Ooooh. I've been batteling those conditions for several years now! Tons of fun! (NOT)

I was able to build up a few raised beds to help improve soil quality and can grow quite a few things there now. Don't know if you can or want to do that where you are gardening.

I planted black eyed susans and echinaceas for bloom in early summer - they can handle the shade though they are smaller than those in the sun. Oxeye daisies do well and bloom in early spring before the new leaves have unfurled. Pretty little wood sorrel and wild violets are nice low growing plants for early spring, as are daffodils.

Another native plant to take a look at is the dainty-looking Dittany. This tough as nails perennial is often found growing at the base of oak trees. It forms a lovely round shrublet about 14" tall, has small green leaves that smell like oregano (it is in the same family), blooms are unremarkable but pretty in their own way and the foliage turns reddish in the fall. You can hardly kill it and you can actually make a lovely tea with the leaves or use them as an oregano substitute.
One plant that will grow, and bloom, anywhere and all summer long, is the naturalized Asian dayflower. Beware: this is considered an invasive plant not native to the Ozarks and once you have it in reasonably good soil, it is difficult to erradicate and spreads. But it is pretty and tough as nails.

I would suggest taking a walk through the woods and see what neat things are growing there. Please don't dig anything up (I'm a passionate conservationist) - they need to be left for the wild places, but they sure can get you thinking. And perhaps, especially this time of year, you can collect some seeds of things you like or look for them at a nursery that specializes in native plants.

Well, I've rambled.

All the best!
Jill

Mahonia aquifolium is another one I've seen recommended for dry shade quite a bit but don't have. My spice bush (lindera benzoin) has been more drought tolerant than I expected it to be so maybe that's one you could try also. The link below is not all natives but I thought it might list some different shrubs that the other link didn't.
My most drought tolerant perennials in shade are Solomon's seal (I have a variegated form but there is a native one), hellebores, heucheras, and liriope. Forgive me. I don't know what's native and what isn't.

Here is a link that might be useful: Drought tolerant shrubs

Well, I'm just green with jealousy that you have parsley-leaf hawthorn.

PP

Bigred, Parsley Haws are just wonderful. The fluted bark peels off from time to time to reveal fabulous coppery boomerang shapes. The flowers are nice when the dogwoods are blooming, but they stink if you get close. Fall color is nonexistant. I love the flatten shape they obtain under larger trees. I know that Mary Ann at Pine Ridge Gardens has some that are small enough to ship. That's about the only place I've ever seen them for sale. Pineridgegardens.com. Sorry for the ad, but she's got a great selection of natives that she will mailorder or you can pick up. She's outside of Russellville Arkansas.

Thanks for the link. I'll check her out.

PP

Thought you might like this site.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grow Native!