I'm currently madly in love with kirengeshoma -- I bought some after reading the thread (below) in the perennials forum. One has been in the ground only a week and is blooming beautifully. The other is a couple of weeks older, and is also in full bloom. Take a look at these photos!

Pat

Here is a link that might be useful: kirengeshoma photos

A recent issue of Fine Gardening Magazine featured annuals to add to shaded perennial beds. They showed nicotiana sylvestris (the tall white-flowered type) planted as a backdrop to hostas and such. It was simply stunning in the photo. I grew them in my sunny cottage garden in the front yard this summer and fell in love with these plants. The fragrance is heavenly. I'm definitely adding some to my shade garden next year! They are easy to grow from seed, which you can find nearly anywhere flower seeds are sold. My plants grew about 3-4 ft. tall, but were narrow so fit into a bed well. Molly

Hydrangeas, azaleas, or rhododendrons would be great.

I know this is late coming to you, but what about a lobelia-- cardinal flower(deep red, likes partial shade and moist well drained soil) or great blue lobelia( takes more shade,
likes moist, well drained soil andd has spikes of blue flowers up to 4 feet?)

digger b

Camellia, which are evergreen would be nice.

Japanese toad lily grows to 2.5'-3' in dappled to deep shade in my yard. Spends the summer looking like plain green fern fronds, but come Labor Day each 'frond' puts out tiny flower buds up and down the stems. Those little buds turn into beautiful, small orchid-like flowers that last three weeks to a month or more. Very nice late-bloomer.

culvers root (veronicastrum virginicum) tall plant (4 to 5') with striking white candelabra like flowers - very beautiful - grows well in shade.

How about aconitum - monkshood? It gets around four feet tall, depending on which one you choose, and you can also choose some for later season blooms.

:)
Dee

Tricyrtis-aka toad lilies better grown near the walking patch since flowers are small and better appreciated from close view.
I join above post about some shrubs- frond of the house has to have something to show in fall- spring-winter as well.
Viburnums, fothergila, acers, conifers-there is planty to choose from

I have Goat's Beard (4-5') and Cimifuga (6-7')in shade. The Cimifuga is also very fragrant! I also have a good size clump of garden phlox that bloom nicely in light but complete shade. Astilbe Cattlyea (sp) is a 4' astilbe with great large pink blooms. Chelone (Turtlehead) gets about 3'. I also have a Dappled Willow Bush in mostly shade that draws lots of attention from visitors. I don't have but will try this year...Kerria -a shrub that has a long bloom time in shade with yellow flowers, single or double. A not real tall but nice geranium for shade is Samobar, faily upright, about 2' variegated with maroon flowers. Have fun!