Hop bush is a great suggestion (Dodonea viscosa and Dodonea viscosa 'purpurea'- the purple tends to come out when chilled - it's also a bit more frost sensitive, but next to a western wall it should be fine). I also love the Fern of the Desert (also called Fern tree, Fern bush, etc. - Lysiloma thornberi). You can also get the soft, lacy look from Guajillo. They are all very drought tolerant. If you want some pretty blooms and a bright green leaf, I would suggest the desert willow, Chilopsis linearis. It has the added benefit of being deciduous, so that same western wall can warm your home in the winter. I went down to Baker's last spring and looked at some of their trees, with the same parameters in mind - a number o the Eucalyptus are small, with yellow or red blooms. I bought a mulga - it has silvery leaves and bright yellow blooms that look just like catepillars. It grows to about 15 feet. Lemon Euc and Forman's Euc are two more you might want to look at. There's tons more, we're lucky to have a large number of smaller trees. Don't forget the Texas Mountain Laurel (both green and silver leaf forms) many of the Acacias are smaller trees, the Screwbean Mesquite has very interesting seed pods, Caesalpinia cacalaco, mexicana & gilliesii are all very pretty, blooming trees. HTH!

It is very unlikely that you have HLB if you live in Hayward, California. HLB has been found around Los Angeles but hasn't been found anywhere near the bay area. That being said, it still is probably a good idea to ensure it is not infected with HLB. We don't exactly know the real distribution of HLB in California. If it were to be found in Hayward that would be a HUGE deal. That being said, it is MUCH more likely to be due to something else such as over or under watering or a nutrient deficiency. -Brett

Try to get information in the houseplant section.

If your potted lemon survived the summer, or if you are willing to try anew, here is my experience with Lisbon Lemon. It is a tropical plant (think humid air) that lives in the wild in thin well-drained soil. The one I grew in the ground did very well in spite of our alkaline soil, probably because it drained so well. It was destroyed in two consecutive week-long deep freezes about ten years ago. So I switched to a potted tree. Several potted citrus, in fact, that I placed on rollers to bring onto the porch and drape on freezing nights. These have been more challenging, but I've learned a thing or two, viz.: In summer, keeping potted citrus sufficiently hydrated can lead to root rot if the soil is too heavy and the pot is plastic or glazed or dark colored. So, my recommendation is to get a large terra-cotta pot that will breathe. Make sure the interior is not painted. Make sure that you check for pot-bound roots, and gently loosen and spread them if you see this. Plant potted citrus in bagged cactus/palm soil rather than the richer soil usually recommended for citrus. I've come to think that a breathable pot and light soil are key to success with potted citrus in our climate. Most citrus sold in Arizona nurseries is imported from the more humid climate of California where haze provides unnoticed but important protection. Or it is grown in a greenhouse in Arizona, where, again, the air is humid and the light filtered. Once outdoors, in the dry air, it has little protection from our severe sun. So, place it where it will get morning sun but shade from mid-day onward, and rotate it for even growth. If you can't provide this condition, try draping it in cheesecloth raised on bamboo stakes in summer to give it a filtered shade. Not the prettiest sight in the garden, but you will have happier plants. In our climate, any plant in a pot is living a harsh life. The watering washes away nutrients, and there is no alternate source, such as naturally decaying vegetable matter from adjacent plants. So, while feeding three times per season suffices for in-ground citrus (Valentines Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day), I find that potted citrus need a little more. I give them half-strength fertilizer (or weaker) alternate weeks during growing season. With Lisbon lemon, it is hard to find a shrubby tree in local nursuries, but keep looking. These can be pinched at the tips to keep it a managable size. The more tree-shaped single-trunked standard form will want to grow into a tree, and make itself hard to manage in a pot. The single-trunk form is better for in-ground planting. Good luck with your citrus, present or future!