Little hard to tell without any flowers but maybe a type of Abelia.

California Privet?

Here is a link that might be useful: Ligustrum ovalifolium

This post was edited by saltcedar on Fri, Mar 14, 14 at 20:52

I guess I'll have to wait for the blooms. At what point could it send out flowers, how much new growth before flowers?

Mid Spring to early Summer it should show blossoms.

At most 6 inches before flowering.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2101437}}

This post was edited by saltcedar on Fri, Mar 14, 14 at 21:06

As long as everyone involved agrees to it it could be allowed to billow out into that uneven bed in front which at the moment is empty and therefore a rather pointless and actually rather homely added maintenance feature.

Unless somebody is planning to fill it with other kinds of plants.

Well actually that dirt are has wildflower seedlings growing. Are we positive its a privet. Looking at different pictures it just doesn't seem to have the same growth habit.

Here are some inside pictures after I cut out the dead patch.

{{gwi:159643}}

{{gwi:159645}}

{{gwi:159647}}