1) I think you need some matching mounding shapes on the opposite corner by that cone shaped conifer. 2) I have had plain old-fashioned annabelle hydrangeas growing in such a space. Michael Dirr, the shrub guru, claims he's seen them growing in very dark dry shade, so I tried it in a bad spot. Their form was open-ish rather than dense and full, flowers were sparse, but they were cheap and green & filled up the hole very nicely with a different texture. They add a bit of loose height to a naturalistic grouping of hosta, ferns, variegated Solomon's Seal, a carex for linear shape, all over a base of plain green sedum. The carex and sedum stay green all winter for me, with the hydrangea flower heads persisting above. My planting is very informal...a sheared yew and one of the larger hosta, or a mass of a medium-sized one, would give a more tailored look if that is your preference. Pachysandra or epimedium would also offer a tailored evergreen groundcover, even if originally in just a single patch in your white gravel while you wait for them to grow enough to spread further. Oh, and you could put a bright vase shaped hosta in your urn beside your door, if you want to repeat that shape and integrate the urn. But do trouble to shop a proper nursery to choose from the 100's of varieties of hosta. The hosta board here would be able to suggest a vendor in your area who has a display garden, and there are excellent online hosta specialists who mail order very fine plants, but I strongly recommend against buying hosta from the big boxes, though I think they're fine for simplest hydrangeas or ordinary yews. Hosta have some disease issues being spread by cheapo irreputable vendors, and you want strong plants that haven't been prematurely forced into weak growth.

I had to make a choice Monday so I chose Azalea. (The gardener planted it in the pot.) It might get a wee bit of morning sun filtering through lattice, but it's mostly shaded on the front porch. How often should it be watered at first?

Japanese spurge, hostas, Virginia bluebells (also called Mary and Joseph) Solomon's Seal, Cranesbill geranium. I have a lot of shade, and all of these do well. Also, daylilies can withstand quite a lot of shade and still bloom, if they get a few hours of sun. I have nowhere near 6 hours in any area, but they bloom consistently.

There are literally hundreds of plants - perennials, groundcovers, shrubs and small trees - that will thrive in shade and most will bloom as well. Most of my garden is in the shade. But we need to know where you live to make suitable suggestions. And please describe the shade for us....is it filtered shade from large surrounding trees? Heavy shade directly under a big tree canopy? Partial shade at times, perhaps from a large nearby structure? And as laceyvail notes, clay is not really a drawback, except when considering drainage issues. Does the area stay wet for long periods or does the ground seem to drain reasonably well?