While trying to answer a question for someone the other day I picked up one of our books. " Hong Kong Shrubs". According to Wikipedia Hong Kong gets an average annual rainfall of 108 inches. In comparison LA gets about 18in. Here are some plants listed in that book. I know virtually nothing, but even I recognized a bunch of these genera. Camellia japonica Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Hydrangea macrophylla Hypericum chinense Lantana camara Rhaphiolepsis indica this one it mentions as " Not suitable for gardens and ornamental purposes"