A lot depends on just how much sun the area gets--several hours in the afternoon, or just a few spits and spots in the morning? The actual amount of frost your area gets will also be a factor. Areas near San Diego and Palm Springs will support tropicals, while nippier winters will result in a different plant palette. Do you know your Sunset Western Garden Book climate zone, Nick?

I would look for wild plants in your area, and work from those names.
Cactii should be ok.

Most cacti don't like heavy shade, though part sun is doable for many of them. For heavy shade, I would plant Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior), or, in mild winter areas, Sanseveria varieties, Arrowhead (Syngonium), Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum), Pothos, Ficus 'Alie' and F. 'Amstel' and Chamaedorea palms. For partial shade, good bets include Sempervivum, Vinca minor, Asiatic Jasmine, Gardenia, Sasanqua Camellia, Mock Orange (Pittosporum tobira), Japanese Euonymus, Euonymus fortunei (except in the desert), Japanese Boxwood, herbaceous Euphorbias, and some kinds of Ilex. In milder climates, part shade will support many Aloes, Echeverias, Aeonium (except in the desert), Crassulas (except in the desert), Kalanchoe, Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae), Plumeria, Gasteria, Haworthia, succulent Euphorbias, Gingers, many Ficus species, Madagascar Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata), Flax Lily (Dianella) and, near the coast, Cordylines.

Go to this webpage for a list of 100s of plants you can grow. You'll have to read up for the specific requirements sun/shade/partial sun, etc.

http://calscape.org/loc-Los_Angeles,CA/cat-All-Plants/ord-popular

also

http://www.laspilitas.com/garden/California_natives_for_part_shade.html

Oh the dear old Spider Plant. When I was a teenager I bought one and my mother said " That doesnt mind being neglected, YOU can manage that !"

Lawsy! Thanks, Mom! :[
My first was a Sanseveria, and I did eventually kill it, but with too much kindness, rather than neglect.

My spider plant was a "baby" that I detached form a big one in the greenhouse attached to Sheffield City Museum. I am not proud of this. But 50 years on I still have the descendants...