Last season I planted coleus which did very well in the containers. The crazy cold snap of December decimated them real quick.

Now that it is really starting to heat up here in FL, I would like to start looking for new shade plants for my porch. I'm thinking of perhaps skipping coleus this year. I think I'd like something different although I absolutely loved the leaf structure of coleus.

Let me know of your recommendations. Very subtropical climate here in 10a.

@GigiPlumeria @plantladylin

That's strange, I wrote a long reply and must have forgotten to send after I previewed it.

My garden is mostly full sun but I just now learned about B. Looking Glass Begonia or something similar. They grow fast and very easy to propagate and they last longer than coleus. You can find them cheaper at Lowe's, like some Rex Begonias. They are easy to root in water. And when it gets cold you can just cover them with a cardboard box or bring inside.

I also like Hawaiian Ti Plants, oyster plants and Snake Plants or Bird's Nest. I got most of mine in the clearance racks at Lowe's.

I can't think of a single shade plant. Everything I have goes in full sun or part day sun. Sansevierra?

impatiens?
Is winter completely over at your house? no more frosts?

HA no not on your life. Florida is in Fake Spring. its been in the 80;s this week, but winter can and will come back before real Spring hits in March. And this winter killed off plants as far down as Miami, so best to wait

In my area, my toughest shade plant is Aspidistra elatior. Does so well in shade, but step up watering during summer. Can definitely handle cold temps. We get down to the low 30F range and it actually looks better here at that time since it is the period we get some rains that it likes a lot.

Your Florida weather would surely go much better for it..just keep it in shade, easy to burn the leaves with direct sun.

These are common landscape plants here. They aren't shade plants for many people. I have a bunch of different types in full sun in my yard. Stripes, spots, combos, plain green. They take the low 20's here with no damage

Begonias.

@Petabread hope you have some great suggestions here. Would love to see photos of what you decide to get.

I think my problem with recommending shade plants it that I simply don't have any. Even though we have a lot of trees (I live in 5 wooded acres) the areas under 'cultivation' around the house are all in pretty much full sun.

Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus.)

Gina1960 said: I think my problem with recommending shade plants it that I simply don't have any. Even though we have a lot of trees (I live in 5 wooded acres) the areas under 'cultivation' around the house are all in pretty much full sun.

Same here, and my "shade plants" eventually has to adopt to full sun or just shrivel away and disappears.

Caladiums

Caladiums are a possibility, although, I grow mine in full sun too LOL

The tag on this said sun. I got 2 and the one I put in the sun fried and shriveled. The much more shady one was great! The push-up pop orange flowers really POP in a shadow.


No idea how that alleged cultivar differs from the species:
Firecracker Flower (Crossandra infundibuliformis)

This cute little plant seems to do well in both exposures, but doesn't get big enough to be a focal point in a big pot:


Bright shade is enough to get great colors on various Alternantheras:


This looks interesting all year, then the blooms are "wow!". Should be fine outside all year where you are.



This is great, if you can find it:


Close cousin of Coleus:

Painted ferns are nice and great foliage. Toad lily with it's gorgeous flowers, tiarella for spring bloom. These are all shade lovers altho I don't know how they would do in a tropical climate.

I a thinking a combo pot with a variegated aspidistra for height, a caladium for color and something to trail, maybe one of the more interesting pothos?

That'd be cool

How about fuchsias?