How much room do you have? Salvia Minata does very well in shade. It will take up a little room or a lot and blooms pretty much all year. The hummers really like it. In reality there are a number of salvias that do well with shade.

If you have a big pot or more room the red firespike does very well in shade. It blooms in the fall through early winter.

I think it is surprising how many salvias will do well in at least filtered sun. Last winter I grew some seedlings and gave some to my sister. Referring to salvia lady-in-red I dont have any trees so no shade mostly sun but my sister has lots of trees so gets filtered sun and her lady-in-red plants get much bigger than mine in not so special soil so explain that I cant but it might work good for your area.

tom and steve... Thank you for the names of the salvias that do well for you- I will contact a nursery to see where I can hopefully get some started early. I have about 8x6 ft to use under my livingroom window. I am going to try to cut back some tree branches so I get more sun in there.. chainsaw, time to wake up! Thanks

I have swamp milkeed (Asclepias incarnata) that does well in partial shade. It just blooms a bit later than the plants in sun.

Martha

I've had great success with red impatiens.
Kim