Question
I have a big beautiful Maple tree in my front yard, and have trouble finding
perennials that like the shade and the clay that can survive Minnesota zone
3/4 and those thick tiny Maple roots at the surface.  The only things that
really seem to thrive are hosta, but I have enough of those.  All the ajuga
groundcover died out, the lamium, dicentra, and heuchera are living but no
happy.  I am also happy with some greater woodrush and Japanese forest
grass, but they are only 1 year in the spot.  

Any suggestions for color and flower and height would wonderful!
Thank you,
Pamela.

Answer
Hi Pamela,
Thanx for your question.  This is a hard row to hoe because trees suck up so much moisture and nutrients leaving little if any for other plants.  I have shade plants underneath a pin oak tree in my front yard.  

Here's a shade plant listing for Zone 3
http://northernshade.ca/plant-list/
Here's a shade plant listing for Zone 4
http://www.plantideas.com/shade/zone4.html

I hope this helps.
Tom