I use to have that lantana. It was growing in a vacant lot close to my house. I asked the owner if I could get some. He said yes. It grew agressively. Seedlings came up, but they were easy to pull. I pulled it out when I started a rose garden.

I now have a smaller variety in a butterfly garden. It still grows FAST and I have to trim it a lot. But it does bring in butterflies. I have it planted with the butterfly bush and some giant milkweed as well as the hairy ball milkweed. I have the tropical milkweed in a different location because it is stripped all the time.

I have canna. Not in the same location. It likes more moisture. It too seems to grow aggressively putting out new pups. But they are very easy to dig and give to friends or toss. Canna is a host plant for skipper butterflies. You will have to spray if you don't like chewed leaves. Personally I can over look it for the butterfly's sake.

With my lantana and giant milkweed I have some tall cleosia (sp) and various salvia. Last year after planting those in my garden was the first time I ever had hummingbirds.

You have a nice space. Good luck with your choices.

For such narrow space, I would trellis flowering vines across entire width. Low beneath windows, and high to their sides.

Sharon2079 Thank you for your reply. I dream of hummingbirds! I had never seen the lantana tree, only the bush form, I'm hoping it remains in tree form with limited pruning required. I dont know much about milkweed but I can see grasses spilling in nicely over the bricks.

four, thanks for your reply. I used to have a Bougainvillea on the left where I have the one calla sitting but it didn't bloom much and it was way too wild in terms of growing forward but not spreading, so I relocated that. Any thoughts on a better vine, preferably with orange blooms, love the thought of tons of butterflies and maybe hummingbirds....

Mexican Flame Vine.

FWIW, there are more hybrids nowadays of the more common lantana camara that are not very fertile, and don't spread so easily.

Grasses seems like a good idea for full sun, since they're rather low maintenance and more tolerant of dry soil, once established. They look 'beachy' too, IMO.

I've been admiring the pale fountain grasses I see in many places around here - I think it's Pennisetum orientale. It seems easy to grow from seed too, since I often see volunteers.

https://floridata.com/plant/767

And purple fountain grass is very handsome as well.

https://floridata.com/plant/78

Floridata.com has lots of other good plant info, and you can search by features like shade or drought tolerance, etc.

Here's their list of grasses:

https://floridata.com/plants/grass

And I like Ti plants too - super low maintenance, hard to kill, attractive and easy to propagate. When they start getting too tall and straggly, you can simply cut off the top and stick it in some water until it roots and plant it for more. The cut stem then usually sprouts several new side shoots.

for a wonderful vine that attracts hummingbird and butterflies, I love the Coral Honeysuckle vine. it's easy to control and very pretty.

Thanks all, some exciting prospects to look over!!

gypsyardie, The dark (wood?) structure under the window does not read from a distance the way you may hope. It draws my eye to the (ungainly) windows above and seems to be supporting them. I first thought that it was an empty window box of an unusual design. Perhaps move it over to the blank wall section? And, or, add one or two Asian type sculptures to support the asian theme (if high possibility of theft is not an issue).

irma_stpete_10a Thanks for the input but it would be hard to move, it's been there a long time, would probably fall apart...so you're suggesting get rid of arbor, then something sculptural on the empty wall, then other statues...any thoughts about the flowers?

Liking the feel of this