Hostas, astible are some of the more common perennials avaiblle for shade. If you are looking for something new to add to your shady area consider pulmonaria or brunnera.
Pulmonaria
Pulmonaria or lungwort is a fine early-spring blooming plant. The tiny flowers range from blue, pink, white or red. Although small, the flowers attract hummingbirds and bees. The long slender spotted foliage is attractive after blooming. Lungwort’s are easy to grow, require no maintenance, and are rarely affected by disease or insects. The plant spreads evenly into a round mound. They can be planted as a ground cover in shady area or along a wooded border.
Pulmonaria thrive in light shade but will grow in full sun, provided the plant is well watered during the growing season. If not properly watered the leaves will turn brown and wither. Ideal locations include the edge of woods where they can spread and shaded foundation areas. The plant spreads slowly from crowns and if spaced 12-18 inches apart, it will become a beautiful ground cover.
Pulmonaria’s flowers are small but add a magical touch to the spring time garden.
Brunnera
Brunnera “Jack Frost” is commonly referred to as Siberian Bugloss. Primarily grown in shade areas for the attractive heart-shaped, white frost leaves with dark green edges. Small, blue forget-me-not-flowers with white centers bloom on delicate 18” stems in the spring. The heart shaped leaves remain attractive all season.
Plants prefer shade and cool areas and will not do well in heat. Mounds of the Brunnera “Jack Frost” spread slowly by creeping rhizomes to become a thick ground cover. The slow spread may cause new plants to have a leaf variation. Jack Frost is a colorful, low maintenance perennial. It is also rabbit resistant.
This is an interesting perennial to tuck in and around evergreen borders.