I should have included that the area faces east. Gets about 1/2 to 1/3 day of sun, depending on time of the year.
and I'm in south/east San Jose.

I have Choisya ternata "Sundance" for 15 years in a similar exposure and it has been absolutely trouble free. We keep it at about 4 feet with a once a year trimming and it smells great with spring bloom and scattered bloom rest of year. It is blooming right now. Al

If Choisya ternata "Sundance" would grow for me I would plant it in a heartbeat. It's one of my favorite shrubs in photos. Can we see more photos of your front yard, Wanda?

Renee

I am doing the same thing Wanda, I wish I had suggestions for you.
Mine are dead but not out yet.
I want low maintenance also but can't put in natives due to neighbors sprinklers.
I am thinking of sweet pea bush but doesn't get as tall as I would like it to. My area also faces E but my house and neighbors house block the area so only early morning sun and then about 2-4pm.
Good luck!

I looked up Raphiolepsis umbellator minor. That's a really pretty shrub too. How about Callistemon "Little John"? At the local nursery they had it growing in south facing exposure, but under a ten-foot eave in shade, and it still grew beautifully.
Renee

I would also consider "Little John" Callistemon. Mine is about 5 years old from a one gallon pot and is trouble free, looks good all year, only gets to about four feet tall here. Al

Good suggestion and I really like "Little John", but the area gets pretty wet in winter. I'm not sure the Callistemon could handle it.
Please keep the suggestions coming. It's a difficult area because of the moisture and the amount of sun it recieves at different times of the year.

How about camellias? They have shiny green leaves year round, are disease free, don't mind moist soil and east exposure, and flower beautifully in late winter and early spring when nothing else is flowering. Easy to maintain at whatever height you wish. In another month you can shop for a camellia in bloom so you can see exactly what flower color and size you'll get.

I love camellias and have some here over forty years old. Usually if you are removing roses the replacement plant should like the same exposure which would be too much sun for camellias. Mine are on the north side of the house and when they get above the roof the tops get sunburned in the summer. Al

I think it's too sunny for Camellias. Sasanquas might work, but I don't want to clean up all those petals.
I would love to put Gardenias in. They could handle the sun, but they are so finicky. I'm also thinking about Howard McMinn manzanita.
Maybe I'll just give up and plant some good ole Nandina. They are low maintenance and have good winter color......

Maybe one of the lavatera cultivars? Most can take the wet and the sun.

The Howard McMinn Manzanita should do well in that exposure, but ultimately will need some light shearing if you want to keep them to about 4 feet height. Their only demand is good drainage in winter, and occasional thinning to remove inner twiggy dead branches. I'd think that the Choisya ternata 'Sundance' would also do well there, or how about the hybrid with C. dumosa, Choisya 'Aztec Pearl'? Some of the Astelia species are good for morning sun, and have that "different" look, such as A. chathamica 'Silver Spear'. Also not a native, but plays nicely with lower water use plants, Ceratostigma willmottianum is good for late summer into early winter blue blooms and foliage fall color.