Anybody have any ideas on plants that grow about 4 feet tall (max) that don't get too wide? I'm in Michigan (Detroit) and the spot they'll go in is sunny almost all day, with little water getting in that area.

I have a bunch of grasses and boxwood that are going elsewhere, so I was thinking something different here to add interest. I want something masculine and hands-off in terms of maintenance. Something narrow and compact... I'm picturing a row of 2,3, or 4 to get a nice repetition going.

Not really into flowers, but I did come across allium, which is cool, but the purple version looks too feminine, and the white version looks like a big dandelion!

Any ideas? (everything that's there now is getting removed.)