shrub suggestions welcomed

Zone 8 partial, dry shade (6 hours sun in summer/ 4 hours Winter sun) ammended clay soil (Prominent location-first thing you see when you open the front door entering the house).
Looking for a summer flowering shrub for the above conditions;

Have considered the following:
Abelia and Salvia are my front runners right now- no experience growing them....how about you all?

Hydrangea-don't like its water requirements in the summer.
Plumbago-probably not enough sun to provide good flowering
Camellia japonica-blooms a bit late for this spot
Azalea-too early
Roses-too stick-like in winter for this spot.

All suggestions appreciated.

Plenty of salvias will do well in those conditions, and they have all been extremely easy growers for me.

Thanks for the quick response. Salvias have a really nice form and flower; I especially like the looks of the Salvia greggi cherry sage 'San Takao' (from pictures) but haven't seen one.

Collincountytx, Salvias are truly excellent, especially the native one.
If you want to consider evergreens check out this thread.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/578301/
Josephine.

Thanks, almost committed to Salvia. Any suggestions on who has quality Salvias? What time of year do they start selling? My nearest landmark is Dallas Tollway and George Bush (Addison Airport/Galleria area).

Hello, I am probably too late, but one nursery I really like is Redenta's Garden, located at 2001 Skillman St. Dallas Tx phone---217-823-9421.
I hope that helps, I really don't know haw close that is to you.
Josephine.

Thanks for all the help frostweed and maggiemoo. Not too late. Spent the am pumping water out of my overfilled pool. We got so much rain overnight, that my pool spilled over into one of the poolside beds (popular early 90s zero lot backyard design). Of course, I had planted some herb seeds into that bed about a month ago. Now I will spend the spring wondering where seedlings will pop up. Just another gardening disaster to add to my list. Will probably start looking at shrubs for the above mentioned spot in a week or two. Thanks again.

Oh, how sad that your herb seeds got washed away. I guess looking for where they'll pop up could always be looked at as an adventure? (Don't hit me, lol!)

Picked up some rose pink Salvias at Calloway's yesterday. Also found a nice plumbago for a sunnier spot. Calloway's just got a huge shipment in this week (store was packed with shrubs, vines, trees, etc.) What happens to the herb bed will be a mystery.

Thanks for all the help.