The Hell Strip: that uninviting no-man's land between street and sidewalk. Unprotected, it endures the enslaught of heat from sun-baked asphalt, car exhaust, and periodic trampling. It is not, typically, a loved and cared-for space. What if, instead of barren nothingness, there was a little ecosystem complete with flowers, grasses, butterflies, and bees? 
 
Fortunately some of our native species are happy in this harsh conditions. These are the toughest of the tough. This kit contains a mix of short-stature bunch grasses and drought-adapted forbs to provide local character and pollinator resources to the unloved hell strip (or any sunbaked spot in your yard where most plants struggle). In addition to drought tolerance, these species seem to be the best at tolerating (very) limited foot traffic.
 
Note that several of the plants are biennial, meaning they bloom their second year and then die. These plants are excellent reseeders (dare I say weedy), ensuring their continuing presence. To help them out, do not mulch with anything other than small gravel. No mulch is also fine.
 
These plants are all fairly short, especially in dry conditions. The intention is to preserve sight lines along streets. However they can be mowed safely if they get too tall. 
 
Before you get all giddy about instantly transforming your hellstrip into a living habitat, know that these plants will need regular watering their first season to establish. Expect at least deep weekly sprinkler or hand irrigation that first summer. If you plant in summer, expect to baby them a little more. It will pay off!  Volunteers that grow from seeds in successive seasons will NOT need to be watered unless we have very hot dry conditions. 
 
I am only offering this kit in the small size for starters since it is new and I would love to collect feedback before I scale up production. If you plant one, please let me know what you think!
 
Kits will contain at least 7 species from the list below.
 
Small Kit: 24 plugs covering ~ 25 - 50 sq ft.
 
Kit contains at least 7 of these species:
Sandberg's bluegrass - Poa fendleriana (this species will go dormant in mid summer)
Blue grama - Bouteloua gracilis
Prairie junegrass - Koeleria macrantha
Fringed sage - Artemisia frigida
Silverleaf phacelia - Phacelia hastata
Curlycup gumweed - Grindelia squarrosa (biennial)
Hairy golden aster - Heterotheca villosa
Spreading fleabane - Erigeron divergens (biennial)
Cutleaf daisy - Erigeron compositus
 
Plants come in 10 cubic inch plugs.
 
Refer to our plug planting guide for planting instructions.
 
Plant in full sun. Low to very low water once established. 
 
It is important to remove existing grass and weeds either mechanically or via chemicals before you plant plugs. If using chemicals, ensure soil residence time is exceeded before planting. The county extension folks can help with that. 
 
Space plugs 1 to 2 feet apart. Water deeply every week during the first growing season. Keep area between plants clear of weeds and grass. Plants will come back year after year, and/or will readily reseed into bare soil or gravel!