Yes, Jacob's ladder is a part sun/part shade plant. "Dappled" shade may be the best way to describe it's needs. Think of the plants under the shade of an aspen tree, for example.  That will give you an idea of what the plants will tolerate in the way of shade and sun.
Is your north side in solid shade all day? What kinds of plants are you wanting to grow there, shrubs, perennials, ground covers or some of each?
Here is a link to a list of shrubs for Colorado:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07415.html
 There are some recommended for shade, but not many.
For ground covers, see this fact sheet:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07400.html
For perennials as well as links to other shade plant information, see this:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1108.html