the problem is that the term shrub doesnt really mean anything .... beyong perhaps size .....

are you looking for evergreens ... or more properly ... conifers of a dwarf variety???

are you looking for decidous plants that grow in the shade?

etc .....

you have to define what type of plant you are thinking about ....

it would also help to know the soil ... and how much direct sun, if any ... if none.. then how much brightness ... not much will thrive in too much darkness ...

and finally ... if you have the technology ... a picture would really help ....

the more facts you can give us.. the better for us to define what will make you happy ...

good luck

ken

the limiting factor in your case is most likely to be light, unless there are other mitigating factors such as large trees nearby (which tend to suck all availbale water out of the ground, as well as making a naturally low light situation as dark as a primeival forest).

I'm going to assume width is not so important? If it would have been, you'd have told us, right? most shrubs tend to be as wide as tall, unless you get certain varieties selected for growth habit (Sky Pencil holly, for example).

Would perennials work? Or do you need the structure through the winter? Plants like hosta, astilbe, and aruncus thrive in out of the full sun situations, but die back in the winter.

And no, there isn't really a website calculator that does this for you, or everyone here would be all over it. Your best bet is to go to a bookstore or library and start browsing. Among other reasons, certain varieties of plants can have a growth habit significantly different from typical, and other factors tend to be so much more subjective than we realize (light, water, soil, and how much effort do you put into trimming, fertilizer, etc). Another factor is availability. Not every thing is available everywhere, some times because of legal restrictions, sometimes because of economic reasons.

One of my favorite small shrubs is stephanandra. It tends to be a bit of a spreader, but get the cultivar Crispa.

Others include certain rhododendron varieties. What you will be able to locate will vary...and there are so many out there any attempt to be exhaustive would be hopeless.

Spireas. Especially, the green leaved varieties like Little Princess. These shrubs have a couple of benefits: they tend to be rather cheap, so it's no big deal if ya lose one. And they are adaptable to a wide range of conditions, so much so they tend to get overused.

You're in northern zones, so perhaps the summer blooming hydrangeas (hydrangea macrophylla varieties). Mulch a bit in winter to get at least some of the branches to survive. This plant is one of the reasons there is no real website calculator. In norhtern regions, three feet maybe a little larger what you get out of this. In southern regions, it can be more than twice that size. The further south you live, the more shade the entire genus prefers. Further north, less shade.

Boxwood. a number of varieties.

There are most likely a dozen more, perhaps more. Check with your local nurseries, they'll be your best guide.

While not the search function you are looking for, here are a couple of sites that list plants for shade. I'm assuming that northern exposure under the eaves means shade.You'll have to do more research on any you find interesting to see if they will work for you.

http://www.backyardgardener.com/shade/index2.html
http://www.crescentbloom.com/plants/Lists/Shady%20garden%20areas/index.htm

As has been suggested, some more details will help in making suggestions.

Check out the book "Trees and Shrubs for Michigan". I planted three fothergillia in a fairly shady, north-facing spot last year.

I know you asked for dwarf, but if you can go 5' or so, you can check out hydrangeas that will do OK in partial shade. Oak leaf is one, late panicle, and of course Annabelle. You can also use viburnums for shade.

Good luck!
Elaine (in Michigan)

The U. of Conn. has a database with a search option which you can try that lets you input size and amount of sun, among other things. I've never used it, but maybe you can let us know how it works for you. The suggestion of going to the library and looking at books may be helpful in getting you thinking about whether you want a more formal looking shrub or a looser, less formal look. Some of the smaller evergreens, both conifer and broadleafed, may look more formal while spireas and hydrangeas tend to be a bit wilder. Once you find some shrubs that you generally like the looks of and that like drier shade (unless you want to put in some drip irrigation,) you can come back here and folks may be able to suggest specific cultivars that fit your size requirements. For example, rhododendrons range in size from about a foot to 8 feet in our zone, and deutzias from 2 or 3 feet to over 6 feet.

Here is a link that might be useful: U. Conn. plant database search

Another place you can do searches for more specific kinds of plants is at the rhododendron society database. You can input for hardiness and height and then look up light needs since some rhodies do better than others in shade. Also, as some other posters mentioned, adding information on other plants in the area, amount of shade beyond that provided by the house, and even the paint color (white or other light shades will reflect light, whereas dark colors or unpainted mansonry won't) would help us know your conditions and make it easier to make suggestions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rhododendron Society Database Search

Wow! Thanks all, for the considerations you put my way. I thus have narrowed my search to evergreens (didn't know that rhododendrons are!) 2-3 foot tall, no more than 3-4 ft wide. This is on the north side of a white house, mostly under the eaves. There is a white pine approx. 15 feet away. Cement structures: drive, porch are on either side of planting area. Soil awaits augmentation. I will check sites you folks suggest-thanks; also found monrovia.com & rhodyman.net to be useful sites. I am currently considering the plants (shrubs): viburnum, hinoki cypress, dwarf canadian hemlock, grune kugel western red cedar, and now, dwarf rhododendrons. I began this quest with dread, but now I am actually having a ball with the researching! Thanks for the help.

super progress ...

rhodies in MI are very shallow rooted [probably everywhere] .... they may need some type of amended soil, depending on what you have there now ....

need to be mulched heavily to protect what are almost surface roots ....

and probably need some form of plant food to adjust soil pH ... as simple as a couple drinks of muracid per summer ...

and they will need to be watered in drought, depending on how well you mulch them ...

and unless you buy the right ones ... they will need winter protection from the prevailing NW winter wind ... some will .. some wont ....

sorry to say .. i am not enough of a rhodie fan to suggest specific cultivars ....

if you are in a metro MI area.. go to one of the better upscale nurseries for specific info regarding such ...

it may sound over-whelming... but the reward is spectacular .... it is not all that much to overcome ...

good luck

ken