The two that come to mind are Lady fern and Japanese painted fern. Both are compact and can take a little sun. If you part sun is afternoon exposure though be careful, they could get fried. One thing about the rose, yes I know this is the fern forum : ) It sometimes takes a few years for a rose to get going. I have a shrub rose in part sun and it flowers very well. Keep it well watered, fertilize twice a year. Maybe next year if you dont notice any change try something else in that space.

Jen

Thank you Jen I appreciate you trying to help me. I grow the Japanese painted fern in another bed and it does very well. I wanted something taller (3-4 feet). The rose that is failing has been there quite awhile. It's gradually lost vigor as the tree has grown. Even though it's in a raised bed, I have a feeling that the shade from the now large tree and root competition have doomed it. The part sun btw is mostly morning sun, so at least that's hopeful.

Christmas fern will take some sun, will get taller than japanese painted fern AND is evergreen to boot!
Paula

What about a Royal Fern?
It can take some sun and forms a clump, but is not invasive.
Even though it is normally found near water there are some reports that say it can handle dryer conditions (might not get as big maybe?).
Can get 6' tall under the right conditions, probably half that size in average soil.

I would also say Royal Fern, aka Osmunda regalis, if you can go that tall. I grow it under very dry conditions and it does well. If not, I'd recommend investigating the Dryopteris family. I've grown a lot of these in our north-facing yard, where they get summer sun till about 3 pm, and have lots of root competition. The more upright ones I have include Dryopteris crassirhizoma, which is perhaps the one that most closely meets your requirements. There are others, like D. celsa, that might have a slightly creeping rhizome, and D. tokyoensis, which won't grow quite tall enough. There is also Dryopteris wallichiana and D. cycadina/atrata, which are however a little more arching/spreading although they can achieve the frond length you want.

These are mostly specialty ferns, though, so you won't find them unless you have a very good local nursery or go mail order. Out of the common nursery stock, I'd go with the Osmunda or perhaps Dryopteris x complexa, also known as the Robust Male Fern. Umm, yeah, it's pretty upright.

Wow, thank you all so very much for your suggestions. I bought a book on ferns so I will look them up. I like ferns, but outside of the Japanese Painted Fern and a few Boston ferns in baskets (overwintered indoors of course) I've not had much luck over the years(killed: Korean Rock fern, Holly Fern, Variegated green/yellow fern), but I still keep on trying. I appreciate it. The sun by the way will be from the east.