Filling your empty yard: California Fuchsia

When looking for plants to put in dry, difficult areas, look to California natives that thrive in heat with little water. One such plant is the California Fuschia, known both as Zauschneria and, more recently, as Epibolium. The flowers have a similar shape to Fuschia, and hummingbirds like them, too, but the similarities end there. It's an extremely tough plant that can tolerate just about any kind of soil and will go from light shade to some direct sun. I put one in an area of my yard that our sprinklers miss, and it's done very well. Just remember, it can be invasive, so give it sufficient room and trim it back from time to time. A dry embankment is a great place for it.

A good article on California Fuschia can be seen at:
Tree of Life