Can't grow them here in Texas, too hot and dry, but in a rainy place they might work. They don't need any trimming, (care) Might freeze back in winter, if it freezes there, but sometimes will come back, if freeze light.

after a freeze. I live in Colorado, and before that, Massachusetts. They die back every year but reemerge every spring, coming up twice the size they were before.

Coleus has colorful leaves and also does well in shade.

For a Florida climate, look into Clivia miniata (Kruger lily). The bulbs are expensive, but the plants are very large and splashy.

I have a shade garden in my Maryland back yard, but doubt that any of the plats would work in your climate.

I discovered the mandevilla plant a few years ago. I buy a new one each summer for my patio in Colorado but it can be brought inside in the winter; in Florida it should do well all year. It comes from the mountains of South America, grows in long trailing vines which you can twine around your iron fence. Lovely red or pink flowers which continue all season here and attract hummingbirds. You can get a low smaller one but if you want a vine get a tall one, about 4 or 5 feet. I get mine at Safeway! Go online for more info.

I now use containers and hanging basket stands in those areas, and I move them in an out of the shade on a rotation occasionally so that they get some sun before they get leggy. Since they can be moved easily, I can give them what they need, which is more sun. The only problem with container gardening is that they often need more watering, so if you don't have rain for a while, they may not survive if you can't water them and it gets really dry.

I love the idea of the colorful leaf type plants, so I'll look and see if Lowes has any Coleus. I'm going to look at Begonias as well, so thanks for that.

Also, since I live in Florida, I am going to look at Caladiums, as they are similar to Coleus and, as it turns out, 98% of the Caladium production in the US comes from Lake Placed, FL!


In the second pic of my OP, you can see part of another bed along the house at the right of the pic that I want to fill in as well, so I have room for variety.

Thanks for the great ideas, and I'll post pics of the bed when I get it settled in.

Rhododendrons and hostas in my shady north side.

so I am going to head that way - re: the flower route as well as the colorful leaf route.

But hell, this shit ain't cheap!

Of course, I, like so many Americans, am lookiing for instant gratification.

$50.00 later at the Lowes, and I have two flats of 8 plants each of Coleus and 4 small potted Calladiums!

I looked at bulbs and they weren't really that much cheaper than the potted plants, considering I want the color NOW!! (lol)

But I do have a lot of room really, and so I am going to do something like your suggestions as well as Begonias.


Thanks!

Now, that I've figured out how to post pictures I'm going to try to share a picture or two.

Are you using Photobucket?

Super easy, and if you are circumspect as you load photos on it, it's easy to separate them into albums (plants, Gardens, Food, Belly button lint samples, etc!)


I have not been so circumspect and now have dozens of duplicates in one large album!

But photobucket works great.

spread out, as they will fill in.

here are a couple of lists for you.
http://www.naturehills.com/perennials/full-shade-perennials

Astibiles are lovely and I can never get them to grow because of the intense shade they need.

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/full-part-shade-perennials.html?refine.current=&refine.refinements=price+new_product+blooms+color+sunshine_shade+height_code+moist+fragrance+pot_size+zone+options&reset=&pagenumber=&itemsperpage=1000&refine.blooms=&refine.color=&refine.sunshine_shade=&refine.height_code=&refine.moist=&refine.fragrance=&refine.zone=&refine.options=