Shady back yard

Ferns and ivy.

make a perineal garden.

these are some that should like the acidic soil: pachysandra, vinca, gold flowered St. John's wart, wild strawberry, English ivy, lily of the valley, false Solomon's seal and sweet woodruff

I seeded my shade with shade grass seeds .. I really didn't like it , but better then dirt

what is a perineal garden?

I had that problem with my last house. I put in Alpine Rosy Bells, Lental Rose, Wind Flowers, Myrtal, Bleeding Hearts, Impatients, Hostas, Jacobs Ladder, Hardy Hibiscus, Prim Rose, Hardy Azalea, Lilly of the Valley & Hydrangea. & Fuchsia. I also put in some lilies where they got a small amount of sun shine every day. It really depends on what part of the country or what Zone you are in.

I have hostas in my back yard and they flourish in the shade under trees, and we are in similar planting zones.