ellen 
As the trees in my yard get older, they create more shade. Being fair skinned and having an old dog, we both appreciate the shade to cool off on hot days. Dappled shade is a different shade than the brick building shade most city dwellers experience. Surprisingly, a few plants are really enjoying this patchy light.
- Hibiscus
- Yarrow
- Rose
- Daylily
- Foxglove
- Shasta Daisy
All seem to be blooming and thriving. It is time though to add a few more appropriate dappled shade perennials.
Perennials by height:
High
- Ligularia (the rocket)
- Meadow Rue
- Climbing Rose
- Ostrich Fern
Medium
- Astilbe
- Bleeding Heart
- Columbine
- Echinacea
Low
- Hen and Chicks
- Love in a Mist (reseeds and tends to be shorter in lower light)
- Forget Me Nots
- Hosta
Am delighted by your blog. I am wonderfully fortunate to be tucked into a corner of the forest preserve, but I must search for plants which are shade loving and highly deer resistant (not complaining, just explaining.) In the meantime, I’m trying to identify the indigenous flora that have already survived deer!
That’s an amazing place to be. If I had your space and it was part/dappled shade, for height, I would go with Solomon Seal (there’s a variegated leaf one that is nice), Phlox, Aster, Goldenrod, and climbing Hydrangea. Medium plants: Columbine, Chickweed, Verbena, and Geraniums. Low: shade annuals, wild ginger, and violets!
If you are pure shade, then look into varying ferns, hostas, astilbe, and then try something from the above list if there are spots with a little light.
Good place to look for shade natives! http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/woodland_index.htm
Good luck!