Beautiful pool which probably cost a mint. I would clean that wood fence then call in a professional landscaper to finish the project properly.

Thanks. I did have a plan drawn up which we are using, but didn’t care for what suggested for behind the pool. Looking for suggestions.

New Zealand Flax, Spanish lavender, liriope aka Lilyturf are a few plants to consider. Also cistus rose, butterfly bush and loropetalum aka Chinese fringe flower. Mediterranean plants are drought resistant.
Go to your nursery and I’m sure they can help you, if a landscape architect is not in your budget.

The Queen Palms next door tell me it doesn't freeze where you are in Ca. You did not say you wanted a hedgerow or tall screen though the Podocarpus, Bottlebrush and Juniper would all work as such.

Italian Cypress says Mediterranean to me. How about this? Plant 4 to 6 evenly spaced (the # that works with the space) dwarf 'Tiny Towers' Italian Cypress. Plant Bird of Paradise, Strelitzia reginae between the cypress.

That Cypress is a great option, thank you. Yes to hedgerow, for the middle section of the wall at least.
Correct we live in very warm zone 9b
Trying to avoid tropical plants, so maybe something else paired a the cypress.

Instead of BOP, how about a small selection of California Lilac, Ceanothus, a small flowering shrub of some kind to pair with the cypress.

"New Zealand Flax, Spanish lavender, liriope aka Lilyturf are a few plants to consider. Also cistus rose, butterfly bush and loropetalum aka Chinese fringe flower. Mediterranean plants are drought resistant."

Not sure how one is defining 'Mediterranean' but with the exception of the lavender and the cistus, none of the plants mentioned are of Mediterranean origin.

"I wanted to use Icee Blue Podocarpus but learned they burn in our California heat."

I find this difficult to believe. The plant was bred/developed in SoCal and they are widely sold and planted from the Bay area southward. Podocarpus of various kinds are commonly used for privacy screening in SoCal. If you like the plant, I'd go for it.

That’s what my nursery advised to me.
The spot is full sun and during our harshest summertime stretches (I’m in central California) the nursery advised the likelihood of significant burn.
The nursery did say other Podocarpus (like maki) won’t burn, but the foliage color of the maki looks more tropical in my eyes.

But maybe you’re giving me some hope that I should ask some other nurseries about using the icee blue.
Thank you

Small olives? Grapes? Arbutus?

Also in central CA! Our former home has a very similar style pool set up (to the point I wonder if it’s the same pool builder!). Along the fence we spaced out and alternated tiny towers cypress with mugo pine shrubs. Left enough space open between the pines and cypress to plant annuals for color. Totally happy with the look and it was really low maintenance. In our new home, we we planted podocarpus along the fence behind the pool. Wanted something different- we like the cypress better.