Not sure what to recommend except certain native prairie plants or ones that would normally grow in hot, dry, rocky conditions. Four-o'Clocks seem to endure almost any punishment they face and can survive in very dry and sunny conditions, at least based upon the ones growing up at my parent's house.

I've seen places sell what they call "wildflower mix", with seeds that are mostly what radagast indicated - prairie types that can take hot dry areas with minimal care. Eg., plants like coreopsis, aster, coneflower, various daisies, etc. I have read of places that have tried those types of seeds along highway shoulders to brighten them up.

Cosmos germinate well for me, and are great reseeders too.

Sue

Be careful with those "wildflower mixes" though they may have seeds in them that are considered noxious weeds in your state/county. The same goes for 4'oclocks and morning glorys.

Having flowers instead of weeds is a great idea, but you don't want to plant things that actually *are* weeds where you are and contribute to the problem.

Why are morning glories bad?

I love them and have been harvisting seeds (With owner permission) from all across the Chicago-Land Area!

I have a mix of about 7+ kinds and just got some seeds for red one's yesterday at H.D.

I'm gonna plant white Moon Flowers, Blue Morning Glories, and Red Morning Glories on my patio in seperate buckets so that I get a whole American Flag effect going!

Thanks for all the info guys! I'm gonna go with calafornia and oriental poppy's for now and have a cheep box of "Wild Flower Mix" but I think that the birds got most of them...SIgh... Wish me luck!

Don't get me wrong - I love the way morning glorys look. However, they are highly invasive, and will take over areas very easily. In several states they are considered to be noxious weeks, and I know that in Arizona at least, they are illegal to have for just that reason. I just wanted to caution you about the possibilitys of local laws :)

(The form wouldn't take this as a valid link. Silly garden web.)
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/weeds/

Hum...I had better call my Grandmother...She lives in Tucson and I sent her morning glory seeds for her apartment patio fence...

I didn't know they were illegal out there... I SWEAR I saw seeds for sale at Home Depot exc. when I lived there!!

In fact, I know I did in Phoenix because I got a packet as a joke because, supposidly, you can get high off of them like LSD and my friends wanted a gag gift about my trip to Amsterdam!

That is wierd! When did the law pass??

Yes, the native prarie plants, or BULK Mixed seeds are a great idea. Gaillardia will do well, and various mixes of "WILD FLOWERS" will also do well in that type of soil.
You can buy larger bags of seeds in garden centers, or they sell them in canisters.