Looking for alternatives for the summer shade garden? Try some of these beauties. (Impatiens walleriana should be avoided this year, due to the blight of downy mildew.) 

Left to Right:

Nicotiana, the Tobacco Plant. Fragrant flowers in pinks, whites, reds, and corals.

Begonias are dripping with flowers from spring to the first frost. Choose your favorite flower color, or one of the varieties with exotic foliage. Some Begonias are upright, and some are trailers which work well in hanging baskets or containers.

Combine the foliage plant Alternathera (Joseph’s Coat) with Fuchsia for window boxes.

Heliotrope is a fragrant, jewel-tone purple bloomer. 

Hypoestes, the Polka Dot Plant, a pretty foliage accent plant. 

Coleus and New Guinea Impatiens (or SunPatiens) make a great combination border garden. These two varieties of Impatiens are NOT affected by downy mildew, and will even tolerate a little bit of sun.

Coleus combined with Fuchsia work well in container gardens.

Torenia fournieri, the Wishbone Flower, in colors from dark purple to pink, to pale yellow.