I haven't had the pleasure just yet, but hope to find that out come this 1st year of gardening...

I have a giant rosemary in the front of my yard. It gets a little water from the gutter and I only had to trim once. It hasn't developed a virus and takes the heat of the brick facade and our low temps also. It flowers for the bees.

I can think of several 'best all around plants', but I guess blue plumbago would be first on the list. Where else can you find light blue flowers thoughout the growing season plus cold and drought hardiness, and that will grow in sun or part shade?
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Shrimp plants would be second on the list. I have four varieties and they have the same good qualities as the plumbabos but in different colors. Two varieties are shown in this photo.

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I'll be interested in reading other's entries in case I might be missing something ... :-)

Happy gardening!

I do believe in Darwinian gardening. I am a bad plant mom and nothing is coddled under my care. Mexican oregano (Poliomintha longiflora) grew and BLOOMED through THE DROUGHT unwatered while the rest of the garden burnt black and disappeared in a desiccated afterthought. I do not have a picture, but it can take sun and part shade. On a normal year it blooms for 3 months and then blooms again in fall taking a short break in august, when I cut it back a bit.

Callylophus, but the one with dark centers. It's still blooming after all those freezes.

Omar

Purple fountain grass always looks good. Cannas, butterfly weed, ferns, and alyssum are great performers for me in zone 9.

Dianthuses have remained green for me year-round. Not just in micro-climates near the house but even out in the open yard or flower section of the yard. And last year was the first year I tried snapdragons. They also handled the hot summer and winter conditions just fine without breaking a sweat (green all year long). I'm hoping to see some snapdragon flowers soon. Some of the dianthuses have already begun flowering.

Rain lilies also performed well but since they tend to bloom after certain rains, they are a constant green grassy-looking plant but will only tend to flower up with the spring and summer rains.

Mara I like the idea of Darwinian Gardening!

"Darwinian Gardening" is a term I have stolen from Lauren Springer-Ogden along with "By trowel and error". I am using it a lot lately.

For flowering I like texas green eyes. And for deep shade, you can't beat cast iron plant as a great filler that has no bugs and stays green...