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Tuberous Begonias. I know, they have been around a long time and they are not new, but the Non Stop begonias do get better each year. The rose shaped flowers that hang on the strong, fleshy stems provide a show like no other. What they lack in fragrance they make up for in their exotic, hollyhock-like flowers and plugged in colours.
Fibrous begonias. Troopers. They will not let you down in sun or part shade, they bloom all season long, the leaves are a lovely glossy green or bronze and they are inexpensive (like impatiens!). Make sure that you plant in well drained soil and put some diluted 20-20-20 on them from time to time to keep them growing at their optimum.
Angel Wing Begonias. They grow taller than the other begonias but they are great garden performers and container plants. Squeeze a couple of them into your window boxes or moss lined hanging baskets and you will have a rich show worthy of downtown Victoria, where they really know how to mix it up!!
Other colourful annual plants that thrive in the shade include dusty miller, browallia, coleus (look for King Kong for a giant of a winner).
Perennials that make great groundcovers in the shade include pachysandra (Japanese Spurge) hardy to zone 4, vinca periwinkle which is hardy to zone 3 and lily of the valley which is hardy to zone 2. Hard to miss with any one of these.
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