I love hebes. They don't need a lot of water and they bloom for a few months each summer. And, bees love them! Foliage is nice too. This is mine that gets morning sun.

Thank you! I will look into this one!

There are so many options.....

California natives are a natural choice. The Las Pilitas website has a ton of good information to get you started. Look up Ceonothus, Rhamnus (now called Frangula), Ribes, Rhus as a starting point for shrubs for along the fence line.

its always good to mix in some deciduous plants. I really like Holodiscus and Physocarpus which have seasonal changes.. I'm sure others can suggest more.

But don't feel the need to be a purist and choose only natives, Many Mediterranean and South African plants are from a similar climate and there are many wonderful choices.

Grasses soften everything as they move with the slightest breeze. Again, there are tons of choices.

Google can be your best friend in checking out possibilities.

Thank you so much!

By the way, Red Berm: do you think I would want vine or perennial or something else? Which one is most likely to grow year after year, even if I forget to water it? Thanks!

So the only thing that will live without water is cactus.. maybe. Take a pic go to the garden center they will help u pick. They often have people who design there because they want u to buy their plants. The word perennial means something that grows year after year vines or shrubs are categorized under annual or perennial. I think what will dictate ur choice is if ur landlord lets u put a vine on the fence.

Which direction does that fence face? It looks shaded in the photo.

I think the fence goes east-west! But there are no trees or anything anywhere so it's sunny most of the day.

Pomegranate is very drought tolerant and low maintenance. You can get the ones for eating or the ornamental flowering ones. Be aware they grow into a very bushy tree.

I would plant two oleander against the fence but place them three feet out. Put one to correspond with each window of neighbors fence.

I would not plant a vine or fruit tree at a rental home. You may be a diligent renter but many would not maintain the vine or clean up the fruit.

I might recommend something else if you have power lines above the fence.

Oleander is a tough plant which serves some landscapes well, but I would not use it if kids or dogs are around. Also in my area there is a disease killing oleander. Just my 2 cents.