Shade plants for containers?

Cafe Society
1

I’m “gardening” on a shady balcony this summer, and need suggestions: I have a ceramic pot with side holes (often called a strawberry pot) that I want to use, but while I have a pretty coleus to feature for the center I’m stumped for small colorful annuals to tuck into the sides.

Will alyssum do ok in nearly full shade? If not, any idea for something comparable in size? I can water almost daily if needed but despite the shade, summer will be hot. There is a Calloways nearby so I’m not limited to just the super common big box stores for supplies, and I’m game for ordering seeds over the Internet, but since I’m used to sunny areas I feel like there’s something basic or standard I’m overlooking.

Help?

2

I had good luck with Lobelia and Violas in a strawberry pot.

3

How about some smaller coleus tucked into the pockets? I adore coleus. We have a half-barrel stuffed with enormous green and burgundy plants, with smaller varieties around the edge.

4

Yeah, coleus. My mom always used begonias, too.

5

Here are some that might be nice, if you can find them small enough to fit into your pot:

Brunnera macrophylla, aka Siberian Bugloss or false forget-me-not, tiny blue flowers, big heart-shaped leaves.

Heliotrope, broad panicles of dark blue/purple flowers with a strong vanilla fragrance.

Fuchsia can do well in filtered sun, not sure how they would do in full shade.

Impatiens are pretty, but be careful, some of them are getting hit by some disease

And then of course almost all ferns do well in shade.

Good luck!

6

I did begonias for my front porch containers last year and was very, very happy.
Abundant flowers, shiny & interesting leaves, easy care…I’ll be doing them again this year.
They looked like this.
They did get some morning sun but were mostly shaded as the porch faces east.