Thanks everyone! I think it might be the leatherwood. I have a second photo of the berries, where it shows the twig it is growing on better. The leaves are alternate. I think my plant looks a lot like this picture I found of a leatherwood, . What do you think?

I'll answer Prairiemoon's original question, though like George, I have a tough time choosing favorites for my part shade (or any other ) plants. I have evergreen Rhodies Roseum Elegans, PJM, PJM Checkmate (short), and Olga Mezzit (sp?), Nova Zembla, and a white chinoides(?). I have several deciduous rhodies that turn pretty colors in the fall as well as having late spring to summer flowers: R. Golden showers, Luce's Double, and Narcissiflora. I have Annabelle and "Endless Summer" hydrangeas and Fothergilla "Mt. Airy." I have a vernal witchhazel and several viburnums: Blue Muffin I haven't made my mind up on, viburnum nudum (cassinoides) and dentatum grow wild and are large but lovely shrubs. Cornus alternifolia is a small tree or large shrub and is a wonderful 4 season plant with flowers, berries, fall color and great branch structure. Highbush blueberry grows wild along the edge of my woods in half-day sun with nice spring flowers and fall color. I have a spirea that blooms fine in bright more-than-half-day shade, though I don't remember the variety (about 3.5 feet high with pink flowers.) My Ruby Spice clethra has done well in full shade to full sun and from normal to very wet conditions in regular soil to damp sandy soil. Another one that likes it wet and doesn't mind some shade is deciduous Rododendron viscosum, swamp rhododendron.

Are you stuck on blueberries? Native huckleberries (Gaylussacia baccata, G. brachycera) can take more shade. Some of them look, and taste, similar to blueberries. Several other berrying shrubs also do well in partial shade, too: Winterberries, (they just won't get as big as those in sun) Mapleleaf Viburnum, Leatherwood (Dirca palustris), Red elderberry (Sambucus pubens), Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa), Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), and Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp), also edible. [St. Lawrence carries several shrub-sized ones.] I've always planted potted shrubs. Growing them from seed sounds like an interesting project. If you have luck with the blueberry seeds, let us know.

This is my first year with leatherwood, but I would echo some of the above. I believe the plant comes from shady, moist, woodland conditions, and it being relatively new to garden settings, there aren't any cultivars selected for drought-resistance, etc. My understanding from Cullina's book is that it likes shade (leaves bleach in stong sun) and consistent moisture, but not standing water. Growth is about 6 inches in all directions per year. I noticed when planting my container-grown plant that almost all of the roots were near the surface, so it doesn't look like a deeply-rooted species. I think you're right to go with the drip irrigation to try to maintain more consistent moisture, esp during hot weather. good luck!