I was thinking Ceanothus as I was reading especially when you stated color blue, but no drip for natives...its almost certain death eventually.
But also with all the grass there the roots will get too much water and again I think death eventually.
Sierra Blue according to Las Palitas does tolerate garden conditions but not recommend for inland areas. I don't think they mean water daily as the grass normally is.

I would never put any ceanothus that close to grass...sorry.

Here is a link that might be useful: Las Pilitas sierra blue

How about Nandina? They are airy, colorful, and can be trimed wi/o looking 'hedgey'.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nandina - Heavenly Bamboo

I agree with the comments about natives and the amount of water they would get there.
I wouldn't try Nandina there since it's getting shade after noon and air circulation will be somewhat restricted due to a fence on one side, a wall on another and close planting. I can just about guarantee powdery mildew for Nandina in that spot.
I would put a trellis under the window to the high and shape I wanted and grow a vine.

I am right down the street from you in MV. I am going to be putting in a brugmansia (Angel's trumpet). There are so many colors available and you can prune it to pot size or bush or even tree. Check out the brug forum for pics.

I also like the idea of Kangaroo Paw. Maybe in yellow and red; dwarf and tall.

In the Orchard shopping center (El Toro Rd) they have some planters that are white iceberg roses edged with lavendar. It is really pretty.

Good luck and let me know what you decide. I'm always looking for ideas of what grows well in our area.

Camellia japonica, green all year, you can shape it easily.

I agree with a brugmansia. They come in yellow, they are tropical and flower a lot, but you have to keep after the dead flowers because they bloom so much and the flowers are big. Another nice thing- if it gets too big you can chop it to the ground and it will come back. I am also a big fan of nandina- I don't have mildew problems with mine, and I have them in every kind of exposure. Bottlebrush are pretty too, low water, and red flowers.

You may want to reconsider the bougie- they get very, very, very big. Then again- the bougie will cover that window within a few years.

Renee

A Plumeria would look nice, except they're deciduous.

You might want to check Crape Myrtles. They come in all different heights and flower color.

A Smoke Bush (Cotinus) would also be nice and they're easily shaped. Or keeping with that same look, Caribbean Copper Plant (Euphorbia cotinifolia).

Small city lots present real headaches for shrub choices.

Ceonothus are a solid shrub. Could be thinned for an airy look from your dining room but .......................... headaches. And they are the devil to dig out. The dwarfs which would fit the width wouldn't attain the height.

Nandina do not mildew here against a house; mine from a gallon can have taken several years to reach a height of 6 feet so start with a taller one.

I don't care for Tibouchina but I wondered if that plant habit would work. Easy to remove at the base unwanted "stems". Its purple blooms would pop with the San Diego Red bougainvillea you have. Bare at base so can have underplanting. And it's airy. But it would require selective hard pruning.

As Hosenemesis said, San Diego Red is a huge grower. I had one down your way that was over 20 feet. There are many available in the 12 foot range. It will become a stabbing monster.

Thank you all for your two cents. I'm extremely grateful and don't want to stop the conversation. I'm researching and processing everyone's suggestions in the background.

I see Sunset Western has about 15 varieties within Camellia japonica. Do I take what Plant Depot has? Is there a world of camellias that I don't know about but should?

I even thought about going w/ a Mediterranean Fan Palm (Chamaerops humillis). But I thought it might get too big (in a 100 years) and be too small (and slowly growing) until then. Plus they're expensive.

I admit that I gave little thought initially to a trellis. Mostly because I couldn't envision the end product AND I didn't want to see an ugly trellis. I'm still cloudy with the vision, but I guess I could find a local metal fabricator to build me something that's solid and attractive. Maybe it'll rust. Something that's Spanish-Mediterranean in style. That could look good and buy unusual. What do you all think about that?

Again, keep the ideas coming. I'm stumped.

Thanks,

Richard

PS: thanks for the heads-up on the bougainvillea. I'll replace it now. Care to recommend a good replacement given its environment? I like red. As much flowering as I can get in the little sun it gets (faces west-southwest, sun from sunrise to overhead).

What about the California native Bush Anemone, Carpenteria californica, which is taller than wide, 6'x3' and has really beautiful flowers? I saw one of these recently and it was gorgeous...

Here is a link that might be useful: Carpenteria californica

Oops. I misspoke. That wall faces east-northeast. (Not west-southwest). I don't know what I was thinking. It gets good unobstructed morning sun until it goes over the roof line.

With that exposure (ENE) you could successfully grow a Japanes Maple...

Btw, if you want to learn a lot about Camellias, you should go up to Nuccio's Nurseries in Altadena. They are famous for their hybridizing. Right now you'd be able to see Camellia Sasanqua just starting to bloom. Japanicas don't bloom until early spring. Also, you can see some of the new Camellia hybrids that are really beautiful.

