On the north side of my house, west end (hot afternoon sun), I planted a hydrangea 'Annabelle' and it has done great there. It's right by a down spout and gets a lot of water at times, but doesn't seem to mind at all. They're in bloom for a long time and are not hurt by cold winters/late frosts like big leaf hydrangeas since blooms come from new growth.

I had dropped some Malva seeds on the North side of my house and it gets even less than yours. They didn't hardly bloom, but talk about pretty, full foilage!!! I actually liked them better than the hostas I had!!

Hmmm, not sure what you've tried so here are some suggestions of plants I've had luck with: goatsbeard, common columbine, meadowrue, ferns, common phlox, azalea or wintercreeper?

Mccord, I'm in almost the exact same situation as you. Of the variety of plants I've tried, the most successful is lirope. It borders the strip (mine is actually a curved bed) and they absolutely love it and are going on a good 7 years old. Behind them is the "dead zone". I have tried several different ground covers. Currently there is sweet woodruff which is giving a spotty performance and some ajuga, which stays cowering (but thick) in the solidly shady sections. This year I was thinking of trying nicotiania as I heard it's one of those sun-loving flowers that does pretty well in partial shade. I wanted to put in linum perrenne (blue flax) but am afraid it needs more sun than it'll get.

Behind the dead zone are two azalea bushes, one of which is half dead despite it getting plenty of water and almost total shade. Next year I think I will pop them out and try something else, maybe a pink cletha.