds exotic charm to hellstrip plantings with its gray-green leaves and button-like yellow flowers. It can produce a second flush of color if blooms are cut back after initial flowering. Thriving in hot, dry, and sunny conditions, it grows up to 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, with some cultivars like Small Ness reaching only 20 inches in height. Hardy in USDA zones 6-9, it’s suitable for warmer, drier climates. Its aromatic qualities can deter pests and enhance the garden’s sensory experience.
Sage (Salvia)
Sage (Salvia) offers various options for hellstrip gardens, including both shrub and perennial forms. Flowers come in colors like blue, white, red, and purple, such as the S. farinacea Victoria. Many sage varieties stay under 18 inches tall, making them suitable for hellstrips. Cutting back after the first blooms can extend flowering into October. Sage prefers full sun and minimal water, thriving in harsh hellstrip conditions. It also has medicinal and culinary uses. Choose a variety suited to your hardiness zone for optimal results.
Pussy-toes (Antennaria)
Pussy-toes, with its fuzzy, cat-paw-like blossoms, is a great ground cover for hellstrip gardens. This plant forms a mat of green leaves with white flowers blooming from April to June, growing up to 16 inches tall and 18 inches wide. The A. dioica Rotes Wunder variety adds red blooms for extra color. Pussy-toes prefer dry to medium-damp soil and can thrive in full sun to partial shade. They are durable, withstand foot traffic, and are suitable for various hellstrip conditions in USDA zones 5-9.
Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
Creeping juniper is a hardy evergreen that adds year-round interest to hellstrip gardens. With varieties in colors from dark green to chartreuse to blue-green, it offers design flexibility. Most varieties are salt-tolerant and deer-resistant, making them suitable for urban hellstrips and roadside areas.
Preferring full sun, this juniper thrives in harsh conditions. The female Glauca variety turns reddish-purple in winter and produces berry-like cones. Growing up to 12 inches tall and spreading up to 8 feet wide, it provides excellent ground coverage. This plant is hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and also helps to prevent soil erosion.
Kalm’s St. John’s Wort (Hypericum kalmianum)
Kalm’s St. John’s Wort is a versatile North American shrub ideal for hellstrip plantings. It tolerates both drought and flooding, making it suitable for rain gardens and variable moisture levels. This plant features bluish foliage and large clusters of feathery gold flowers in summer. The Blue Velvet cultivar has deeper blue leaves.
It offers substantial coverage and visual interest, growing up to 3 feet tall and wide. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, it is suitable for a wide range of climates. Its historical medicinal uses contribute an educational element to herbal remedies.
Planting Tips for Hellstrips
Use the following steps to guarantee successful planting in these challenging spaces.
- Preparation: Start by assessing the soil quality and amending it if needed. Hellstrips often have compacted or poor soil, so adding organic matter can improve drainage and nutrient availability. Make sure the planting area is well-drained and free from debris.
- Planting depth and spacing: Verify that plants are set at the same depth they were growing in their pots. Spacing plants according to their mature size helps avoid overcrowding and poor plant health.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Choose a mulch that complements your plant selection and helps improve the soil structure.
- Watering after planting: Water thoroughly to help settle the soil around the roots and reduce transplant shock. Keep the soil consistently moist until plants are well-established, but avoid waterlogging.
Hellstrip Maintenance and Care
Follow these steps to keep your hellstrip plants in excellent condition.
- Watering: Many hellstrip plants are drought-tolerant, but newly planted ones need regular watering until they establish their roots. Once established, adjust watering based on seasonal rainfall and specific plant needs. Consider using a drip irrigation system to provide consistent moisture without overwatering.
- Pruning: Regular pruning maintains plant health and shape. Remove spent flowers and dead foliage to encourage new growth and prevent disease. For plants that spread aggressively, such as Creeping Juniper, occasional thinning may be necessary. Keep your tools clean to avoid spreading pathogens.
- Fertilization: Fertilize plants according to their specific needs. Many resilient plants require minimal fertilization, but a balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring can support healthy growth. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of blooms.
- Weed control: Regularly remove weeds that compete with your plants for nutrients and water.
- Pest and disease monitoring: Look for signs of pests and diseases. Use organic or environmentally friendly pest control methods to address issues as they arise.
