Shady deals: New choices for spots without a lot of sun

Flower choices are plentiful for containers in sun, but what about shade?

Two beautiful newcomers offer shade gardeners something completely different from the usual choices of begonias and impatiens.

Maracas Brazilian Fireworks porphyrocoma is a delightfully unique tropical plant from South America. Each exotic bloom stalk consists of a striking and long-lasting hot-pink central core punctuated by small lavender-purple flowers.

Maracas has fantastic foliage, too, with silver markings on the long, angular, deep-green leaves. Not a big plant, it grows only about 8 inches tall, with a slightly wider spread.

The hotter the weather, the better Maracas performs. I've been delighted that the plants manage to grow and bloom beautifully in a spot that is in rather deep shade. I've also been pleased to see hummingbirds attracted to the flowers.

The other hot newcomer for shady gardens, Veranda Skullcap scutellaria also attracts hummingbirds.

Its bicolored blue-purple flower spikes are reminiscent of salvia, a relative that requires sun to bloom.

The glossy, dark-green foliage is attractive, too. Veranda grows about 10 inches tall and wide. To create a full and lush display, plant three in a 10-inch basket.

Clipping off flower spikes as they fade helps maintain Veranda's good looks.

For an unusual look in a container that gets morning sun and afternoon shade, I count on Fusion Glow impatiens. Not your average impatiens, Fusion Glow has exotic, almost tropical-looking, cup-shaped, yellow flowers with red centers.

Growing up to 16 inches tall and wide, the plants are quite a bit larger than ordinary impatiens.

For the last several years, I've grown Fusion Glow plants in a large container I can see from my kitchen sink. I keep repeating this same planting because I so love to watch the frequent visits of hummingbirds to that container.

Now the Fusion series offers a choice of other colors that are also unusual for impatiens. Fusion Radiance has coral flowers with rust-colored centers. Fusion Infrared is a darker coral with shades of yellow and orange. Fusion Sunset is apricot with maroon centers. And Fusion Heat has rusty-orange flowers that have yellow centers.

Like all impatiens, these plants require little care to look their best. Blossoms fall off as they fade, helping maintain good looks and continuous blooms.

Placing containers in shade is a boon to busy gardeners. Since shaded pots don't dry out nearly as fast as pots in full sun, they offer more fun and less work.