How about abutilon bella? It's a relative of the hibiscus that likes part shade. I have mine growing under my oaks on the northeast side of my house and they like it there. They are tropicals, so I don't think they'll survive the winter. I have some seeds from them - don't know if they'll germinate or not, but worth a shot.

Purple oxalis is a possibility. Galanthus would also be very pretty tucked into little spots here and there. If you want any mona lavender cuttings I was going to try my hand at propagating the ones I have.

Failing all that, there's always begonias and impatiens.

I have a low border of peacock ginger. They are dormant fall/winter and don't come up till the ground is a little warm. I have planted blue lobelia and cyclamens for the cool months in this bed and it works out well for me.

My front yard is mostly shade and many deciduous plants do well in those conditions. Heuchera, Phlox, Salvia Lyrata, Salvia roemeriana, Sedum, Verbena, Ferns...

I want a new bed for christmas, that's what I told my husband :P Hopefully he will "lasagna" one for me soon :D

Thanks y'all are brilliant!
New I ideas. nicky...which heuchera does well for you?

....I want a new bed for Christmas! I totally understand!

mommyfox, I hadn't thought about purple oxalis might be lovely there! Does it keep its purple leaves in the summer?

peacock ginger? This is new to me. I'm on my way to look it up.

thank you again...
cynthia

where do you buy peacock gingers? Can they take some sun...like 2-3 hours of hot afternoon sun? If not I'll give them the protected part of the bed and the mona lavender the other part.

ML is really easy to take cuttings from...coleus easy!

mommyfox...you really helped me. I've been trying to figure out the name of a huge plant in my garden. I was told it was a butilon. I've searched and searched....yes, it was abutilon! I am very fond of it. It's more than 6 ft tall and is really coming into bloom now. It was a 1 gal. plant in the spring.

My Texas Gold columbine likes a shady garden and blooms right after the daffs. So far, it's about 12 to 16 inches tall.

Pam

Cynthia, will your abutilon take the winters here inground? They are easy to root, and you might want to take cuttings if this is the first year you have had it.

Pam
I love Texas gold columbine and have here in 2 beds already.

carrie
I don't know! I suspect that it cannot. Do you have any suggestions for rootin? One large stalk broke off Monday morning with the wind and heavy rain. I stripped the lower leaves and stuck it in a pot with a brug to assure it will get regular water.

I didn't use rooting hormone, does anyone know about this? Is there a better place to take a cutting or better method?

I got my start with peacock ginger in a GW trade. I also purchased one at the Mercer March Mart (sale). ALthough they do multiply, they are far from invasive. I have some in full shade and some that receive morning sun and both groups do well. What I like about them is that I can forget about them for months (usually Oct thru april) and they never fail to come back and bloom all summer.

Cynthia,I have 'Caramel' and 'Cappuccino'.
I saw some shell ginger at Wal Mart the other day. Nice variegated foliage but I don't know how well these will do if planted in the shade.