I have a shady area in my back yard I would like to improve. The area is 30-40 square feet. It is under a large oak tree and next to a portion of my wooden privacy fence. To complicate matters, the area is sloped down the length of the fence, so a small river runs through the area during heavy rains. The soil is eroding at the base of the fence. In July, when I first moved into the house, there was nothing growing there but St. Johns Wart. I killed all of it off, and nothing has grown there to replace it. I am completely open to ideas. I have thought about putting in a french drain and covering the area with a combination of ivy-like ground cover, ferns, and/or evergreens. I have hostas in other areas of my yard, so I am looking for something different in this area. Something that would flower there would also be nice.

Thanks a bunch!