Those are all really good shade plantings, Susan!
Thanks for sharing them.

gardenersdetective said:Here is the cuphea in the shade. Does much better than I expected.

Love this little guy! What a perfect container for this plant.

gardenersdetective said:.

I wasn't too happy with the plants from Burpee and forwarded this pic so they could see the difference between their stock and the one I got from the farmers market. They replied and said they appear to have experienced transplant shock and with good root systems may well recover nicely. They looked like that before I transplanted them. Burpee did offer a refund. I'll send a new pic when they pick up and fill the pot.

Thanks Caroline and Marilyn & Chelle. The hummers like them too.

I love Dragon Wing Begonia and Coleus. Does well in my shaded patio.

webesemps said:Do coleus stand up in 80-90 degree heat? are there more heat tolerant shade coleus?

Hi Bev,

I got some coleus this June and these ones survived our heat wave, our temps then hitting 109F at its hottest and 100F ambient the rest of the day.
Of this 4, Fishnet Stocking is the one that does not like the heat, the rest took it okay.

I love Dragon Wing begonia, too.





I find that, in my yard, they do well in bright shade with a little direct sun, preferably morning sun. And some protection from the hottest afternoon sun.

Karen

The best annual for adding color to a shaded garden has got to be caladiums. They will add spectacular color and they do outstanding in the shade.

A nice assortment that you have there.
Can you keep them going all year ?

I do love having caladiums in the shade garden, but for a nice accent, I do not want to be without Blue Lobelia. I use them scattered about. When I take the laptop to the library, I will upload some pictures, as I have tried at home and it just doesn't go anywhere on my slow landline connection.

There are several types of lobelia, which ones do you grow?
I want to get the taller one which flowers in the fall.

Annuals for shade - Lobelia erinus
They highlight the silvery foliage beautwifully and they come into flower once the gentians, corydalis and Lithodora diffusa 'Grace Ward' are out of flower in the spring and early summer.

Now that the weather has cooled off, I notice a few lithodora flowers in bloom.

I like Lithodora, but must grow it as an annual here.

Didn't you ask for annuals for shade? I am confused...

I have always love Impatiens but did not buy any this year because of downy mildew disease. It is hard to beat these flowers for that wow factor in the shade garden. I also love the Fancy Leaved Caladiums, they don't seem to love me but I will try again, maybe more shade would be good. They are an annual for me, I wish I could grow them all year they are so colorful.

I bought a few New Guineas for my impatiens fix this year. Didn't grow any impatiens from seed.

Karen

Yes, it was annuals for shade that we were looking for!
Sorry, if I confused you with the Lithadora reference.
Lithadora works as an annual here.
The lobelia that I want is lobelia valida---I don't know whether it is annual or perennial? here?
I want it because it is supposed to be a good fall flowering plant.

What about Catharanthus- annual vinca plant?
The growers were growing this as a substitute for impatiens,--
because of that downy mildew problem with impatiens.
Do any of you grow it? I am going to try it from seeds this coming season.

The New Guineas do not get the mildew. I thought vinca was for full sun. I have always grown them in full sun and the inpatients in the shade. Other shade annuals that do not get downy mildew are begonia, cyclamen, fuchsia, perilla, torenia and viola/pansies, besides the Lobelia and caladiums which were already mentioned. So there is a lot out there and besides I think the New Guineas are even prettier.