Fuchsias are gorgeous shade plants but they won't make it in Florida, they melt in the heat.

Frenchy21 said: How about fuchsias?

We can't grow fuchsias in Florida. Its too hot, they melt. They have marketed a single variety here that they claim will endure the heat but, like the single hosta they have tried to get people to invest in, neither really will take the heat here

Coleus are grown as annuals here, just re-plant your pots.
If cold weather is coming, bring the pots in if you can.
Some gardeners here take cuttings in the fall, keep them indoors in water over the winter, and restart them in the spring. They root very easily from cuttings.
Sounds like you really liked the coleus, nothing wrong with continuing with them.

I would be surprised if the Coleus doesn't grow back. That has happened a few time here in very protected spots. If the crown didn't freeze, it/they should be OK.

I've had good luck with big pots of spider plants in shade underneath trees:


Also Swedish Ivy:

Blue Spruce Sedum is always happy in my shady spots:

Hydrangeas. Can't beat them for color and many different sizes. Should do well in adequately sizes containers. they want good drainage and love water just don't drown them. and welcome to NGA! Where are you located?

@Petabread have you made any choices yet?

@purpleinopp I did! Mammie croton, camellia, and red sister ti plant.

Those are beautiful plants! I'm sure you will enjoy them well.

Just to keep in mind, the camellia will have to be potted up into a larger container every two or three years depending on your climate and how fast it grows.

ardesia said: Just to keep in mind, the camellia will have to be potted up into a larger container every two or three years depending on your climate and how fast it grows.

Thanks for the advice! It's a rather decent sized pot I have it in now. Maybe mediumish. I'm hoping to sell my townhome sooner than later so I can have some land. (Townhome HOA doesn't allow me to plant in-ground) The thing is I don't know that if plants are left in pots for way too long if they just stop growing if you plant them in the ground. For example I am not sure if I will be moving in 6 months or 2 years. So if I wait that long to re-plant the camellia for instance, I have no clue if by then it won't want to grow anymore since it's been pot-bound for so long.

I don't think two years or even three would be a problem. I think you are smart to collect and spend your time and money now on shrubs that will eventually go in the ground at your own home.

I had balloon flowers in a 21" huge pot in full shade in a bed with 4 cedar elms canopies overhead last year. They bloomed nicely last year and the year before. They die back in winter and come back each spring off their roots. I planted some more in four more huge pots out front last month and they're already pushed out of the dirt and 3"-5" tall. These, too, are shaded by overhead tree canopy and only get dappled sun for maybe 1 hour a day, late afternoon. They tolerate Texas summer heat and total shade yet still bloom modestly for me. Mine are the purple color. The new ones I just planted are supposed to be a mix of the white, pink, blue and purple. Can't wait for them to start blooming.

Interersting! I had that as a full sun plant when I lived in OH.