What are low maintenance shade perennials?

What is your Location?

Spring Bloomers: Old fashion Bleeding Heart and fern leaf type, Columbine (aquilegia), Coral Bells, Ferns, Forget-me-nots (Myosotis Sylvatica), Heart Leaf Brunnera (aka false forget-me-nots), Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla Mollis), Lily of the valley (Convallaria Majalis), Lungwort (Pulmonaria), Pig squeak (Bergenia Corifolia), Primrose (Primula), Viola/Violet note: most varieties are also fragrant. Summer Bloomers: Japanese Anemore, Rose Campion (Lychnis Coronaria), Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium), Hosta Plantain Lily, Chinese Meadow Rue, Blue eyed grass.

It depends on where you live. In the south, some very easy perenniels are hosta, oxalis (although can spread, and some consider this a weed), and iris. I also have day lillies in my shade garden. Up north, I loved having lupine in my shade garden.

I do have hostas (several) and honestly, we have such a long treeline I wouldn't mind anything that would spread.

Instead of looking for spreading ground cover which eventully grows where you do not want it try mixing in Heucheras and sedge grasses.There are available in many colors and add a lot of texture and color to a landscape.

Thank you! I will do that.