Hi Eric,

I can't help you yet, until I do some research, but I wanted to let you know I have the same predicament. I planted celosia, portulaca and vinca in my sunny spot. The portulacas kinda pooped out about a month ago, several vincas are now turning pale and dying (tho most look terrific). What a survivor! The celosias are still going gangbusters, even tho in the shade now. The salvias looked pretty bad all summer, but they are coming back now, growing nicely and looking healthy. I don't know if they will grow in the shade or not.

If I find anything out, I'll let you know...

Judy (outside of Phoenix)

My lantana (purple trailing) and rosemary on the north veside has done fine for over a dozen years. I also have volunteer false penstomens that bloom there every year or so in late winter/early spring. Aloes too.

I'd like to find a nice small hardy green for in between my flagstones on the north side too.

One year, I planted some primrose I picked up at the nursery. They did well, but i got them in the ground in early spring so did not get to enjoy them long. I haven't seen them in the stores this year, but if I do I will plant those. One nursery told me to try columbine. I am trying to get those to germinate now. I doubt they will get productive this year. Maybe next year.

The University of Arizona has a guide for planting annual flowers in the desert. It has planting dates, flowering dates, sun exposure, whether they attract pollinators, if they are edible and more.

It's on line at the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Flower Planting Guide for the Low Desert

Kathleen, I am surprised to hear the trailing lantana does well in deep shade. I have a lantana (not sure if it is trailing or not) -- a kind of orangy rainbow - that got full sun in summer and now deep shade...the leaves look OK but it isn't blooming much (could be the rabbits are nibbling the blooms).

Eric, I found a few more shade plants recommended on the Baker Nursery website: begonia (wax leaf) which is also recommended by the UA list, cyclamen, calla lily, delphinium, fox glove, impatiens, ornamental kale, nasturtium, plectranthies, primrose, statice (sea lavendar), draceana spikes and vinca major.

Does anyone grow calla lily? I saw one at Lowe's for about $25!! Are there small starter ones anywhere? I had a ton of them when I lived in SoCal...great for shade!

Eric,

I planted some primroses and begonias in my north flower bed last week. I also planted ONE ivy geranium and one ONE cyclamen just to see what happens. Time will tell.

Some guy walked by today, saw me cultivating the soil and told me I was 'nuts' to plant this time of year!! LOL

I finally got some primrose and cyclamens. I planted the cyclamens closest to the north facing wall. That way they will remain in the shade as long as possible. The primrose will be replaced with zinnias for the summer. The zinnias should shade the cyclamens.

Hey Eric,

How are your primroses and cyclamens doing?

Mine were going great guns until a herd of bunny rabbits devoured them over the course of a few days :((((

My begonias also looked good - but I did notice the green-leafed ones did better than the red-leafed ones.

Judy

I don't know if you are looking for tropical flowers or not, but I have had great luck with hibiscus in am sun/afternoon shade conditions on the north side of my house. I have also done well with calla lilies--takes a bit extra water and fertilizer, but my hibiscus is about 4'tall!