Hi all!
I have some window boxes that I would love to fill with geraniums, but I am afraid to because they are in the shade. The front of my house gets full afternoon sun, but there are two small trees in front of my windows (which help things stay cool).
Any ideas what I can put in them?
My house is red brick, and my shutters are light blue, and the window boxes are white. Pansies do well in them, and so do mums in the fall. I was thinking maybe begonias and coleus?
I would love some ideas.
Thanks so much!!!
~Kathy

Hi Katherine and welcome to ATP!

Is the shade deep shade, dappled shade or bright shade? Trailing Petunias seem to do ok in bright shade, your coleus and Geraniums would do well there too but the Geraniums wouldn't bloom as prolifically if they had full sun. For deeper shade Impatiens, Sweet Potato Vine, Calibrachoa and Heuchera are others to name a few.

Katherine. I agree with Anne. Also, shade changes throughout the spring and summer. What is the exposure of the shaded side of your house? Is it due west? But knowing the "sort" of shade you have is important.

Some other suggestions, 'Dragon Wing' begonia (these could substitute for the geraniums, they bloom until a freeze and will do well in anything from full sun (here in the north, don't know about elsewhere) to deep shade. For something blue and more unusual Browallia does well in partial shade (doesn't like to dry out, especially to start with). Fuchsias like part-shade too, also Torenia and lobelia. Nicotiana (flowering tobacco) is another thought. For ease of maintenance and prolonged display in various conditions it's hard to beat the 'Dragon Wing's though.

Thanks for your help! This is wonderful!
Our house faces west. I would say the shade is bright/dappled-especially in the afternoon.
I am thinking begonia...I will check out the 'Dragon Wing'. I put geraniums and petunias everywhere else I possibly can in pots, so begnias might be a nice variety for the window boxes.

That's a great idea, Sue. There are lots of begonias that would do well and Katherine's sun angle is about the same as you would have.