Choosing best type of shrub

by Ann
(New Port Richey, FL)

Hi,
I just found your wonderful site! The photos are beautiful and there's loads of information.

We live in Zone 9 in Central Florida, on the West coast. Our front and back yards are big but our beautiful Floratam lawn was lost to drought and is now comprised mainly of weeds and sand spurs which we keep mowed. At least it's somewhat green. It badly needs a good landscaping. However, we don't have the budget for that so I'm doing things in stages.

Our home faces south. We get some shade from a couple of Queen palms in the morning but then it's full sun from there. We have a low planter along the front of the house that stands 8" high and is 12" long. I have some Ixora in there now that aren't doing well so I want to relocate them. I'm considering Indian Hawthorne as I need a low, drought tolerant plant that will add greenery as well as flowers. I'm thinking of moving the Ixora to the East side of the house, which is bare, and putting in some taller plantings behind the Ixora. That's another project.

Would Indian Hawthorne be a good choice for the planter and if not, could you recommend something else? I love Dwarf Pink Oleander too but I don't think that would be wise since I have a child and there are children around our house frequently. Thank you for any advice you could provide.

Ann