Small Tree or Small Tree-like plant for a small corner?

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Hi all,

 

I've been trying to think of a tall-ish plant to go in the corner space between the house and the garage. This space is about 5x5 feet (1.5x1.5 meters) square, and the soil is almost entirely sand. It's not like beach sand, as we sit about a mile back from the shore on old dunes that were formely covered with chaparral. It is a south and west facing space, so it gets a lot of afternoon light. It does also get some wind from the west, but it's never strong though it can vortex in that corner a bit. I generally don't water heavily even though this part of the garden is the "greener" part of it.

 

What I would like is something that won't get huge, and lift paving or ruin the foundations of the house. It shouldn't get too tall since I'd like it not to get much taller than the roofline (so 10 - 15 feet/ 3 - 4.5 meters). If it has flowers, that's a plus, but I don't mind if it's notable just for it's foliage or form. Also, if this isn't too much to ask, something that is quick growing. I've got enough slow growers to make up the bones of the garden.

 

And since this is important, climate wise, we're sort of on the border of Sunset's zones 17 and 16. It's a bit warmer than right at the sea, but we still get summer fog since the town is facing the open mouth of the bay. I live in a bit of a cold sink since we seem to get more damaging frosts than other areas on hills around town (I've lost a few Metrosideros to frost damage while on a hilly area of town they had minor frost burn). Temperatures usually dip at their lowest to about 28F/-2C, though short dips to 26F/-3C happen maybe once or twice a winter every few years.

 

 

Any ideas?

 

 

Barry