Robust Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas Undulata Robusta) is supposed to do well in dry soil once it is established. I don't grow it, though.

Just about any athyrium will do well for your shorter ones. I have Athyrium 'Branford Beauty' (18") thriving in a setting where heucheras are barely hanging on and looking ragged. Athyrium 'Ghost' (24") is another candidate for a medium/tall fern in a dryish setting. I have 3 doing very well. Tassel Fern, Polystichum polyblepharum, is a 12" fern which also does well in dryer conditions. I have 2 which have outlived several heucheras in a part sun bed.

When it comes to shorter ferns for that kind of situation, you might want to think about Pellaea wrightiana. See link for pictures of plants in New Mexico. It's a weird plant in that it's mostly southwestern, but has disjunct populations in North Carolina. In any case... it does well in cultivation and prefers sunnier and drier areas than most ferns, as you might guess from the fact that it's native out here in New Mexico. They're not offered for sale by many people, but they're available at plantdelights.com

Patrick Alexander

Here is a link that might be useful: polyploid.net: Pellaea wrightiana

You're describing almost ideal situations for most Dryopteris and Polystichums, I think. If you want tall, specifically, then the Robust Male is indeed excellent, I've grown that in almost full sun and full drought. Polystichum munitum gets pretty big and is drought-tolerant... but they won't be drought tolerant until the year after you plant or even the year after that. You'll have to water thoroughly every three days or so until they've been through at least one winter and have established roots. For really tall, you can't beat the Dryopteris australis group but I don't know how drought-tolerant they are.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions, especially the tall ones! Those were just what I was looking for. The shorter ones I'll probably wait til next year, but it'll help to have those too. Maybe by then some others that I already have will take some dividing too. I did some searching on the web for pics and then made my list to carry with me.
Again Many Thanks!
D

Thelypteris kunthii might work well as one of the taller ones as well.