With time Cyclamen hederifolium will make a ground cover in shade.
I agree about the Epimedium. And they are really drought tolerant in shade.
Ranunculus ficaria 'Coppernob' is a real beauty with it's very dark shiny leaves and orange/yellow blooms. If it doesn't get water in the summer is goes dormant until rains come again in late fall.
Some of the tall Sedum (no called Hylotelephium) such as Autumn Joy,
http://garden.org/plants/searc...
Most a really tough plants that will do well in many types of soil and are somewhat drought tolerant.
