Woody Plants Top Ten

​Camellia - slightly acidic, good results with slight shelter, great flower, pretty sturdy.
Azalea - good combo with camellia.  Likes filtered light, good draininage, pH6.  Aucuba japonica "picturata" - golden splashed leaves grown in shade, well drainied moist coastal conditions. "Japanese Laurel"
Lavender - attracts bees, tolerates dry conditions but looks great when you water it.   Useful herbal oils and scents.
Acer almatum - beautiful contrasting colours present on the trunk, makes you feel like you are in a japanese rainforest.  If in a shelettred position then will become a successful plant that just looks great.
Olive - hardy plant, good in well drained snady soils, withstands heat, you get a fruit and you can clip the branches to use in weaving (collect when they are green as they are more flexible)
Citrus any dwarf variety - I don't see any reason not to go with dwarf rootstock in backyard settings.  Easy path for success with a tree packed with edibles.
Loquat - brings bees and plenty of them, provides good shade, strong structure, edible fruit
Schefflera actinophylla - The umbrella tree is Native to Aus and New Guinea, this is one for the indoor display.  Thick glossy leaves arrayed in an outward burst are its great feature.
Rose - There are some extremely hardy roses available.  Well used in streetscapes and landscape barriers around the city.  
Rosemary - there's a few different varieties that work really well, choices fall in the categories of colour, growing style and culinary use so is a versatile plants.  This is one for a slightly higher soil pH than the camellia.