Descanso Garden is known for growing Camellias. See link below.
I was wondering about the direction it seemed odd, so am glad to see the correction.
I think the Japanese Maple is a great idea but I would put it in the grass further out. Let it display its beauty.
You might also look into a brunfelsia pauciflora. It's a little deciduous but gets new leaves before all the old fall off.

Here is a link that might be useful: Descanso

Wrought iron trellis? Fabulous!

Look in Sunset for the heights of some bougainvillea cultivars. And check regularly at Home Depot til they get a shipment with one that fits your needs. I'm a purple bougie fan. Don't know the reds. Have you considered an orange?

Camellia Sasanqua - pretty much like the showier, larger flowered camellias but blooming earlier. Perfect for semi shade gardens with ferns etc. Reflected heat not so good. I would hold a pot next to a yellow Kangaroo's Paw & bougainvillea to see if you like the combo. I don't think every poster has seen your existing plants. Home Depot here has a better selection of sansaquas than nearby nurseries.

What really knocks me out with bougainvilleas are Philodendrons. Don't have experience to share.

What about hydrangeas? I can manipulate the color of the blooms. Do they do alright in OC? Pros/Cons?

Yes. Very pretty, very high water needs. They do not get tall enough for your purposes, though. If it is planted next to kangaroo paws, one of the plants will not thrive.

Here's some iron that would work with your house style.

Take a look at Duranta if you really want a cool color- they come in purples and lavendars. They have a lacy cascading growth pattern and get tall enough, and are easy to prune.
Renee

Here is a link that might be useful: Arte de Mexico iron gates

Anyone have any experience with Tecoma? I saw one in a 15g pot on a trellis. Pretty flower. Long bloom in OC. I can manage the dimensions and stay 18-30" in depth. Anyone share their thoughts? Pros/Cons?

A concern I have is re: the trellis itself -- how do I replace/replace it if and when it fails. It can't last forever. Is that a future liability?

Your two cents is appreciated.

There are several kinds of Tecoma. Sounds like you mean the vine type. I think it is rather invasive.

If you mean tecoma capensis is will need attention frequently to keep to 30 inches depth.
I have it in an area about 30 inches wide and it hangs over alot. You can get quite aggressive with pruning since its a fast grower at about 6+ feet a year. I cut it back after winter flowering to about 4 feet and then late summer I do it again to about 3 feet.
It would fill your window quickly.
I've seen it 12+ feet it not pruned.

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I hate to say it but I like Tecoma capensis for your space. Its size (leaves & flowers) are a better proportion for your side yard than a hydrangea. And the bright orange flowers fit the theme of tropicals (the palm) and would show well against the light house. Plus you seem to like the intense colors. When our drizzler is over I'll try to get a pic of one that's been kept as a hedge. Not cut back like goblue's photo which I love. It's solid so you would get privacy, as well as light blockage.

I don't know the names of spike topped plants - Home Depot has some. They are effective in such a situation if not too fast growing. Overall the garden needs some height and unity. If I wanted maintenance free I'd use Nandina against the fence as well as between the palm and Kangaroo Paw. I'd relocate the red carpet roses in that spot to continue the line to the street of the ones planted between the entryway uprights - can't see what the bed situation is there. The urn on a pedestal could be placed elsewhere.

Oh and the tecoma capensis comes in yellow and red.
I would take out the torch aka palm since it is too close to your home IMO. I live in a high fire area and those catch an ember...so does your house.

I didn't want to be the one to say it first, but that palm is very close to your house. They get a root ball that rises over time and can lift your foundation. I just removed four Queen Palms- the trunks had expanded and lifted flagstone walkways and were threatening a foundation. The roots grew under the house slab and through a minute crack and into the old clay sewer line and right into the toilet in the new bathroom. And it cost a lot of money to have the massive load of dates removed every year- very heavy, those bunches of dates. This all happened within fifteen years of planting small trees. I was very sad to see them go- they framed the skyline and provided a significant amount of shade.
Renee

Consider Loropetalum chinense. It is evergreen and blooms profusely. The Queen Palm is very messy when it starts flowering and fruiting.

Check out "Blue Hibiscus." It's not a H. sinensis cultivar, but a drought tolerant hibiscus relative. It grows to about the dimensions you want. The leaves are unnatractive to me, but the flowers surely make up for it which has an amazing blue-purple color.

I think Carissa macrocarpa (Natal Plum) would be a good fit. Has pretty colored foliage and blooms nice small white flowers. Another plus is the fruit is nice tasting and makes great jam.