Hell strip planting

I live in a very large subdivision (2200 homes) which are grouped by what are called "neighborhoods". We're subject to the usual homeowner restrictions and guidelines, but I've gotten tentative approval for what I'd like to do with the strip of land between sidewalk and street.

Lauren Springer Ogden calls the area a hell strip, which is apt. Mine is in full sun and has to contend with a maple (Acer rubrum) the homeowners association gave homeowners about 8 years ago. Wrong tree and wrong place, but in the fall it's lovely with the scarlet leaves. My poor area also contends with my next door neighbor's maple, as well.

The roots have lifted sections of the widewalk and made growing even centipede there very difficult. In fact, the neighbor's maple's roots cross under the sidewalk and make growing a butterfly bush in the left corner of the lawn a huge challenge.

Anyway, I daydream about amending the soil and growing a modified rock garden there. Modified meaning simply fairly short plants. The front of the house has a very deep foundation bed that wraps around the house on one side, and there's a very large island bed, along with smaller corner beds. In fact, the "lawn" is really more of a series of paths.

Have any of you tried to garden in the hell strip? Forgot to mention that mine is only 8' wide and about 30' long. The maple is near the mailbox which is swallowed by a Confederate jasmine. Growing at the base of the maple are several clumps of 'Shenandoah' switch grass and some sedum.

I kind of see shorter drought-toleant grasses in the hell-strip, maybe some Melampodium and Gomphrena so that the foliage of early bulbs can be disguised. Maybe a chaste tree, too. What do ya'll think about planting that strip?

Mmmm, that is sounding pretty. I love the hell strips the city (Columbia) plants on Elmwood and on Harden too. Lots of color and texture.

Chaste trees, a favorite of mine, can get pretty large but I am sure there are cultivars that stay smaller. Some of the shorter crape myrtles grow sort of horizontally like bonsai trees; they might be interesting too.