Hi Pinar, I'm also in northern California just north of Santa Rosa. In my previous home, we had a Podocarpus between us and the neighbor and it only gave so-so privacy. We then planted a red oak that was fast growing and had very large leaves, but the squirrels wouldn't stop girdling it and we had to remove the top 30 feet that had died. I'm now in another house in the same town, and have a privacy problem with a two story addition going up next door, so I'm planting two Chinese lace bark elms. We researched for four months looking for the ideal tree, and found and there's no tree that will check all the boxes, but the Chinese lace bark elms came the closest; the only negative for us was the maximum size which can reach 50 feet tall. It's fast growing, tolerates short periods of boggy soil, is drought resistant once established, isn't picky about your type of soil and has few pest issues. I see that you're looking for an evergreen and the Chinese lace bark elm may or may not lose its leaves depending on your climate. There's one in my town that must be 60+ years old and in January it still has most of its leaves. Several of these trees were planted in the Kaiser parking lot in Santa Rosa a few years ago and they quickly grew to provide shade with dense growth of narrow leaves that flutter in the breeze. They're beautiful.

Mark, Put in in the sunniest, warmest spot in your yard, with good drainage, and let 'er rip. Of course, you can keep it in a pot there and put it somewhere warmer in the winter until it reaches a largish size, as more mature plants are hardier than young ones. This is a great plant (heck, all of the genus is, along with the related and more tender Didieria) and towers of it are a striking sight to behold, as turtle shows. Thanks for showing that plant, btw - I've enjoyed many times in person. This post was edited by cactusmcharris on Tue, Jul 1, 14 at 11:20

There are really no better or worse clematis for your location - any should work well for you, including some that are not as hardy as most of the country would hope for. Group 1 clems tend to be almost entirely species clematis that bloom very early in the season....some even in winter. Group 1 also tends to have any of the evergreen forms which arguably can offer the best foliage interest. However, one needs to use some caution when contemplating growing an often huge evergreen vine on an evergreen tree or shrub - lots of weight and usually sunlight and moisture issues. My favorites for foliage are C. cirrhosa (ferny leaves) and C. fasiculiflora (lighter center stripe). Both are winter bloomers with smaller, nodding flowers. Any of the Group 2 or 3 clems work well with roses. They can all be hard pruned if necessary or conversely, pruned to suit the requirements of the rose. I like picking colors that compliment or contrast well with the roses - white flowered clems with hot pink roses, blue or purple with pale pink roses, etc. Your choice :-)) Group 3's are the later blooming varieties - mid summer to well into fall. And both pruning groups contain vines that range widely in size, although hard pruning annually on 3's generally keeps even the largest of them relatively in check.

My advice? Buy two more..or three more. Plant them about as far apart and in full sun as you have. Because the wait for one tree to give you many fruits is going to take at least 6-10 years at best in Fremont. If you plant four or five trees? You will get more fruit without waiting for one tree to reach 15 or 20 feet. I planted mine in the ground in 2012 and its about 12' tall. Full sun,reflected heat of a house or wall. NO SHADE!..if you can help it. Lots of summer water,feed them when they flush. Remember in summer...water,water,water. Soak deep.. THEN let it go a little dry in between When they show they like what care you give them.by flushing well,keep up that good routine of water and feed.. Here's my Hayward Manila.