I have a red astilbe 'Fanal' that looked good the 2nd year. I tried coleus, but was not satified with it. It is really partial shade, but the only place I could use. There is a red stemed, pinkish flowered astilbe I might use. I could throw in some orange, perhaps. I was looking at an ad for 'cardinal flower' which seems to be listed as taking shade pretty well. bought my husband a garden fork for christmas as he had broken the handle on his old onw. A lot of digging & compost spreading should be done.
