I grew this a number of years ago. In my garden it had a lot of winter die-back (unlike all other mock oranges I've tried) and it didn't have as nice a gold color to the foliage as other gold shrubs I've grown. How about Spireae thunbergii 'Ogon' AKA Mellow Yellow? It has a graceful arching form, white spring flowers, and foliage that is gold in more sun, a bit more chartreuse in more shade. I'm not sure how well it would do in western sun. I have seen recommendations for full sun to part shade.

Your major mistake was not cutting it back when you transplanted it. My wife moved a mock orange here last year during the absolute worst time to do so but cut it back severely and it is now making decent growth. Cutting a shrub back causes the root system to produce roots which when established will start re-growing the top of the plant. Also, the plant does not go into severe shock trying to maintain turgor to all of the leaves when the root system has been sliced and plopped into a new hole. The advice about watering outside of the root ball is plain stupidity. When you water the rootball (which is full or pore spaces from all the mass of the roots) water naturally moves below and around the rootball to the surrounding soil, particularly during heavy waterings. Your best bet would have been to set a small sprinkler up at the base of the shrub and soak both the root ball AND the surrounding soil. Your plant is not acting like a teenager who needs to go get a job. It is doing what it can to survive based on the treatment it has received. Plants are workhorses that need very little from us and it is quite amazing your mock orange has survived this ordeal at all.

Just anther name for English laurel. Very few hedging plants will stop growing at a given height so you might need to be prepared to do some periodic pruning to keep to your 8' requirement. Pittosporum tenuifolium can get massive but there are smaller or more dwarf cultivars available. 'Tasman Ruffles' is a particularly attractive one. I'd also consider some CA natives. Pacific wax myrtle (Morella californica) or California/wild lilac (Ceanothus species) are possibilities. Waxleaf privet (Ligustrum japonicum) is another possibility but many think the flowers carry a very unpleasant aroma. And there is also purple leaf hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa 'Purpurea') as a possibility as well. You can check out the Sunset Western Garden Book for other ideas. They have a entire listing of hedging plants.

I bought one years ago after a few years of reading rave reviews. In the oh, maybe 15 years I've had it, I think it's bloomed twice, maybe three times, and within the last few years. Every year I say I'm going to remove it but I never do. Partly because it does give some privacy at about 10 feet tall. The funny thing is one year about four years ago I did indeed go out with the intention of cutting it down, but it was in bloom! I didn't notice any spectacular fragrance though. I don't really recall any fragrance at all. About two years after that I was out in the garden in that area, and I suddenly smelled this marvelous scent. I immediately thought it must be the mock orange (which had indeed had some inconsistent and unfragrant blooms since that one time) but I literally stuck my nose in the blooms and that was not where the scent was from. I was extremely stumped as to where and what smelled so wonderful. Still don't know. I've pruned it some in the last two years with the intention of finally replacing it. Sparse blooms, no fragrance. Sorry I can't remember the cultivar but as I mentioned I got it at least 15 years ago, so not a newer one. One last thing. The summer before last, I was walking down my street, a street I've walked down for 25 years, and was suddenly stopped in my tracks but a wonderful scent. I looked to the side of the road and sure enough, I recognized the form of a mock orange. And I stuck my nose in its deliciously fragrant blooms. So THAT'S what it's supposed to smell like I thought! It was then I decided to remove mine and possibly try another variety. I cut it down by half that year, and may finally take it out this year. Again, the only reason I haven't yet is because of the privacy factor. As soon as I decide what to replace it with and save the funds, that thing is outta here lol! :) Dee