I was going to recommend Kerria Japonica 'Picta' as well. I just got one this year for a nearly full shade area (2-3 hours morning sun) and I love it. I think it would be just as pretty in full shade. And it suckers so it should fill out a good size fairly quickly. I couldn't believe I had so many suckers first year. Could be due to soil amendments I added. Another hydrangea possibility is H. Paniculata 'Limelight'. The leaves are bright lime green. whiteish flowers, June to now. For an evergreen, try Chamaecyperis 'Gold Mop'. I moved my gold mop from sun to shade and I much prefer the more subdued chartreuse color in shade than the gold in sun. A perennial that thinks it is a shrub, is Caryopteris 'Snow Fairy'. I had mine in sun and it was so bright white, it was distracting (well, I might be exaggerating a tad...). I moved it to shade and it is just perfect! I also have a small Jap Maple in my shade border to add some color. I plan to add some puple coral bells later to complement the JM.

Here in Maryland, I can't plant red twig dogwood because the DEER eat it. Same for redbud, which would have been an alternative. I do have Nandina doing well in part shade, as well as skimmia and cherry laurel Otto Luyken. Ferns are always appropriate. Hydrangea is nice, but I'm not sure about really dense shade. There are variegated hydrangeas which would look nice there. How about viburnum? I have several, and the deer don't bother them. Florrie

All ribes family, rasperry and blackberry....American blueberries need more sun, but i think that could give some fruit....obviously the production will be reduced compared to an half-day direct sun position.... Try also Paw Paw, normally it grows in the underwood.... P.s. Also Schisandra chinensis likes shady position

Ken - ah yes, partial sun at my house is unfortunately about 4 ish hours of afternoon sun. The east facing parts of our property are all covered in shade due to some seriously impressive white pines. WOW Cotoneaster looks gorgeous! Thanks for the suggestions everyone. To answer the question "Why berries", mainly because they're pretty and I have almost no berries on my property haha. I do however have lots of empty space in front of my house (for now). There's a little tree just on the edge of my property that has started putting out little red berries, I never noticed it in prior years but it's really beautiful. I can see it out my window when I have my coffee in the morning and it's very calming to look at. gardengal - ah yes that makes sense. It's funny as much as other people seem to love witchhazel I am not a fan. Or at the very least I'm not a fan of having them in the specific places they reside on my property. They tend to get other vines growing in them and have runners (unless it's some other plant making runners). They get this gross fungus as well and take up valuable space that I could use for other trees/shrubs in my tiny shade garden. I am trying to convince my husband to let me rent a chainsaw and take them down. I wish I could just dig them up and give them away but they're massive (and also kind diseased looking). roxanna - thank you I'll look into the Berry Poppins! I recently got China Girls and a China Boy. They seem to have made themselves comfortable and doing well. deanna - wow that black cohosh is really beautiful! Such an interesting shape and nice texture. I'll have to see where around my neck of the woods I can find it