Some cities offer guides or services for native plants! https://sfpublicworks.org/services/plant-lists-and-palettes
It’s even divided across the city’s different climate zones (San Francisco is small, but can have huge differences in weather from one side to the other).
I recall a SoCal city even offering free consultation for native gardens.
The bank doesn’t own the house, they just have a significant lien against it. Maybe a potato potato situation (how are you supposed to spell that phrase 🤔), but it is an important distinction.
Landlords can get pissed if you paint the walls/change appliances/remodel/etc., but so long as the property is properly insured (and you make your loan payments on time) the bank probably isn’t going to bother you.
Landlords can — and do — place restrictions on quiet hours, guest policy, who is allowed to live there, etc. Owning is definitely different.