Kabby, if you want more stalwart entities, consider Gardenias, Crinums, Brugmansia, Hydrangea (where moist enough), Hypoestes (polka dot plant), Dianthus, roses, daylilies, Gladiolus, Iris, Plumbago, and butterflies love Lantana & butterfly bushes.
A few packs of Cosmos & Zinnia seeds can provide big, beautiful blooms. Sunflowers. A 6-pack of inexpensive Coleus is worth so much more in "wow" power. I have no luck trying to do those from seed. People either love or hate 4'o'clocks, so if you love 'em, 4'o'clocks. Fun to start from seed to see what you get.
Those Heucheras are SOOO gorgeous, I almost succumbed to one last weekend.