Maybe better if I use more lantana for symmetry, and put the aloe in the rear hidden from sight.

Water company rebate requires that I have 50% of the yard with plants.

Might look like this when fully mature.....

"Might look like this." No it will not! Please do not expect your yard to be 'weed free' because you're using mulch. When my mulch was added, using fabric landscape fabric(useless!), the weeds kept coming, and coming........you get the picture! I've removed the fabric 'weed barrier', and am in the process of having black plastic installed, even though i've been advised against it by a few forum members.

Like yourself I was envisioning a park-like, floral 'fiesta for the eyes', but have gotten a 'nightmare on Elm St.' instead. I had what I thought was a professional landscaper, and would have thought i would have been advised re:advantages/disadvantages of using mulch. What it's really about is what's going in their pocket.

I think it won't look quite the way you are imagining, although your second plant layout is interesting.

Like PP mentioned, weeds will show up. I find they are very easy to pull out of the mulch :-)

Would you like to plant a tree? Your yard looks so hot and dry; I guess it might exceed your budget, but you could grow a low water tree with your other plants. A tree will add height and interest.

Do you think you will like how your lantana looks in the winter?

here is los angeles, I think lantana blooms all year? I picked it because it grows 8 feet wide supposedly. Lots of coverage, fewer plants to buy.

The only small issue is smells. I read lantana smells like citrus gasoline. Mix that with the Rosemary smell........

You're right, it's hot and dry. South facing yard with no trees.

If I did plant a tree, with my budget, it would take 50 years to grow as big as the neighbor's. Actually I'm inclined not to plant a tree because I have some very old plumbing, galvanized I think. And any tree might cause damage eventually.

As far as weed control, I have a big bottle of glyphosate already. I'm ready.

If you're in LA, you have many many many options for drought tolerant plants, you might consider taking this question to the California Gardening Forum.

I like myoporum parvifolium for a low water, spreading, low maintenance ground cover. If you plant $70 worth of flats, it will cover your yard with year-round green.

myoporum parvifolium

thanks for the suggestion. So ONE myoporum can spread 15 feet ?!

Too many low growing shrubs and no accents. I would substitute the Aloe with a few Agaves for accents perhaps A. vilmoriana. I also like to mix purple trailing and 'new gold' trailing lantana. Nothing wrong with having open patches of mulch instead of covering it with a ground cover like Myoporum. Keep layout asymmetrical. Plant Lantana 3-4 feet apart. Let them grow together to get that mixed flower look.

Pre-emergent herbicide works as substitute for weed barrier. Surflan XG40 from landscape suppliers like HydroScape.