I have Nandina in my North strip. It is true that late in the day they they get some sun. Even so, I choose to plant with thinking a northern exposure in mind.

I think Lavender needs more sun than it will receive close to the house. Could you plant it about three feet from the house?

I had Teucrium for awhile in front of my Nandina but I don't think it liked the boron in our soil. I also have some Vinca underneath the Nandia. I would not say it is thriving as I completely ignore it. Still, it remains there and sometimes blooms.

Any time I have a difficult situation I use Nandina to solve it. I know it is a pest in some areas but there are really not that many plants that can take shade with an hour or two of hot California sun.

A tall (10-12 ft.) shrub that accepts those conditions is Xylosma.

Loropetalum is slower growing and there are some that stay under 6 ft. It would need deep watering periodically but not like hydrangeas.

Be a good idea to add your gardening zone to your name.

Oh thanks so much for the suggestions. I'm new on these forums so I'll definitely add my zone. (It's 9.)

I'm getting some good ideas here. I have the same situation on the north side of my house - full sun from March - mid September, then mostly shade. I made the mistake of putting my vegetable garden there one spring and then was disappointed when I wanted to plant cool season crops and realized they would be in the shade. I did have eggplants and peppers that lived through the winter, but I moved the raised bed this year. I need something to put in its place. (also zone 9)

I have a big stretch of garden like that. Deciduous shrubs do well. Anything that grows actively and blooms in late winter/spring/ early summer and then shuts down for the fall/winter does well. Not lavender, as others have said.

I hate those spots- usually caused by the house's long shadows in winter,then in summer- nothing but hot overhead sun.For just one example,in summer Aloes do well,in winter? then they get coldest air,rains make soils that don't dry out...a tough spot to plant.

Too hot and dry for ferns..great in winter. Temperate plants are the best for that situation. They expect dark and cold in winter. Just my 2cents advise!

I have Nandina on the north side of my house and it does very well there.I've had it since 1996.

Kathi

The front of our house is like this, faces north-west and is on a corner so crazy hot blazing summer afternoon sun, deep shade at least half the day and even more in winter.

A gardenia has been okay, I have two pink jasmine in tall pots that are quite lush but haven't had them long enough to see if they'll get enough sun to flower. Lambs ears also seem to do quite well!

Otherwise I've given up on the idea of foundation beds. My plantings really get going in the yard once they are beyond the shadow of our house.

Had I been able to predict the future and know we'd be in the house as long as we have, I would have planned and shelled out the big bucks for a private courtyard in the front.

Some agaves do well in a sun/shade spot. Like foxtail agave and crassula multicava does fine in shade/light sun as u said u have summer/spring sun.