Gingers are good for shade here in Fl, butterfly ginger gets 3" tall and will spread nicely for you. I think another is dancing girl that gets bushy but not tall.

I am also trying to plan a shade garden and I would love to put in some gingers. I also want some plants that won't go dormant in the winter so it doesn't become a big brown patch when it gets cold! Any suggestions?

Shell gingers and false cardamom might die back a bit with no overhead protection in harsh winters, but if theres a tree overhead they'll do fine. Mondo grass and liriope are nice fillers too.

What about next to a house with no trees overhead but a bit of overhang?

Don't know about Jacksonville weather, but here in borderline 9b/10a landscape begonias do great. They were one of the things that fared the best in the cold for me. There are beautiful large leafed types that make large mounds. Check out Palm Hammock Orchid Estates and click on rhizomatous begonias. Then read the descriptions and they will tell you which types do well in the landscape. I love my landscape begonias. Another suggestion that I know does well in colder winters is ligularia tussilagenia (sp?). I love the large, round shiny leaves. They even bloom in winter.

Anna

ooh! Lady palms or some of the hardier chamaedorea bamboo palms would be great too!