Hellstrip Garden
Tough boulevard or curbside zones.
Hot, dry in the summer, wet and salty in the winter.
Often low-nutrient, compacted soil.
Plants must tolerate reflected heat from pavement.
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Bigroot Geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) -
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia Hirta) -
Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) -
Blue Wildrye (Elymus glaucus) -
Bluehead Gilia (Gilia capitata) -
Broad-leaved Stonecrop (Sedum spathulifolium) -
California Oatgrass (Danthonia californica) -
Catmint (Nepeta sp.) -
Coastal Strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis) -
Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) -
Creeping Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens) -
Douglas Aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum) -
Dune Wildrye (Elymus mollis) -
German Statice (Goniolimon tataricum) -
Giant Wildrye (Elymus condensatus) -
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) -
Hardy Iceplant (Delosperma) -
Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) -
Joe-Pye-weed (Eutrochium purpureum) -
Kinnikinnick aka 'Bearberry' -
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) -
Lewis Flax (Linum lewisii) -
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) -
Lupine (Lupinus sp.)
Design & Practical Tips for a
BC Hellstrip Garden:
Focus on drought tolerance: Choose species from dry sites (rocky slopes, open meadows, Garry oak ecosystems) rather than forest plants.
Plant in groups: 3–7 plants of the same species make a stronger visual impact and are easier for pollinators to find.
Mulch lightly with gravel or coarse bark at the start to reduce weeds and help establishment.
Start small and tough: Grasses, yarrow, blanketflower, kinnikinnick, and coastal strawberry make an excellent core mix.