I would do hanging begonias. Lobelia/ivy would be good too. Portulaca really likes its sun, don't bother with that. I'm sure others will have better ideas.

Ooo, begonias with ivy trailing down would look lovely in there! Impatiens would look good too.

Begonias, impatiens, lobelia and the small type of fuchsias. I don't think it sounds like petunias would get enough sun there. Small marigolds maybe.

Sierra

Perfect! Thanks for the suggestions. At least I know now that I don't have to take it down.

I've got lots of impatiens growing already too. Maybe a begonia in one and an impatien in the other and both with some ivy in there...

Ang

I agree with the begonia - lovely in the shade. :) I had ivy with one of mine last year too. Impatiens is also great, and since it doesn't trail so much you could put lobelia with it. I'd suggest fuchsia but i have no luck with them - which makes me mad because they're so pretty!

Ohhh I can sure picture it now! Can't wait to plant it up now... but I better wait a bit yet.

I tried fuchsia one time and my "little darlings" tried to "help" me and picked off every bud...... can you say "steaming mad"???? LOL On one hand mad and on the other hand trying to keep my cool because they REALLY tried to be helpful. One of these days I may try again because you're right they are GORGEOUS!

Ang

Ang, I know you already have plans for this spot. But can I tell you what I do. I have a small deck on top of my bigger deck on the north side of the house. It gets early morning sun and later evening sun. I put Godetia and Lobelia in the pots there. The show is fantastic and they don't mind going a little dry. Plus a bonus for a prairie girl, is that they can tolerate some frost. I've also tried Nemesia. Which blooms well in shade, but this plant can't take any frost.
I tend to plant things that can tolerate cold nights.

Shelley

Thanks for the ideas Shelley... no plans set in stone yet! ;^) It's always good to know what plants can take a bit of frost too.

Ang

I imagine the overhang area helps protect from frost - just a bit. Anyways, I second (or third or fourth) the idea of a begonia, especially one like dragon wing or a hanging pendula tuberous begonia.

No matter what you plant it likely will get pot bound, and once it does need watering every day, but most pots are like that.

The area in question sounds like my front steps, under an overhang and shaded in part by a big spruce tree. I tried a wave petunia and geranium and both did alright. The wave petunia dried out and weeped alot though (my fault) and had blooms but didn't spread like it might in full sun. The geranium looked sort of small and went through a few weeks where it didn't have one bloom.

glen

Cool! I was thinking of the dragon wing begonia and wondering if that would be a good choice... well now I know!

Yeah, remembering to water the pots everyday sure does help... especially during heat waves...LOL. In the summer I try to get out there right after DH leaves for work and all the kids are still sleeping so I know I can get the job done without too many interuptions!

Ang

Hey Ang, I thought of another one... if you have a Wandering Jew (so politically incorrect, sorry!), you could put cuttings of that in too. The purple is nice and they grow fast.

That would be great Gil! I'll have to keep an eye out for one. My mom used to have one and I always loved how purple it was.