Consider one of the smaller cultivars of Wax Myrtle - 'Suwannee Elf', 'Don's Dwarf' (Myrica cerifera or Morella cerifera is the scientific name for the species). Woodlanders also sells one under the name Myrica pumila, but that may actually be too small for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: Don's Dwarf

Thanks, esh, for the wax myrtle suggestion, they do grow everywhere here-the native large ones, that is. I will look into them more as a possibility, but I wonder if there is anything else that anyone can suggest.

I'm not sure how 'cold' your 'cold' is but the link might give you some ideas.

One shrub not on the attached list is Griselinia littoralis, which comes in fresh apple green of variegated.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seaside shrubs

ard1,
Research pittosporum, they have a new dwarf if you don't want to prune at all.
Your cold zone is ideal for this shrub and it requires good drainage, which you have.
I live in SC in sand and clay soil also, and they are growing fine here, very low maintance and I also have a variegated one which looks very nice.