Slow growing evergreen for shade tolerant

With my new house, I only have a handkerchief sized patio and one small bed, about 2.5 feet square. I would like to grow an evergreen shrub in it. The patio is warm and sheltered, but the bed has fences on two sides, so it's quite shady. I am very keen that whatever I grow there needs the absolute minimum of pruning. Ideally it would grow to a mature height of about 5 foot or less, and no further. A small conifer might be an option, but I'm not sure that they would stay small. Even very slow-growing ones that I've had in the past, (in other, larger gardens), have over the years grown to quite a size. If I could get a shrub with nice fresh leaves, that would brighten my miniscule patio, that would make me very happy.

 

A small bay tree (shrub), easily managed, doesn't mind shade and as a plus, use the leaves in the kitchen?

 

Thank you Vince. Are they quite easy to keep in good shape if you keep them at about 4.5 feet?

 

I would like to add Pittospormum tom thumb, but there are other colours, or Choysia, you get the added bonus of flowers if it starts getting big just prune it every couple of years, there are a couple tertnata, and aztec pearl, are a couple.

 

This dwarf choisya might be worth considering, no pruning required to keep it low, grows in most soils and thrived in my heavy clay. You could probably get it cheaper than it is at this website.

Choisya x dewitteana 'White Dazzler'

Choisya x dewitteana [White Dazzler] = 'Londaz' (PBR) | Mexican orange [White Dazzler]/RHS Gardening

Nick

 

The bay laurel can get a bit bigger than 5 foot if it is not kept trimmed back. Here is a video clip of one in my parents garden that I planted as a small (less than two foot tall) pot plant between ten and fifteen years back. The mature shrub has flowers at about this time of year and the one in the video is just what was left after I dug out part of it about ten years ago to give someone as a present which has now grown to about the same size.

I have a couple of choisya ternata sundance variety that are growing well and they are good for brightening up the garden and don't seem to mind growing in shade. The choisya white dazzler has nice flowers but has not done very well in my own garden for some reason.

Another shrub that has nice flowers and stays relatively small is Hebe and here is a clip showing a variegated one that is doing well in shade and adds some interesting colour throughout the year.

 

I have belatedly come back to say thank you for the further suggestions. I must admit I find the idea of a light or yellow-leafed choisya ternata very attractive. In fact I think I might go for the sundance.

Thank you for your help!