Replacement for Oleanders

Question from Debbie:
I live in east Oceanside. My oleanders, which help block the view from my neighbor’s yard, have all died (from a virus I believe). What are some replacement options for them? I want to block the view (6+ feet tall) and have little mess dropping in our yards.

Answer from Pat:
Some good and trouble-free plants that can be used as screens to take the place of oleanders include tea trees (Leptospermum ‘Apple Blossom’ and others), bottle brush (Callistemon citrinus ‘Canes Hybrid’ or ‘Perth Pink’), golden bamboo (Phyllostaches aurea), Pink melaleuca (Melaleuca nesophylla pruned as a hedge.), hop bush (Dodonea viscosa), Xylosma congestum, Photinia x fraseri ‘Birmingham’,  and strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo.) None of these are very messy and all make beautiful screens, but you will need to shear the Melaleuca to keep it to a rounded hedge shape or it will eventually become a sprawling but lovely, small tree with twisted trunks. Another idea is Victorian box (Pittosporum undulatum) The fragrance in spring is divine but you have to prune it or it will grow too tall. You might also consider Cape plumbago Plumbago auriculata ‘Royal Cape’ or ‘Imperial Blue’. It’s beautiful but tends to be invasive. Blue potato vine is another idea (Solanum rantonnetii ‘Grandiflorum’). S. rantonnetii ‘Royal Robe’ is shorter: grows 6 to 8 feet tall).