Need suggestions - potted tree/shrub

Got a nastygram from the HOA today. Despite three+ years in this home, just now they have decided that my low maintenance fake bushes in the archway are illegal! Bad! No-no! Horrendous! (etc. etc. etc.)

So, here is the deal. Each of these "fake bushes" are four feet tall, and sit in this archway. This door faces south. Big time heat! I would have to run drip lines for anything that would need any significant water. We would change the pots in favor of an urn or wrought iron look.

Anyway, I am looking for low maintenance (would like to avoid drip lines) but my wife is against cactus ... plus it doesn't go with the rest of our yard.

Any suggestions ?????

Thanks in advance.

Rosemary would love the dry heat conditions and work for the upright formal look too. You could always put a Yupon Holly or something like that if you just wanted green there, but the Rosemary would add a wonderful scent to the area as you come and go.

Sheila's suggestions are great, I would like to add,
Carolina Cherry Laurel, Prunus caroliniana.
I forgot to say that if you mulch your containers, you will retain the moisture and you won't have soil splashing out of the pot.
Josephine.

This message was edited Jul 1, 2007 9:13 AM

I've recently seen a number of unexpected plants trained to standards. I don't know how much space you have, so these might be too big horizontally without crowding the entry, but they would fit the conditions. Loripetaulum trained as upright, burgundy leaves year round and hot pink fringe fowers spring and off and on during year. Duranta, green year round and has small purple fowers edged in white from spring 'til frost. This one has somewhat of a weeping form and the ones I saw was trimmed to about 2 feet across and about 4 feet tall. I also love Rosemary and the topiary forms can usually be found pretty easily. You can always put annuals at the edge of the pot for a bit of color beneath the rosemary. I have a south facing entry too and I have a Fan Flower that's doing really well there and an upright rose cactus (not true cactus, no throns). Both of those take the sun and I usually put a tea pitcher of water once a week on them. Here's the fan flower.

http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/57941/

I like the rosemary.

We have about three feet deep and 1 1/2 feet of width.

I can trim if it goes out toward the entry-way.

Might be a winner.

Put it in a trough???

Maybe ???

They will make great Christmas Decorations too, just add some red felt bows and gold balls.

Good thinking SFW! Low cost adaptable alternatives !!!!!