Pollinator Garden
A 4×20 ft habitat corridor with bloom succession from spring through hard frost
Layered front-to-back with native and near-native perennials that bloom in succession from April through October. Plant in clusters of 3–5 (not single specimens) spaced 18–24 inches apart for air circulation. This garden improves every year and requires almost no work after establishment — just one late-winter cutback.
Taller plants in the back (street side) stay below the sight-triangle height limit.
Seasonal Care Guide
Spring
March–May- •Late February/early March: Cut ALL plants back to 4–6 inches before new growth starts
- •Creeping thyme blooms first — signals spring has arrived
- •Watch for bee balm and blazing star to re-emerge from roots
- •Top-dress with 1 in wood chip mulch if bare soil is showing
Summer
June–August- •Bloom succession: coneflower and bee balm (June–July) → blazing star and catmint (July–Aug)
- •Shear catmint by half after first flush for rebloom
- •Water deeply 1×/week during extreme heat only — these plants are tough
- •Deadhead coneflowers for second flush OR leave for birds — your choice
Fall
September–November- •Sedum takes the spotlight with fall color
- •Black-eyed Susan and coneflower seed heads feed birds
- •LEAVE EVERYTHING STANDING through winter — seed heads and stems provide bird food and insect overwintering habitat
- •Do NOT cut back in fall — this is the most important rule
Winter
December–February- •Enjoy the winter structure — seed heads with frost are beautiful
- •Creeping thyme and sedum keep some color at ground level
- •Blazing star has disappeared underground — this is normal
- •Late Feb: time for the annual cutback to 4–6 inches. Only job of the year.
Plant List
Creeping Thyme
Thymus serpyllumFirst to bloom in spring. Forms a dense mat that suppresses weeds and tolerates light foot traffic. Handles heat, drought, and poor soil. Perfect hell strip edge plant.
Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum spp.Succulent that thrives in the hottest, driest conditions. Keeps color through winter. Fall bloom fills the gap when other plants fade. Virtually indestructible.
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpureaPlant in clusters of 3–5. Deadhead first flush for a second bloom, or leave seed heads for goldfinches. Drought tolerant once established. Native to Missouri.
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirtaProlific self-seeder — great for filling gaps. Leave seed heads for winter bird food. One of the easiest native perennials. Replace every 2–3 years as short-lived perennial.
Catmint
Nepeta × faasseniiBlooms for months with minimal care. Shear back by half after first flush for a strong rebloom. Deer and rabbit resistant. Bees love it. Handles heat exceptionally well.
Bee Balm
Monarda fistulosaHummingbird magnet. Use the native wild bergamot — more disease-resistant than cultivars. Divide every 2–3 years to control spread and prevent powdery mildew. 18-in spacing for air flow.
Blazing Star
Liatris spicataDramatic vertical spikes that bloom top-down. Monarch butterfly favorite. Plant from corms in spring. Disappears completely in winter — mark the location so you don't disturb it.
Russian Sage
Salvia yangiiSilver foliage and lavender-blue flowers for months. Extremely heat and drought tolerant — thrives in hell strip conditions. Cut back to 6 in in late February.
Maintenance Schedule
- 1
Late February: ONE annual cutback — cut everything to 4–6 inches before new growth. This is the main job.
- 2
June: Shear catmint by half after first bloom flush for rebloom
- 3
Summer: Water once/week during drought only. Otherwise hands-off.
- 4
Fall: Do nothing. Leave everything standing.
- 5
Every 2–3 years: Divide bee balm clumps if they spread too aggressively
- 6
Year 1 only: Water 2×/week during the first summer to establish root systems
Springfield, MO Tips (Zone 6b)
- 1
Plant in clusters of 3–5 of the same species — single specimens get lost visually and attract fewer pollinators.
- 2
Space plants 18–24 inches apart for air circulation. Hell strips trap heat between pavement, and crowded plants get powdery mildew.
- 3
Bloom succession is the key: thyme (spring) → coneflower/bee balm (early summer) → blazing star/catmint (mid-summer) → sedum/aster (fall).
- 4
LEAVE ALL PLANTS STANDING through winter. Seed heads feed goldfinches and sparrows. Hollow stems shelter native bees. Cut back in late Feb only.
- 5
Hell strips are 20–30°F hotter than normal beds. These plants can handle it, but water deeply once a week during July–September drought.
- 6
A "Pollinator Garden" sign invites questions and inspires neighbors. The Master Gardeners of Greene County can provide one.
- 7
Avoid pesticides entirely — even organic ones kill the pollinators you're trying to attract.
Get Free Expert Help
The Master Gardeners of Greene County offer free gardening advice to Springfield residents. They can help you adapt this plan to your specific strip — soil type, sun exposure, nearby trees, road salt exposure, and more.
Contact Master Gardeners →Ready to Plant This?
Add your hell strip on the map and let your neighbors know what's coming.
Add a Garden →