I would drive around your area and see what is thriving and if you like it get out and talk to people and ask them what it is.
Not sure about the watering but Jasmine does good here in my heat and sun and so does Wisteria. Both of those will give you color part of the year.
Some of the Ceanothus do like a little shade in our hot areas.
Look in the Western Garden book also.

I would look at some native shrubs. The website of Las Pilitas nursery (laspilitas - dot - com) has a lot of information. To start look at plants in the genus rhus such as lemonadebarry and laurel sumac. These are broad-leaved evergreen (not needle-leaved), very drought tolerant, get berries that attract birds, and at least one or two species are native near you. At the website to go the 'plants' button then 'view or buy plants' which contains a list of plants by scientific name, click on the Rs and you'll see several related species. Another choice among native plants would be cypresses, which are genus cupressus, and you'll also see a list of the ceanothus on the same page under C. Also, check out Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia).

The thing that worries me about Ceanothus (I have been checking too for a similiar situation and am in South Riv. County)is that I have read they like a more well draining soil. I am thinking a mixed shrub border. It is more interesting and you can create seasonal interest that way also. The Lemonade Berry sounds interesting to me, as well as Toyon, Coffeeberry, and Manzanitas. As width is not a problem, maybe you could mix in some small trees and vary the heights. 'Wonderful' Pomegranate would be a nice tree. The Orange Honeysuckle (sorry the name is slipping my mind and I just bought one!) or Carolina Jessamine, both would probably do well growing on the fence and are a good contrast. If you lean towards Pinks, Burgundys.. Cistus does great. How about Western Redbud or Crape Myrtle? Arbutus Unedo is a small tree that also I think would work in that situation.
I am just researching too, so I apologize if some of my suggestions are not quite right.. If others disagree with some of them, I also would be interested.

My opinion is that you should first fix your drainage. Water standing in a hole after a day indicates very poor drainage and I'm not sure any plant is going to do well under those circumstances.

wanda

Thx 4 the tips all.

As far as the soil, how can I fix it?

I am a knucklehead when it comes to this stuff.

This is some serious dirt. Got the gas powered post hole digger stuck in it.

tia

Wanda is correct.

Although you think that the situation is near impossible, the remedy must be implemented.

There are very few plants that will tolerate a poorly-drained soil for long.

Hire a contractor who has a backhoe, a trenching attachment and the know how to install either a French drain system or a vertical drain (cistern) system (if you're lucky, your hardpan isn't deep).

Bite the bullet.

Joe

I don't recommend ceanothus. In my own experience (Sunset zones 18-21, summer temps rarely above 100) it has never done well on a south facing slope. In the nearby wild it's always growing on the north slopes.

I think sugarbush is prettier than lemonadeberry (they're closely related and either is a good choice). Other shrubs that have done well on my frying hot, crummy clay soil slope with little to no summer water are: echium, grevillea, creeping acacia (fire hazard, don't plant too close to house), matilija poppy (the fried egg flower), and toyon (the holly in Hollywood). Flannelbush does well nearby although I personally haven't grown it.

You do first need to deal with the caliche. Good luck.

"You do first need to deal with the caliche."

Ah, so that's what this cursed dirt is called.