I'd suggest a visit to nearby Huntington Botanic Garden's Japanese and Chinese gardens to scout appropriate substitutes, or a visit to the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Surely you'd come across some suitable choices that might strike your fancy. I don't know if one of the Dwarf Flowering Apricots or Peaches might serve your purpose, or perhaps one of the Spiraea species/cultivars.

Barabits cultivars Crypromeria japonica ÂBarabits Compact Published 1995 Mesterházy Zsolt in the Conifer Treasury Breeder/Found 1967 Barabits E. HUN Introduced Alsótekeres Nurs. Siófok HUN Description Of seed a slower growing juvenile clone. Strong bronze autumn colour. Photo documentation Photo author me Cryptomeris japonica ÂBarabits Gold Published 1995 Mesterházy Zsolt in the Conifer Treasury Breeder/Found 1967 Barabits E. HUN Introduced Alsótekeres Nurs. Siófok HUN W. Linssen, Beaxem HOL in Windsor Great Park GBR as /Hungarian Gold Description Photo documentation Photo author me Photo author me Photo author Esveld HOL As ÂHungarian Gold (named in the Windsor Great Park) Photo author Esveld HOL There is yet without photo some more. Maybe Edwin or Clément could have one? Cryptomeria japonica 'Scarabantia' 1995 Mesterházy Zsolt in the Conifer Treasury 1985 Barabits E. HUN A very narrow column Cryptomeria japonica 'Barabits' 1995 Mesterházy Zsolt in the Conifer Treasury 1975 Barabits E. HUN WitchÂs broom of an old C. japonica specimen in the Sopronhorpács Arboretum HUN Zsolt

i was wondering.. but i am not ID 'spert' ... as to top point.. it will tickle your fancy for a number of years.. and then die.. period .... there is nothing you will be able to do about it ... dave will support me on that ... otherwise.. thyoides are near bullet proof in my z5a .... there are a few real nice blue ones .... and a variegated one that burns off all the white but keeps chugging back ever spring .. why all the rock in your garden.. are you raising the beds over clay.. or bedrock??? or just cause you like hauling stone around the yard.. lol .. as you can tell.. we enjoy newbies coming to GW ... so .. are you a bonsai freak?? .. post any pix of those???? i think you finally hit a return/enter on this post.. lol .. congrats ken

another group of plants that are not reliable in my z5 .... go figure the only reason i mention this... is for newbies who may come along.. and consider such oddities.. because you can do it in z5 ... everyone should give it a go .. on a small cheap plant.. but avoid a high investment on a borderline plant ken