Begonias are faithful shade garden flowers. They are excellent plants in strawberry jars or the hanging plant pouches becoming common today. I have planted strawberry jars to create pillars of color to fill areas between shrubs. These look best when planted with the same color begonia rather than a mixture. Only the front pockets are planted since the back ones face my unit and not seen by anyone anyway.
Tuberous begonias are wonderful in hanging baskets, small pots, or in the garden bed.
Rex begonias with the multi colored leaves are excellent hanging basket plants that can spend summers outside in an outside location and be enjoyed as winter houseplants. This article discusses the care and propagation of various species of begonias. Annual Heliotrope can be grown in a very shady spots. They are in full color by late July and last until frost kills them. Monarda comes in several colors.