Gets rather large and is a water hog? Sounds like a hosta! : )

Heuchera, Japanese Painted Fern, Maidenhair Ferns, other ferns, Astilbe, Hellebore, etc. I have too many favorites.

Too many! lol

Ferns, especially Japanese Painted Fern, columbine, Rozanne geranium, Hellebore, Japanese Forest Grass, Carex Bowles Golden and purple Heuchera but they don't do so well for me. Instead of increasing each year, they shrink ;)

I also like Toad Lily (Tricyrtis). They have delicate little blooms that look like orchids to me and bloom in the fall.

Have you tried Heuchera Caramel, Citronelle, or Brownies? They are a bit more vigorous for the Southeast.

I have a few heuchera. Caramel, Plum Pudding, palace purple and sugar berry. They're nice.

I love everything that was mentioned and also brunnera and epimedium..

Heuchera and Ferns are in the garden since I started growing hostas. This year I add Rodgersia, Brunnera, Epimedium and Pulmonaria. And some new ferns:-)

hostas also look great with MORE HOSTAS..lol

Absolutely true, nicholsworth, lol...

I second Stephanie's comments about Toad Lily. I added a couple of Tricyrtis Tojen last year and they are great plants. Planted some blue wood aster and Bowman's Root last fall, so the jury is still out on them. Getting ready to plant some Leopard Ligularia and some European ginger to see how they will do.

One of my favorite ligularias is "Osiris Fantasie". It has maroon very ruffled leaves -not round but almost oak leaf shape! It seems to be a bit smaller than say Desdemona but still has the yellow flower clusters! Have fun!

Whitewatervol, I got a Caramel last year so I'm hopeful it will do better. I just really like the purple ones for contrast but they don't like me. lol

I also am in favor of tricytis, brunnera, ferns, asarum (European and wild ginger), epimedium, pulmonaria. In addition I like bleeding heart, lamium, Persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette', day lilies, corydalis, gallium odoratum, and astilbe. I too like Heuchera but don't have much luck with them.

Hosta 'Longipes Aurea' and Lamprocapnos spectabilis (formerly Dicentra spectabilis)

Persicaria virginiana 'Painter's Palette'

+Oh yeah, I forgot bleeding heart, I like those too! I really like your Painter's Palette, michegangardner.

Sorry for the plus sign, Jellybean, one of the cats is "helping" me type.

I like heucheras, tassel ferns, ghost ferns, lamium for a little ground cover, Asiatic lilies...

I have most of the ones stated above and the Snow Angel heuchera is one of my favorites that brighten up a shady corner or two

I have alternating hosta-heuchie-hosta-heuchie through most of my 2 gardens, with astilbe, perennial salvia, iris and assorted annuals filling them out. Some of my latest heuchie pics:

Sugar Berry

Sweet Tart

I don't think I saw Solomon's Seal mentioned - likes the shade. Also bleeding heart and ferns which have been mentioned.

I have lots of Heuchera and Bergina - I like these two because they are evergreen and so there is something of interest in my hosta gardens in the winter when the hosta are sleeping. I also plant gazanias which are an annual in small spaces where I don't want a perennial as I know the hostas nearby will get big and fill in the space - but while I am waiting for this to happen, gazanias have some colour and form a nice compact mound amidst my hostas.

This is my one of my favorite companion plants for hosta, Heucherella 'Pink Fizz'. I like how it looks all season and it complements my hosta plants.

Peren, what would those gorgeous blue Hostas be named? Your Rodgersias are exemplary! I'm planting some in a newish bed and can only hope they get half as big as yours! Did you amend that soil with something wonderful?

Thanks catkin. The large is 'Powder Blue' and the smaller is 'Silver Bay', both are great performers.

In your garden and under your care I have no doubt they will flourish! I amend with compost, when I have used all my homemade I use mushroom compost. I will be looking forward to pics.

Hosta 'Blue Vision' and Heuchera 'Carnival Watermelon.' (Oh, and spent daffodil leaves and stems peeking up in between.)

Here's a couple of my favorites, lady's mantle and corydalis.

Sherry

What beautiful photos!

Peren, thanks for the vote of confidence :~) I'm digging out a large area of old/overgrown Heather. It's under a Katsura tree but stays damp, so we'll see! I'm told the three I got may be 'Blue Angel' or H. sieboldiana 'Elegans'--I'll need to try to remember their mature suze when planting.