I highly recommend that you find and buy the book "Complete Shade Gardener".
Author's name is George Schenk, unsure of spelling of last name. Amazing
book - loaded with plant ideas, and excellent descriptions of those plants.

"Dawn" wrote in message
om...
About half of our new yard is under tall elm and oak trees. Although
the previous owner was fighting to keep grass growing under there we
are thinking of going with more natural plants and bushes.

I know azaleas and rhododendron grow naturally in the woods, any other
suggestions (we live in Zone 7)?

TIA,
Dawn