How wide is this "strip?" Most people fail to consider mature size of plants when selecting them. Most of the plants you mentioned have a 3-4 diameter at maturity but look so cute in one gallon nursery pots.

As petzold suggests, size is a consideration (think a few years from now) but the ones that come to mind for me will not take over and can be controlled by water limits and infrequent, selective pruning. Dalea frutescens ("black dalea") has airy, feathery foliage and gives a beautiful, purple flower display that lasts for weeks in the fall. Texas Ranger (many varieties, some more compact) has a more lavender flower and interesting, small leaves. Some varieties are more silvery green, some more green-green. Then there is Turpentine Bush (Ericameria laricifolia) with yellow masses of small flowers, also in fall. It gives off a faint, piney smell if it gets wet while flowering. Finally, for some red flowers, you can try the red globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua). It stays pretty low (2-3 ft.) and the form is nothing special, but it can flower any time of year it gets a little water, especially in winter and spring. Sorry if this sounds like a sales pitch -- I just love these southwest natives.

Where do you live? How big is the area you need to fill?

Zone 9 and "hot dry" aren't enough to give you a good recommendation.

Russian sage, Texas ranger are large, Salvia Greggii, California Fuchsia, Lavender, ornamental grasses, Penstemons are smaller.

Lantanas do well in hot dry garden areas.