I think I need a picture of the area, if you could.

"...Any suggestions for other kind of plants than the Cypress that have smaller root systems, require less water, and grow somewhat higher?"

See the link for Italian Cypress pic.

tj

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:654198}}

Could you add a couple trelles' with climbing roses or clematis.

No Italian Cypresses near the house! Any landscape designer who recommends this must be fired immediately. Your foundation will be compromised, your planter ruined in no time. Italian Cypresses grow to be massive trees with trunks several FEET in diameter.

No large shrubs should be planted in a planter up against the house, unless you have limitless money to remove them every few years and rebuild the planter. If you must have tall fastigate plants in a planter near the house, be sure to keep them in pots so you can throw them out and get new ones every few years.

Wisteria gets too big too.

I recommend Heavenly Bamboo. It is tall and narrow, but it will not undermine your foundation. It's a bit fluffier and less formal than the cypress.

Renee