Do a search here in this site and you will find so many
information in the blogs.

I did and have already planted euonymus, lilyturf, Japanese maple and a viburnumn under my trees. I got lots of ideas here.

I got my plants from Atwoods, Walmart and some from friends. Try sites that give free stuff in your city and you will always find someone trying to give out lilyturf.
It can really take over so use cautiously.

Ferns, some daylilies, lily of the valley, camellias, gardenias, azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangeas, varigated eunomus all will do well in mottled shade under trees. Impatiens, begonias, coleus are the annuals that come to mind. Early spring bulbs will also bloom before the tree leafs out--pecans leaf out late. Daffs, crocus, tulips, hyacinths will all give early color. And Naked ladies will bloom in August in mottled shade, better than in full sun. And there are natives that bloom early in mottled shade--cammassia, blood root, wood phlox, wood iris. Happy gardening Dorothy

Boy, do I know something about this. I also have a huge pecan tree that I love and have spent the past five years experimenting to find what will grow under it. I don't grow grass there. It's just not worth it. Instead I have a beautiful patch of ajuga that gets bigger every year. I have had success with caladium, Japanese painted fern, columbine, heuchera, violets (pretty and charming in early spring but kind of sloppy when they get bigger), leadwort, and lily of the valley. I'm thinking of trying some varieties of iris next year, since, as others have said above, the tree leafs out late. Impatiens also do fine, but I decided to skip them this year because everything else is doing so well, finally! Patience is the key. I buy lots of plants from Atwoods, but you have to get them early in the season before they get beat up.

I live in the innercity metro as well, and have a very shady south-facing backyard surrounded by hackberries and elm. I even let the saplings grow somewhat because they attract the Elm sphinx, Walnut sphinx (on pecan saplings), and hackberry emperor butterflies.

In my backyard I grow hostas, ferns, Meadow Rue (thalictrum), clematis, asiatic lilies, iris, parsley, heuchera, aristolochia (pipevines for the Pipevine Swallowtails), campanulas, petasites, upright elephant ear, acanthus mollis, Solomon's Seal (variegated), astilbes, Jack in the Pulpits (ariseamas), hardy begonia, epimedium, hellebores, holly ferns, Rue, daylilies, arums, spigelia marilandica (hummers like it), lobelia cardinalis (another hummer fav), oakleaf hydrangea, itea virginica (Little Henry), Rhus aromatic (fragrant sumac), aesculus parviflora (bottlebrush buckeye), coneflowers, hyacinths, daffs, agastache foeniculum, and I'm sure I've forgotten something.

I have gotten plants from a variety of local sources like Precure, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, and Horn's. I've also ordered a lot of my native plants from online. Recently got some milkweed on ebay.

Susan

Thank you for the tips.....I forgot to mention I also have two rowdy golden retrievers, so I will be doing as much as possible in containers. I think the suggestions you all have given so far will help me get started... though I guess I wish there was an Atwood sin the area.
I will print out the names you all have given and keep them in my purse for my future treasure hunts!