The plants have beautiful, fuzzy, lance-shaped foliage. Lungworts tend to be slug-resistant. Most are hardy to Zone 4. They do best in well-drained soil, and prefer partial shade. A choice perennial for mimicking some of the bright colors of impatiens is astilbe.
Astilbes thrive in moist shade.
With their feathery plumes of red, white, or pink flowers, Astilbe spp. When not in bloom, they have attractive, finely-cut feathery foliage, which, in some cultivars, has red overtones. Most astilbes are hardy to Zone 3. Astilbes do best in moist, well-drained soil, and prefer partial shade. A final treat for those of us who have some shade in our yard is the beautiful hellebore family.