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I have a porch with an overhanging roof, so I need some (Original Post) hedgehog Jan 2012 OP
Well, remember, it actually gets more light than you might think. Denninmi Jan 2012 #1
Moses in a boat is a great easy shade plant Melissa G Jan 2012 #2
Geraniums did good hanging on our front porch csziggy Jan 2012 #3
Put up a plastic mesh trellis and grow sweet peas. applegrove Jan 2012 #4
fuchsai HopeHoops Jan 2012 #5
Yes , Fushias. Also Tuberous Begonias. Vanje Jan 2012 #6
And vincas - they do well in every light level, well, except totally dark. HopeHoops Jan 2012 #7
My porch is in the woods - we planted so many trees out front that hedgehog Jan 2012 #8
It sounds beautiful! Vanje Jan 2012 #9
Spider plants are bombproof XemaSab Jan 2012 #10
begonias BlueToTheBone Feb 2012 #11

Denninmi

(6,581 posts)
1. Well, remember, it actually gets more light than you might think.
Fri Jan 6, 2012, 02:30 PM
Jan 2012

Unless its also surrounded by seriously dense forest or something.

Not saying you can grow a lot of blooming plants, because no doubt it will be too shady for that. A few might make it.

Are you talking about outdoors in summer, or is this a year-round, enclosed and heated space?

Some thoughts for the summer:

Ferns, Tradescantias, various types of begonias, both foliage and flowering, coleus, fuchsias, impatiens, and such shade loving indoor vines as philodendrons and pothos would all work. Nepthytis, ivy and grape ivy, too.

Melissa G

(10,170 posts)
2. Moses in a boat is a great easy shade plant
Fri Jan 6, 2012, 02:49 PM
Jan 2012

Golden pothos ivy is nice because the yellow in the space adds the illusion of sunlight. I like variegated species in shady spots whenever possible. There was a dragon's dreath type clover/ivy I was really fond of but it did not survive the Austin heat. Two years was enough effort. Back to moses in a boat.

csziggy

(34,189 posts)
3. Geraniums did good hanging on our front porch
Fri Jan 6, 2012, 03:59 PM
Jan 2012

Until I stopped watering them.

Be warned - most places, birds will nest in your hanging plants. The house finches loved the geraniums - raised two batches of chicks. The second batch was partly why I quit watering the plants - the older brothers and sisters were helping to raise their siblings and got protective.

The Carolina wrens made an effort to claim one of the baskets, but the house finches were bigger and won the battle.

Vanje

(9,766 posts)
6. Yes , Fushias. Also Tuberous Begonias.
Sat Jan 7, 2012, 03:55 PM
Jan 2012

You might want some Clematis vining across the roof.

All of these bloom neat under shady conditions.

hedgehog

(36,286 posts)
8. My porch is in the woods - we planted so many trees out front that
Mon Jan 9, 2012, 02:02 PM
Jan 2012

now the lawn is a rolling patch of moss (just gorgeous by the way - very Zen!)

I might try the fuschias again, but I'm leaning toward the Moses in a Boat.

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