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Pittosporum tobira 'Wheeler's Dwarf'  grows at this Photinia hedge's base.

Photinia (Photinia x fraseri) - moderate to fast growing shrub to 10 feet high.  Has reddish-bronze leaves in Spring and white flower heads that can be as big a small saucer.  Sometimes suffers from lack of iron (chlorosis), which results in yellowing leaves with green veins.  Your nursery can advise about treating this condition.

Indian Hawthorn (Raphiolepsis indica) -  perhaps best known as a low mounding plant with dark green leaves and pretty pink blooms in the spring.  There are also taller varieties that grow to 5 or 6 feet tall--and new choices seem to keep showing up every year. May need some shelter from afternoon sun. Relatively low water usage.

There are varigated and dwarf varieties of myrtle.

The evergreen Myrtle (Myrtus communis) hedge takes care of itself.  This shrub has fine textured, bright green foliage that does not need much pruning or trimming.  This shrub has small white flowers and, later,  blue-black berries in the Fall.  Low water usage and good drainage.

Except for the dwarf varieties, Pittosporum gives off a heavenly fragrance when it blooms in Spring.

Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira), comes in dwarf, shrub and tree forms, all of them evergreen  The dwarf size is an excellent foundation plant.  The mid-size  is ideal for a loose, rounded hedge. It does not need trimming. The  Pittosporum tree grows to 25 feet tall.  Drought tolerant once established.

A purple hedge

NOTE:  There is another tree called the Smoke Tree.  It is tall and virtually leafless.  Be sure you get the right one.

Smoke Bush (Cotinus coggygria "Royal Purple") - beautiful dark reddish purple leaves are the hallmark of this small tree.  Grows either as a multi-trunk shrub or a single trunk tree to 15 feet high. The hybrid C. 'Grace' has blue-green leaves and seed pods that appear to be large airy cloudlike puffs of cotton candy.  In Fall the leaves turn to orange and bright red. A new introduction is the "Golden Spirit" variety, which has brilliant golden yellow leaves. Low water usage for all three varieties.

The edible hedge

The petals of the Pinapple guava plant flower are tasty additions to a fruit salad.  And the ripe fruit in the Fall is delicious, too.

Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) - have your hedge and eat it too!  You will often find this South American native plant in nurseries as a small tree, but it can be a multi-trunked shrub for an unusual and beautiful informal hedge.  Soft gray-green leaves with very pretty white blossoms in the spring.  And fruit to eat in the Fall.  It may need some shelter from full sun. Low to moderate water usage.

Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) - another edible hedge, this one from South Africa.  A fast growing upright shrub with deep dark, leathery green leaves that can be clipped to a formal hedge.  Blooms fragrantly year 'round and produces small fruit with a cranberry-like taste.  Most natal plums are thorny but the 'Boxwood Beauty' variety is thornless, as is the 'Tomlinson'.

The grassy hedge

Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) - fast growing to 8 feet tall in one season with even taller white or pale yellow "plumes".  Cut back every couple of years to 18 inches during January or it may end up 20 feet high.  Leaves are toothy and will cut into skin so do not plant it near a walkway.

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) - looks like short bamboo but has brilliant yellow, orange and reddish leaves.  Can grow slowly to moderately to 6 feet.  In the desert needs some shelter from blasting sunlight.  It may need treatment for iron-deficiency which turns the leaves yellow with green veins. Very drought tolerant.