Toad Lilies might work since you have soaker hose. They meet all of your requirements except the drought resistant part.

They have a nice flower that comes in multiple colors and they can get to about 36" (depending on the variety).

HI! How about Epimedium? They are extremly though and hardy, and actually like dry shade. They dont bloom very long but the foliage is pritty.
CMK

Check out Actaea, also some of the taller Astilbe, larger Hosta like sieboldiana, 'Great Expectations', 'Sagae', or Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium).

I'm also growing Monkshood, Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii' in fairly deep shade.

Thalactrum...meadow rue..pinkish with lovely soft ferny leaves.
And Ligularia...the Dentata series have shiny red leaves and daisy like flowers in either yellow or orange....so you need to pay attention, because the orange is really ORANGE! And the other variety has tall spires of yellow flowers. I prefer that even if the leaves are just green.
It does like water though.
Linda C

The native Solomon Seal (Polyganatum biflorum or caniculatum) would work, as would Smilacina racemosa and the native bugbane (Actaea racemosa).

* Chasmanthium (wild oat grass): Oh, how I love my oat grass! Not grassy-looking in the traditional sense, it somewhat resembles bamboo to my eye. I planted clumps under mature maple trees, always a challenge, and they are thriving.

* Solomon's Seal

* Autumn Fern (dryopteris): Shorter than you're looking for, but thought I'd throw it out to you anyway. Most ferns look like cr@p in dry soil, but autumn fern doesn't seem to mind.

Would you go for something taller? A shrub, really but acts as a perennial.
I have Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' in dry shade. She is doing wonderfully.....

I second the Actea racemosa and the Thalictrum. I would add, anemone japonica, Digitalis, Campanulas, Kirengeshoma, Aruncus doicus and Hesperis matronalis.

I would not go with Aruncus if you want something drought tolerant. Mine is dwindling every year & has not bloomed for the last 3 years. (I'd dig it up but I don't own a pickax.) Planted right next to it are Solomon's Seals & Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) which are thriving. Hesperis matronalis is a biennial & is considered an invasive weed in many states.

Thanks for all your suggestions. Most of them I had never heard of so I have to look them up and see what they look like, etc.
pitimpinai, I also have an Annabelle hydrangea. I must be in an awkward place....part sun and part shade. It seems to turn to follow the sun and doesn't face forward in the spot where I have it. It is three yrs. old now and is really full of buds. Can't wait to see it bloom. I just may give another one a shot in my perennial bed as a last resort.

Thanks again, Kathie

Hi
check out the Lazy S'S nursery website. They have a long
list of recommendations for dry shade. Just another resource.

Blue Angel Hosta, gets tall and wide, likes lots of shade, and is a nice foliage color, with big bloom stalks in summer. I don't think the soloman's seal gets that tall. 30 inches is 2.5 feet! At least mine dosen't get that tall.
The other sugestions are good though.

j kunkel - my Solomon's Seal are about 4' tall, dwarfing the Krossa Regal Hosta next to them. Of course, it's taken a few years for them to mature enough to get that big, but they are in dry shade/part shade without fertilizer.

I have goat's beard (aruncus) growing in dry shade. Also, I have a fabulous stand of white bleeding heart that has reseeded all over the place in dry shade. And I second the meadow rue suggestion. Thalictrum is one tough plant but the blooms are not too showy.