I grow some Mexican petunias in pots (since I was worried about their reputation of being invasive), and they can handle shade.

Same for purple queen/wandering jew types of plants.

I also put my (usually indoor) orchids in bright shade for the spring and summer months.

And finally, you have the common ones like impatiens, some begonias, or even hostas.

Thank you for these ideas! I didn't even think of petunias and hostas. I have some of both in the ground in shade and love them. I've never done much container gardening other than my asparagus fern, and I don't think they'd like this much shade. I'll try the things you mentioned :)

Many caladium varieties do well in the shade.

Good ones listed, a few others: Coleus, Boston fern, various ivy varieties, croton, potato vines, and one of my favorites, perilla (the Magilla variety). I use spikes (Dracaena) in nearly all my pots, for interest. I've also had geraniums do fine in shade ... in fact, much better than in my sunny pots, where they get fried by August here.

I have arrowhead plants in the shade, as well as spider plants in hanging baskets in my trees.

You have received some really good recommendations and I would add cane begonias because they are long-lived and have attractive foliage when not in bloom. You mention "deep" shade and I find that even impatiens and begonias bloom sparsely in heavy shade, compared to light or partial shade. Others may have had different experiences with blooms in deep shade, however.

Molly

Ruellas (Mex Petunias) throw seed so a pot won't stop it from spreading unless it is in a screened porch. You will have to keep an eye out for the more than occasional seedling. Cast iron plants are good for shade. There are some really cool new varieties. Mother in-law tongue and snake plant ( Sansevieria family) is a very interesting group of plants for shade.. They will need to be brought inside during the winter.

I also have several bromeliads that are on my north facing front porch.

I'm wondering if the impatiens will bloom also. I'll try them this year and see how they bloom. That's a good idea about the cane begonias...I've never thought of putting potato vines in shade since I usually see the sweet potato vines in sun, but I may try that too.

They had some very nice-looking Caledium at the nursery today, so I bought those as well as some impatiens. I also picked up a Coleus? So we'll see what that does.

At my mother's house in Austin, TX the east facing front porch is shaded by a large pecan tree during summer into fall. For the past two winters she has had lows in the 20s. Nonetheless, pothos ivy, kalanchoe, and even bedding begonias in a planter had no freeze damage on this porch; the roof afforded protection from the cold. It depends on where you are in Texas, but some houseplants may not need to be moved inside.

Coral bells (Heuchera) can do well in pots. Many cultivars offer a variety of foliage, though purple leaf ones like 'Palace Purple' seem to be most commonly sold at the chain outlets. Ours in the garden are flowering now.