Answer
What plants work in a shady garden?
Ferns, hostas, hydrangeas and woodland-edge perennials, matched to the type of shade.
In short
Plenty thrive in shade: ferns, hostas, hydrangeas and many woodland-edge perennials, chosen for the type of shade and the soil. The trick is matching the planting to the light you actually have rather than fighting it, which is part of a good planting plan.
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