California Gardening: Looking for Something, 1 by doss

doss wrote:
You're right. Ferns won't do.

OK - I'm thinking go up too. How about clematis 'Etoile Violette' up that lemon tree? There are a few Clematis that can take it in the shade, especially in zone 10. - you might check out Chalk Hill Clematis' list of north wall clematis. You could grow several in that space. I know that you're out of the zone but if you grow them in shade they'll be happy.
http://stores.yahoo.com/chalkhillclematis/clematisforshade.h...
My 'Etiole Rose' grows in those condition and is blooming all summer first year and not slow like other clematis - except I'm hitting the water issue again. The photo is clematis Jackmanii superba climbing an unattractive bush. You need sun for that cultivar but you get the idea.

But butterfly bush (surprised?) will grow there and they come in just about any color you'd want - except maybe red. They bloom again and again too if you cut them back after flowering and feed them. I'll try to take a photo of mine blooming right now. There is one blooming in all day shade. One way you can beat the H2O problem is to use that water-holding 'goo'. I use it on my Hostas and they are happy in it. And mulch, mulch, mulch.

Another possibility is a brug. I know that they are supposed to like more sun than that but I have two that bloom even though they are in all day shade. Not yellow of course and you'd have to pick a shorter cultivar.