I don't know if a conifer will be your answer or not. To get something maturing at 24-30" you're truly in the very small dwarf to miniature class of conifer. And in that size range most are very dense so the obscure issue will come into play.

You could do some ground cover conifers coordinated with other more open structured plantings such as Picea pungens ' Glauca Procumbens' or some of the many ground cover Junipers.

mark

i would just quit the job..

and look for a job with a more reasonable employer ...

there is so much wrong with your listed parameters.. that i dont even know where to start ...

can you back out of this assignment.. or will you have to quit????

ken

Platycladus orientalis 'Aurea nana' might fit your requirement -- except for the deer-proof bit...

Another option might be one of the high-grafted weeping junipers, such as J. horizontalis 'Blue Chip' -- it will never get higher than the original standard, just makes a more lush cascade over the years....

Deer tend to stay away from variegates as well as yellows. If you plant something that is easily maintained thru pruning, you're good to go for a super long time. I'd probably recommend Thuja occidentalis 'Fire Chief'.

Dax

Here is a link that might be useful: Sooner Plant Farm - Thuja occidentalis 'Fire Chief'