I live in a dry climate, and need some ideas for shrubs (2' tall or so) or perennials that will make a nice backdrop for a new flower bed that is mostly in the shade. Things that get viney are okay too as I can train them up the porch, but they must endure mostly shade, and dryish soil (even with water my soil dries out very quickly). Something that stays green much of the year would be nice too (but not essential).

Does anyone here grow such a plant/s? My low temps get into the twenties in the winter. My highs get over 100 for most of the summer.

Wow, Mulchy, that's a hard one. Dry shade, freezing temps. That eliminates the plants I use in such situations. But I'll bet there are some CA natives that could handle it. Why don't you look in the Sunset Western Garden Book for ideas? If you don't own it (but everyone in CA should!) it's likely to to be available at the library.

The tall sedums would do okay in that situation...they don't mind dry if there's shade. Dianthus also do okay in dry if theres a bit of shade. Penstemmons do remarkably well in part shade (four hours of sun seems to be enough for them). Rain lillies do great, though they are ephemerals. Hardy Manzanitas do fine in shade where it is hot, hedgenettle does well, sun or shade, and so does the ornamental catnips and the ornamental comfrey and fennel. There's a new one out called zizophora or mint bush that should do well for you in that situation, as well. For larger plants, how about caryopteris, agastache, and a tall artemesia? Highcountry gardens has a couple of hesperaleoes which tolerate shade and cold just fine here in zone 6

My shade shrubs are doing great in our dry, cold climate. I particularly love my oregon grape - it is a lovely shade of green and fades to red. The boxwood and holly require more water, but may do okay if you amend the soil where you plant them. All three of these have year-round foliage. One thing we have done is install a drip irrigation system for all of our shrubs. It saves you time watering, is not very conspicuous, is cost effective if you install it yourself, and best of all it conserves water.

I thank you all for the suggestions. I do have a Sunset WGB and I'll look those plants up. And I do have drips, so the slow watering is taken care of. Drips are what let me garden here. Just wanted ideas so I can pinpoint some plants in the big book.

I have ordered from High CG before, the plants arrived in great shape, but still (after 2 years in the ground) don't look like much of anything. So I don't think I want to order from them anymore, as the plants aren't quite right for my climate.

The spot where I want to plant gets only a couple hours of morning sun, then dappled light, then pure shade from 11am on.

I always give my perennials 3 years before I move or pitch them.There is an old saying,the 1st year they sleep,the 2nd year they creap,the 3rd year they leap.
I've found this to be true in most perennials.
Good luck!

I'm not sure about your zone 8 (ours is hot/humid/rainy), but in ours, sage and rosemary would work well, and so would wormwood. All of these have done pretty well in lots of shade for me down here, (and sometimes longish dry spells), but they only are in heavy shade during the hottest parts of the summer, which probably works just fine for them. My sprial gingers also did well, but did need a bit of water when they looked droopy.

Had you considered ammending your flower beds with coir or peat for water retention and to increase your organic matter?

I don't know about the cold temps, but several salvias do just fine in shade, in fact some even prefer it. One that comes to mind is Chiapensis (aka Chiapas Sage). It's a bright pink velvety flower, and gets in the 3 x 3 foot range. They bloom near year-round for me and hummingbirds love them. I have several in sun and shade, one even buddying up to a hydrangea. Pineapple sage (bright red flower) is another one that seems to be happy just bout everywhere. The leaves smell like pineapple when you crush them and can be dried and used in herbal teas.

What about a rambing rose? Many of the old-fashioned varieties are shade-tolerant, believe it or not. I think the rule of thumb is the fewer petals the flower bears, the more shade it can thrive in.