Plant suggestions for small area adjacent garage

We are looking for plant suggestions for a small area adjacent our garages in our HOA. This space varies from 1'x1' to 2'x2' and is surrounded by cement on all sides except the bottom, so roots can go deep but not wide. The plant cannot climb as we have to bend them forward every 5 years to paint the buildings and vines tend to die off when this happens. We are in Orange County, California and need water-wise plants, possibly with a Mediterranean feel, possibly with color. Any suggestions appreciated! No annuals please.

Depending on the light and the climate you may want to install a succulent. Aloes are attractive in that there's not a lot of need for root run or concern for root invasion, the flowers usually come in winter (which is better given that's when the rain comes in California), and there's not a lot of need for watering. Avoid the clustering/clumping ones (like Aloe vera or some of the spotted aloes) to ensure they don't overrun the limited space. A plant like Aloe striata (very tough, solitary, great flowers) would do fine in a 2'x2' space though the leaves would probably poke over the edges. There are many attractive smaller choices, including various ornamental hybrids (usually about 6-8"), which you could combine. Here are two older striatas.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/149288/

The native succulents (if that's your thing) include Dudleyas, which are mostly coastal plants that like cool, moist air and lots of sun. They are winter growers, tolerate cramped quarters, and should be pretty hands off in a suitable climate. I like the powder-dusted whitish gray finger types (D. attenuata is from here). The flowers are not very exciting but they are very effective hummingbird magnets, even compared to aloe flowers (also popular with birds). A smallish example:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/383378/

The native agave from the southern California coast (A.shawii) is way too big, spiny, and clumpy to be useful in the space you are describing, but there are other agaves to consider, and they tend to be extra tough, drought-tolerant plants when established. Typically full sun plants. Just be aware of the final size (many get huge, many do clump) and the fact that they will eventually get old enough to flower spectacularly and then die and need to be replaced (after several to many years). One of the smaller, easier agaves is A. macroacantha, which does clump but not too aggressively (you can nip the offsets early). It is a spiny, attractive plant.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/65502/

You do have a bit of wiggle room with size on many succulents because they end up quite different in their final dimensions depending on how constrained the roots get and whether or not you provide supplemental nutrients.

In at least a limited way planting in a space that confined is like planting in a large pot. There are walls on all sides and the plants will tend to behave like they are in a container: smaller and slower than if they were given free run, all things considered.