I like Geijera parviflora, or Australian willow (not really a willow). It's evergreen and not super dense. Won't get super huge, about 20-ish feet (to about the middle of a second story window) unlike the melaleuca or eucalyptus trees we have, which tower above our second story roof. Has nice semi-weeping habit. Drought-tolerant. Not picky about soil. Well-behaved roots and won't raise concrete. Not messy, although it does have some leaf drop. Many I see that our city plants in the sidewalk strips are rounded in growth, but others, like the two I have, are narrower in habit. May look a bit sparse when it's young, but it'll fill out if you water it deeply about once a week or every 10-14 days the first year.

I also like Agonis After Dark (or Dark Star), if you're looking for something that provides a nice contrast to green foliage. Nice ever-burgundy color. I have two, and although they are still fairly small, they seem to be almost litter-free.

Surf City - Thanks for the recommendations. I will look into both of them.

Boozer- what do you want the tree-shrub to do? Do you want a small tree, something the size of a rose standard, or do you want something that gets twenty feet tall?
Are you trying to screen off the neighbors or hide a fence? If you can tell us what kind of plants you really love that would help too- Mediterranean, desert, native, Asian, tropical.

Renee

Renee

I am looking for something about 8-12 feet to sort of naturalize the neighbors garage that is in the middle of out backyard (no fence) The peack of the garage is about 15 feet. The backyard is being planted with mostly mediteranian, sages and several california natives (chapparel). Thanks in advance.

It sounds beautiful.
Joe or one of the other resident experts may be able to give you a good list. Keep checking back.
Renee

Have you thought about using Plumerias for the rear fence/garage? I know they look tropical, but they don't need a lot of water and are deciduous in the winter (so the lack of sun wouldn't be a problem).

As for the small tree, I like to recommend Chitalpas because they are drought tolerant, have pretty, sterile flowers (no seed mess), and are deciduous. They also look good in drought tolerant gardens.

If you want something native, the Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) makes a good largish shrub/small tree, rather airy. White flowers and red berries that the birds love. They like water but will get along without it as well.