What are you looking for? I have ficus ben, rubber tree(big leaf kind), schefflera all are the variegated variety, I also have some Pride of Maderia, both variegated and non, I have Dragons Blood(draceana draco) and numerous palms. I had one variegated screw pine but I think it got too cold, now I'm without.

Trog, your Dracaena is actually Cordyline. It's sold in garden centers as annuals for summer gardens, (cold climates) but the good news is, Cordylines are tender perrenials and can live on for years, if cared for properly. The, well, not really bad news is, although Cordylines are related to Dracaenas, somehow affiliated, they are more difficult keeping indoors then say, (Corn Plant) D. fragens or (Dragon Tree,) D. marginata. Fertilize in summer..This type of Cordyline is slow-growing, but will grow in summer, slow down or halt in winter. Stop fertilizing after September, restart some time in Apr or when you see new growth. Good luck, Toni They are sun lovers, though will do fine in very bright light. They will rot if overwatered. Drainage holes are mandatory. They should be summered outdoors. Although tap water will suffice, they dote on rain. But once again, drainage is important. I've seen huge versions of Cordyline, (one that comes to mind had purple leaves,) $600.00! When mature, they are beautiful, thick-stiff leaves. Height and width depends on the species. Some grow 18" while others reach 6-8' tall.

I saw a photo of a church in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where they planted phormiums in rows that all lead to the front door. Try to immagine the door as being a focal point and the rows all came out from the focal point in an array that resembled sun rays. If you want really sculptural plants, you could try agave desmettiana varegata, or agave attenuata, both of which are user-friendly agaves and provide sculptural impact. Agave Desmettiana variegata stays to about three feet in diameter and thee feet tall. Agave Americana Medio-Picta Alba is another agave that comes to mind, although that one does have sharp spines. Strelitzia Juncea, like you already mentioned is a good plant for your purpose. I would stay away from grasses that grow tall and untidy. They can completely defeat your purpose of contemporary. The dwarf fescue grass, like someone suggested is good because it is rigid, not tall and wavy. Although most tropical plants evoke a jungle look, some can actually be very sculptural. If you have the space, a Phoenix Canariensis, or Dactylifera could serve your purpose. It could be a focal point and also serve as a vertical component to your yard, since a traditional tree would also take away from the formal, contemporary look. Others that come to mind are draceana draco, Yucca Guatemalensis, Cordyline Australis "red star", Dypsis Decipiens, Bismarckia Nobilis. These last three provide color throught their foliage, and the bismarckia, especially, gives great contrast to green foliage. Dypsis Decipiens has reds, yellows and oranges in the emerging fronds and the upper portion of the trunk. The phoenix species provide color when they drape themselves with bright yellow-orange inflorescents, then followed by large clusters of fruit (if the palm is female). If you could find a phoenix rupicola, they have red fruit instead of yellow, and they really stand out.

Paulzie, haha those are just river rocks. I have them there because there is a drainage pipe opening there and the stones keep the soil from eroding. Our winter rains could swamp my succulents and make them rot :( Stan, thanks. You have a good eye. The majesty is one of very few here in the valley. I've seen several in protected spots throughout different neighborhoods. & Jacarandas are becoming more popular trees here. The big box stores are carrying them now. There are several large, old jacarandas in Fresno. They are a sight to see during the summer. The Cyathea Cooperi are very common here actually. There is a pair just down the street from me with trunks over 4 feet tall. Mine survived the 2007 freeze. I also have a trunking Blechnum Gibbum and a Howea Forsteriana underneath the Cyathea. That one also survived the freeze. Rachel, I will have to check Lotus Garden out. I've never been to that nursery! Thanks for the tip! Thanks everyone for the encouraging words! I've drawn so much inspiration from seeing all of your posts here!