In Texas, the wind whips ornamental potato vines in hanging baskets (the stems that hang down from the basket) and tears the leaves up or tears them off and they look awful. Here they are best grown on the ground.

Torenia is pretty. Mimulus also - both are good shade plants.

I love Browallia for part-shade. New Guinea impatiens are smashing in part-shade, gives a much different look than traditional impatiens, and there are different foliage patterns with the N.G. impatiens, too, to spark up the shade garden.

In terms of foliage plants, coleus and caladium are great choices.

Heliotrope does well, too, in part-shade, but leaning towards the sunny side of part-shade (i.e. not too much shade).

I had sweet potato vines in part shade one year, and they did "eh" - they didn't get nearly as lush as when grown in full sun.

Thanks everyone! I forgot all about the Torenia, Coleus and N.G. Impatiens. This is going to be a hard decision now! I could always mix them all together.

Jen

You are in a cooler climate, but in zone 8 we depend on coleus and caladiums for our main shade or part-shade color.
Happiness Farms in Florida are a wonderful source of caladiums bulbs.