"Apart from an undrained swamp, no planting problem can be more difficult than that of dry soil in a shady place."
  -Graham Stuart Thomas

Following is a list of plants that should perform well in dry shade. These are plants that can tolerate the dim, dry conditions under tall trees or hedges or under the eaves next to north-facing walls, or that can compete effectively with tree roots.

Before planting in dry shade, try to improve your soil's water-holding capacity by adding organic matter such as compost, leaf mold, manure, coconut coir, etc. Don't expect to achieve fantastic lushness; most of the plants will tolerate, not necessarily thrive, in dry shade and will probably flower and fruit more sparingly.

Sources:
Coate, B. Water Conserving Plants & Landscapes for the Bay Area. East Bay Municipal Utility District, 1990.

Ferguson, Nicola. Right Plant, Pight Place. New York: Summit Books, 1984.

Gardening With Shade. Menlo Park, CA: Lane Publishing Co.

Hagen, B., Coate, B., & Oldham, K. Compatible Plants Under and Around Oaks. Sacramento: California Oak Foundation, 1991.

Olbrich, Marshall. Plants for Dry Shade. Berkeley, CA: Spring 1983.

Perry, Bob. Landscape Plants for Western Regions. Claremont, CA: Land Design Publishing, 1992.

Taylor's Guide to Water-Saving Gardening. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1990.

Thomas, Graham Stuart. Perennial Garden Plants, 3rd edition. London: J.M. Dent & Sons, Ltd, 1990.