Need ideas for parkway groundcover (flowers, grass, south, city)

[atina33]

We are going to replace our grass along our parkway (2,000 sq ft---we live on a corner lot so it's on 2 sides).

Any ideas to fit the following requirements?
1) must be drought tolerant (we live in Southern California)
2) per the DWP, people must still be able to walk on it. Our initial thought was Ice Plant but apparently we would need to get a special permit (to the tune of $400) to get that approved.

Thanks so much for any ideas!

[Pitt Chick]

hmmmm... curious, as a parkway is a major highway here in PA.

Are you talking about your driveway, or perhaps a median strip?

[luv4horses]

Perhaps Vinca (periwinkle)? It might be fairly drought tolerant after it gets established.

[atina33]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

hmmmm... curious, as a parkway is a major highway here in PA.

Are you talking about your driveway, or perhaps a median strip?

Here it's the strip of grass between between sidewalk/street.

[cdelena]

I've tried several things in a couple of locations and have always gone back to grass... it is less likely to degrade due to disease, contamination, and traffic.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by atina33

Here it's the strip of grass between between sidewalk/street.

Thanks! Never heard it called that.

Here, grass is preferred, as it is the most tolerant to foot traffic and to salt.

[Bulldogdad]

There is no dought tolerant groundcover that people should be walking on other than a grass. Non grass groundcovers are standard plants and not conducive to being walked on.

That being stated some California native groundcovers that are naturally drought tolerant:

1) Ceanothus

2) Strawbery plant

3) Juniper

4) Manzanita

There are many others but those are fairly hardy. Also understand that there are several climates in SoCal that could impact your choices as well. Checkout Monrovia which is located in SoCal. I purchase many plants from them wholesale every year but they sell retail as well.

Monrovia.com - Monrovia Distinctively Better Plants & Flowers

[TinaMcG]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

hmmmm... curious, as a parkway is a major highway here in PA.

Are you talking about your driveway, or perhaps a median strip?

A parkway is also called a 'hell strip' and is the area from the street curb to the sidewalk. We called it a parkway in Chicago, too. Two thousand square feet is an awful lot of ground to cover, especially when the parkway area is owned by the city. Sorry I don't have any suggestions for SoCal.

[TheOverdog]

I always called that area the 'easement', but back to the question, I would say some mix of stone, grass, flowers, and tall grass are what people planted there in Huntington Beach. Even though it needs to be walkable, it's rare that people actually walk on it (if there is a decent sidewalk). I liked the large sedum, succulents, and flowers (all kinds - roses, and others) the best.

[atina33]

Thanks everyone.

It's not my preference that people walk on it but we have been approved for a DWP rebate program where we get paid to replace our grass. The main purpose is to save water (and, by extension, money) as we live in an arid climate.

Stipulations to getting the rebate include replacing it with something that people can walk on, if needed.