There are plenty of showy perennials that will suit your needs. Check these out: Polemonium/Jacob's Ladder Hellebore/Lenten rose Alchemilla mollis/Lady's Mantle Heuchera/Coral bells Aquilegia/columbine Actea/Black snakeroot Atherium/Japanese painted fern Persicaria virginiana/Virginia knotweed Wiegelia Pulmonaria/lungwort Not everything that's supposed to grow strictly in shade actually does best in those conditions so long as the soil supports its growing needs. Many of the plants I always understood did best in shade have thrived in part shade where I am. Things that are supposed to only grow in full sun have also thrived in part sun where I am as well. A bleeding heart/Dicentra spectabilis that was growing in full sun through a crack in a concrete walkway for dozens of years showed up at the top of a slope after I'd had the walkway widened & the soil transferred to the slope above. There are just some perennials that can't be killed no matter how you may abuse them. Altho' I don't prefer the yellow/orange colors, I don't discount them so long as they're low/no maintenance. My preference is for blue, white, pink or other colors in the same range.

'shade' means little ... on words alone bright shade.. cave ... very bright.. etc ... its hard to be definitive.. w/o being able to understand such ... i have some full sun plants.. in near all day shade.. from 60 foot trees.. but there is clear blue sky above.. apparently.. they get enough light.. that said.. the bigger the flower.. usually means.. the more energy they need.. and as light declines.. its ability to make a lot of large flowers starts to falter.. i guess when it all boils down.. you are just going to have to try things.. also... for most of the growing season.. 4 to 9 or 10 pm.. is a heck of a lot of sun ... presuming that is what you meant ... when 8 hours is usually considered full sun ... there isnt really much that will out and out die ... its all about vigor and performance.. and if something struggles.. you move it to more light ... if you have it ... i am sure our friends will come up with many specific suggestions ... and also keep in mind that a lot of the 'shade' plants are just shade tolerant ... and can take a lot of sun.. usually based on how well they are watered.. its all about whether the plant has enough water.. to offset increased sun.. e.g. hosta... its when they transpire more water than they are able to process .... that they start getting real ugly ... ken

Nancy is right. They will make it there, but they might not be as vigorous or especially floriferous. The JPW will be fine. I grow my biggest and best in morning sun until 11 am and then 'bright shade' the rest of the day. Another you might consider, aside from Linda's great suggestions, is Phlox Paniculata. I have many that are in sun part of the day then shade the rest. The plants which do the best are on the northeast side of the house. They were a 'mistake' placing. I had taken out a huge footing planning on giving it to someone. Just plunked the whole thing right on the lawn next to our main entrance. In late fall I realized it was still there and just threw some leaves on it. Next spring it started to grow and DH said to leave it there. By August it started to bloom and WOW!! It get's a bit of morning sun until 9 am, then the sun returns at 4pm. The soil there never dries out and seems ideal. Oh, another contender - Astilbes!!!

I do have Mexican Petunias, they came w/ the house and I do like them. we bought the house last july and in the year the Mex Petunias have not "gone" anywhere, they have gotten leggy ( i think that is the term) but I did not cut them down during the fall/winter and right now I just love that they have flowers every day so I cant bare to prune them now, but I will once I notice less flowers! I have Blue daze and they seem to close at night - well I think they "die" I think the flower is a 1 flower a day type thing and maybe the same about the Mex-P. I have two Gaura (light and dark pink) but they seems to stay open, but they are small so I think when I look at the space I notice the closed looking flowers more then them (but I love them - hope they continue to grow and attract butterflies - I have a black mothy butterfly that hangs out in the Gaura). I have a cucumber plant that has flung it's self out of it's lil pot, I fear I should not let it hang out w/ the other flowers, but it too have lil yellow flowers, so I have not moved it. It was just something my son did w/ the neighbor kids, we did not think the seeds would grow or that it would still be alive. I dont think it will stay, but I have not moved it (not sure what I should even do with it) I have Aloe that is in bloom. I was thinking of moving them in the future, but now that they have bloomed (they did not do that last year when we 1st got the house) I think I will keep them there a little longer. It is just a small space that only had the Mex - P and the Aloe, so I added the Daze and the Gaura just based on looks and price. I am slowly adding more things in and that is when I thought I should make a conscious effort to find something that likes the evening so I have pretties to say hello to when I get home. in the front yard I am doing a tropical thing, so they are open all day/night, but in the back I want a lil flower/butterfly area.