Hostas maybe.

Nothing grows there for a reason and it is the combination of poor red clay and no sunlight. There are lots of shade-loving ground covers that will grow in heavy shade, but you'll have to improve the clay by adding several inches of some kind of organic matter like compost, humus, composted manure, composted cotton burrs, etc. By improving the clay, you loosen it up enough that plant roots can grow in it. Red clay is actually very fertile soil as it is mineral-rich, but you do have to improve its texture and friability before most plants will grow in it. Improving the soil will make it a lower-maintenance bed because well-amended clay allows heathy root growth and vigorously growing plants can outcompete weeds. It also is easier to pull out weeds in well-amended clay.

If you're willing to add organic matter to the clay before you plant, let me know and I'll list plants that will grow in heavy shade in well-amended clay. If you don't want to improve the soil, not much will grow there and you'd be better off covering it with gravel and putting a few large pots of some kind of shade lover there.

I have 14.5 acres of red clay and, believe me, I've learned that you don't have much success with it unless you amend the clay.

Dawn

Yes, soil amendment is an absolute must if even a weed won't grow there.

There are lots of beautiful shade plants out there, but the one thing that most shade plants require is good, rich soil. There are some sun plants that will grow (natives) in lean soil, but generally not those that are shade loving.

Susan

I will second what Dawn says. I have the same issue with a plot on the north side of part of my house. For the past two years I simply piled up mulch there--stacks of oak leaves, bamboo chips, chopped branches. This year I turned it into the clay and did the lasagna thing.

In my particular case I also have the problem that this is an area that drains the driveway, so lots of water travels over the area. I dug up some yellow flag iris from my pond and planted it here. I figured it should easily be kept in control as there is no standing water. I've also planted Astilboides tabularis, which I understand likes moist, sticky soil. I did plant some tabularis in the same spot last year, but the neighbor's kid chopped it down with the weed eater not once but three times. So, I can't say whether it will do well (this year I'm putting tomato cages around it so the weed eaters know it's a protected plant). Remember that tabularis can be a bold plant. It's a statement, like elephant ears and alocasia x calidora (both of which do well in the shade and partial sun here in OKC).

Finally, I'm also trying some Petasites japonicus 'Variegatus', which is also considered less invasive than other Petasites. This may not be true. I only planted the specimens three days ago and they are already looking perky and ready to start branching out....I may have committed an error here, but hope not.

Finally, my neighbors, some of whom have been gardening in this neighborhood for 40 years, suggest creeping thyme and creeping jenny. Both stop where the sunshine starts and both amend the soil. Both are difficult to eradicate at a later date, but since they are occupying space that would otherwise be empty, it may be okay. They also do NOT recommend horsetail reed, as it is so invasive (but they planted in the shade along a creek).

Good luck!

Robert