Hello Rafe,

Thank you for contacting Ask Extension. White dutch Clover is a great choice for both sunny and shady areas. I am not sure how much shade you get, but if it is dappled or at least 4 hours of sunlight, you should be able to grow clover. Clover will fix the nitrogen in your soil, so you will not need to fertilize it plus it is a great groundcover for pollinators. And does not need to be mowed except once or twice a year.

If you want other choices for this shady area, There is sweet woodruff (smells wonderful) and barrenwort, and both can handle growing among tree roots and are native. Bugleweed (Ajuga spp), lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis), pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) are also great choices, but can be aggressive if allowed. You might choose a plant such as lilyturf (Lirope spp.) which can be used to retain a slope, yet look like grass. All of these can be mowed in the fall and do not get taller than 8 inches. Green and gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) is a native and has pretty yellow flowers in the spring. 

I have included a few publications to help you out, and if you need more information, please contact us again. 

https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/files/Shady_lawn_alternatives.pdf

https://extension.umn.edu/weeds/dutch-white-clover