Thank you, I do have a couple of these and as they're rather tall they are at the back. They do flower OK though. I need something towards the front of the border, not too tall or invasive really. My penstemons refuse to flower though, so they will have to be moved.
I like Hostas and Brunneras for the shape and colour of their leaves, but they flower too. There are several perennial geraniums that do well in shade.
There's loads depending on how big an area you're talking about. It'll also depend on your soil/climate etc Pachysandra, Heucheras, Hellebores, prostrate Gaultherias, Ajuga, Epimediums, Campanulas, Iberis [perennial candytuft] Liatris, Pasqueflowers, and many Saxifrages - urbium for example, as well as the ones already mentioned. Loads of bulbs are happy in shade too, and are good interspersed with the perennials.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
As said, lots of geraniums would be happy, I would try Geranium 'Anne Thompson', especially if you like perennials with a long flowering period. Eurybia divaricata and Eurybia x herveyi are really good compact 'asters', they start a bit earlier than most asters and go on and on. No mildew, shade tolerant and modest in size.
I have Lythrum salicaria 'Blush' in a North facing border which bloomed reliably for a second year last year. Also Campanula lactiflora 'Loddon Anna', digitalis grandiflora and digitalis mertonensis. And I have Brunnera macrophylla Betty Bowring there too (though the leaves do get very big). In another N-E facing corner I have Persicaria Red Dragon (for its foliage rather than flowers). None of these are evergreen.
Talking of Persicaria, this is ours in a NW aspect. This one is called 'Darjeeling Red'. Yes it will spread if you let it - ours obviously has - but it is easy to keep in check if you want to.
Every now and then I like to do as I'm told, just to confuse people
patricia58
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Oops. Just noticed compact. They're not.
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/the-best-shade-loving-plants/
Pachysandra, Heucheras, Hellebores, prostrate Gaultherias, Ajuga, Epimediums, Campanulas, Iberis [perennial candytuft] Liatris, Pasqueflowers, and many Saxifrages - urbium for example, as well as the ones already mentioned.
Loads of bulbs are happy in shade too, and are good interspersed with the perennials.
In another N-E facing corner I have Persicaria Red Dragon (for its foliage rather than flowers). None of these are evergreen.