I wanted something to plant in my partial shade hosta garden as a colorful border plant, so I settled on mixed colors of Salvia splendens. Last year I used petunias. This year I decided to try something different.

What are others using instead of impatiens in their shady gardens?

The Lowes I loved to get clearance plants from had a rack of begonias with what I think is powdery mildew. It was some kind of fungus. I assume I should not buy anything for them until they have been gone for a few weeks? I do not want that stuff in my garden. I do not know how easily it can spread in a garden center, but no price is worth infesting my garden. It makes me so mad, though!

Also, New Guinea impatiens, but they can be cost-prohibitive. Torenia, wax begonias, dragon wings begonia, tuberous begonias do beautifully in partial shade.

Actually, there are many full-sun annuals that do well in part shade, as long as they get a few (I'd say at least four) hours of good sun a day. Heliotrope does well for me, black & blue salvia, too.