I'm starting to think about fall/winter - and, yes, its probably late for that. My front yard is north-facing and during spring/summer is in mostly full sun. By the second week of October it will be going into full shade mode, and I MEAN Full Shade. Not one beam of sunlight will reach that area until April. So the summer garden out there now will have to be broken down and moved and I have not got a clue what to do with it during the shade time. I would ask on the Shade Gardening Forum, but there I have to deal with folks who don't understand a non-frost world. The 12 month gardening season seems to confuse a lot of people. Well, it confuses me and I live in it. Click for full view. Thanks for any suggestions.

I would try to grow Brunnera macrophylla, it likes the cool shady corner, and grows cute blue blooms in Spring.

I wanted to suggest some cold tolerant succulents, but I remember you said before you don't prefer them.

Brunnera - ok I'll try that. I know aucuba japonica will make it in that much shade, but everybody's got them, which makes sense for anybody with a north facing house. Thanks, tarev.

Check this out-I think it would look great against the grey house, Annie says it blooms all winter! Ruellia macrantha “Christmas Pride”

http://www.anniesannuals.com/p...

That would be great, Pistil. Problem is there's no am sun in that area for six months. But I'd love to have it.

If it is not rainy by then, it would be fun to grow clivia in your area Carol, they just need shade and cool dry temps during winter time, and you might just get beautiful blooms too in late winter to early Spring.

Oh, yeah, clivia. It grows all over around here - even planted right down in the ground. That definitely goes on the list - thanks, tarev.

Carol, I have more orange ones than I need, if you're interested in clivia.

Thanks - I won't have enough shade for them until late September. Then by next spring I'll have the porch rearranged for better summer storage of shade plants. Can you hang on to them that long?

I do wish I can bring my Clivias outdoors , it will hate the rain/cold tandem and it will be snail/slug meal. Then during the dry months, it will get too toasted dry and be grasshopper meal..so it just stays indoors here in my area, safer that way. Just glad it grows nicely indoors by our north facing windows.

Sure can.

Carol - I'll get to work.

You can also try scheffleras. I would get the variegated ones, so it adds some color with all the green plants. They can stay outdoors year round in our Cali weather.

When I read the info on Annie's website about, the Ruellia, with the / between AM Sun/Shade, I think it means either morning sun OR shade.
I just tried the Search function, entering "Shade" and it does come up on the list. Of course, I havenever grown this, just ogled it in the catalog!

Sunset says full sun or light shade for Ruellia

Carol, Have you tried Sunset plant finder? You can check it on line at Sunset.com/plantfinder. There isn't many choices for deep shade, but you might find something that appeals to you.

I've found a few things, just looking to add to the list for more choices.

Another good place for ideas http://www.anniesannuals.com/p...

Oh, the I second the Clivia idea. Love love them. There are some miniature sun tolerant Hosta varieties now. Lots of Draceana varieties would look nice potted outside. I envy the climate you are growing in, CarolHB!

Of couse, right now I'm scrambling to find enough partial shade for the columbines and heucheras. Kinda like the fashion industry - you have to plan at least two seasons ahead. I may be too "right now" to deal with this on any kind of organized basis.