Hi Cate,
Perhaps give me an idea of what type of plants you are after...e.g. perennials, annuals, shrubs large or small. Are you more interested in foliage or flowers or a bit of both? I'd be only too happy to help.
Cheers,
Dee.

Hi Cate
I have a very shady corner of my garden as well. What I have found to grow best is: Italian Arum (Lords and Ladies) - a beautiful lush big green leave with yellow varigations, bright red seed pods in summer. Hostas. Agapanthus. Snowdrops (the bulbs) Hebe, Privet (though not everyone likes it). Daylillies. Iris Foetidissima. I have seeds for the Iris if you are interested. It is mostly an architectual plant, big green strappy leaves with simple yellow iris flowers in spring.

I also happened to be look at this page when I read your thread: http://www.hillgardens.com/herbshade.htm

hope this helps! feel free to email me if you want some seeds

Jay

Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' has purple flowers and flowers for most of the year. Everybody that has come to my place has asked what it is. Its a perrenial that is very easy to propagate from cuttings. There are also other varieties but Mona Lavender is the best. Also Heuchera is another foliage plant that comes in dark maroon to silvers and green. Lamium is a groundcover that has creamy foliage and pink flowers.

B

Begonias are fun and come in an infinite variety of leaf and flower shapes and sizes and there is heaps of colour variety in the leaves as well. Most grow easily from leaf and stem cuttings.

thanks for all the ideas! I'm feeling alot more hopeful now that I can fill my front garden with interesting foliage and flowers.

You should be careful that it doesn't get too much summer sun. If that is the case, somelike correas, chorizemas and darwinias will do well.