agree.. it was miserably hacked at by someone who knew nothing about pruning.. but was determined to cut its height at least in half ... and see how that worked out a few years later.. with no insult to the root mass ... its somewhat invasive in some areas ... and its planted at least 8 feet too close to that wall ... removal should probably be in your future.. if its yours ... ken

For something a little different, try Salvia microphylla 'San Carlos Festival'. We have 3 for several years that are 3-4' tall and at least 5' in diameter. The blooms remind me of large hot-pink/magenta jelly beans covering the shrub most of the year. In fact, I don't know if I've ever seen it out of bloom. We're inland with hot summers and it does well in afternoon sun but prefers morning sun. It's one of my favorites.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/landscape-italian-cypress-43140.html Plant Italian cypress trees instead of installing a privacy fence. The plants can be planted as close as 2 to 3 feet apart to form a privacy barrier. They don’t take up much more space than a wooden fence and make a much more attractive natural barrier.

Yes to Eleagnus umbellata. It's an evil invasive. Yes to Cornus/Benthamidia florida. Only Cornus florida and 1 similar Asian species have been moved to Benthamidia. It's obvious that the floral structure of C./B. florida is different from the other Cornus species with clusters of smaller flowers. All those Cornus species are now moved to Swida. Using the synonym Cornus is acceptable, but remembering the reasons for the split makes the entire group easier to understand. The ground covering Cornus canadensis is now Chamaepericlymenum canadensis Lol. I don't think the fern is Dryopteris marginalis. Dryopteris marginalis has lobed pinnules and this fern has pinnules that are entire. You can compare your fern to Osmunda/Claytosmunda claytoniana, Interupted Fern? The photo was taken from above, so I can't view the vertical form, but Interrupted fern grows very upright. If Osmunda claytoniana doesn't fit, I'd recommend more photos showing the side view, and a photo of the underside of the leaf. https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/inter_fern.htm