What tall thing can I plant in this windy corner?

[iheartdusty]

Please can anyone come up with ideas for what may be an impossible list of criteria?

I need a tall-ish slim punctuation plant. Ideally a shrub (for winter structure) but could be a perennial. Ideally about 2m high or so. It must resist wind, as we are near the sea and very windy sometimes (although not strictly coastal planting required, and it's a mild climate otherwise). Stiff tall stems like angelica are therefore out 'cos they will snap.

It needs to go at the corner of a semi-formal front garden which has a small central gravel area on slate, surrounded by a ring of grasses and a few perennials and alliums. The other corners have height from brick posts in the wall plus a spiraea, a rowan tree, and some trellis on the house.

Now here comes the fussy bit:
No proper trees, as the spot is right next to the house windows and I worry about the roots, hence also no support available for a climber.
No conifers.
No bamboo, because there are so many grasses already.
Small leaves, so no mahonias or suchlike.
As little spread as possible - max 1.5m.
Flowers are less essential than the shape and size, but I really really don't want orange red or yellow (unless it's pale lemon).
Foliage that is greyish or white variegated would be a bonus.

this doesn't exist, does it?

[LadyMud]

Shrubby Wormwood perhaps? Or how about an obelisk, with a climber growing up it?

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Pittosporum?
Viburnum tinus (could be cloud pruned)?

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Eucalyptus, if confined in a pot and regularly pollarded?

[wonderingagain]

Pittosporum silver queen as long as there are no cold winds.

[cantspel]

Berberis Helmond Pillar

[iheartdusty]

wow!

thank you for such great suggestions.

I had never come across some of these, and they are very promising.

I can't wait to get my front garden finished, it lifts my spirits every day when I come home.