Ligularias

 Ligularias are shade lovers.  They will also enjoy partial shade, but they definitely need protection from afternoon sun.  If the winter is not too harsh, they will stay green all winter.  These plants are valued for their interesting leaves which are large (like this Giant Ligularia) or ruffled (like the Crested Leaf Ligularia below) or spotted (like the Leopard Ligularia pictured in the last photograph).  However, they have the added bonus of blooming in the fall.  The flowers look like yellow daisies.  They are very pretty.  They come up on a tall stalk and bloom yellow daisy-like flowers along the stalk.  I'm very partial to plants with interesting leaf shapes and sizes.  They contribute to a much more interesting garden scene.

 Below is the Crested Leaf Ligularia.  The leaves are deeply ruffles and form cups that will hold water or leaf debris from the trees under which they grow.  They bloom in the fall also.

 Below is a Leopard Leaf Ligularia.  The spots are actually caused by a virus.  They bloom in the fall.