Summer is just around the corner and it's time to think about seasonal color. If you garden in the shade, sometimes this can be challenging, but there are a host of annuals with striking foliage, colorful flowers and interesting forms that grow happily in low light conditions.

Combining annuals with perennials that have interesting foliage and flowers, in decorative pots or in the ground, is a quick and easy way to add instant color to your summer border. Grouping plants together with similar needs (water and soil) will help ensure success.

Erica Glasener / Special (ENLARGE)

Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris' is an elephant ear that the author likes to combine with Coleus 'Religious Radish' and New Guinea impatiens.

Erica Glasener / Special (ENLARGE)

The elephant's ear 'White Christmas' and double impatiens work well together.

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A classic foliage plant for the shade is Caladium, whether you grow it on its own in a container or in combination with ferns, hostas and impatiens, it provides months of color. A combination of two different caladiums like Caladium 'Aaron' and C. 'Red Flash' offers more consistent color than many flowering plants and holds up to our heat and humidity.

Tropicals like Elephant's Ears (with their large heart-shaped leaves), including selections of Alocasia and Colocasia, add color and drama especially in combination with coleus and bright-colored New Guinea impatiens like 'Harmony Orange.' Sometimes one well-placed plant makes a big impact too, such as Xanthosoma 'Lime Zinger' (also known as Chartreuse Giant for its bright foliage). It has 18-inch leaves and grows 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Certain to attract attention, this exotic will grow happily in water, boggy soils or average garden soils. For a contrast, combine it with dark-leaved plants like Colocasia 'Jet Black Wonder' or hardy bananas.

If you like ferns but want something different, try the selection of Boston fern called 'Rita's Gold.' With its bright yellow foliage, Nephrolepsis exaltata 'Rita's Gold' will light up the shade garden and is sure to elicit comments from visitors. This tender perennial (bring it indoors over the winter) is great for hanging baskets and containers too.

Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris' is a selection of Elephant's Ears that I like for its large leaves and dark coloring, a combination of gray/black and green. Combine it with Coleus 'Religious Radish' and New Guinea impatiens or perennials like Lobelia cardinalis with spikes of brilliant red flowers in late summer.

For striking foliage in the shade, Alternanthera is hard to beat. Selections like 'Party Time' with shocking pink and green leaves or 'Grenadine' with burgundy foliage and hot pink veins, look good with impatiens, angel wing begonias and caladiums. Other selections to look for include 'Crème de Menthe' with crème and green variegation and 'Cognac' with glossy dark maroon leaves.

The wishbone flower, Torenia fournieri, has been around for a long time but the Summer Wave series has been bred to tolerate heat and humidity. The selection 'Violet Ice' produces purple and white flowers from mid-spring until fall. Plants only grow 6 inches to 10 inches high but spread out to 2 feet or more. Grow wishbone flower in containers, hanging baskets or add it to the perennial garden for seasonal color. Another selection in the Wave series is 'Amethyst' with purple flowers.

Don't let shade be a limiting factor when it comes to adding color to your summer garden.

Instead try some of these annuals, guaranteed to brighten your landscape and lift your spirits even during the dog days of summer.

ERICA'S PICK

Illustris Elephant's Ear

Botanical name: Colocasia esculenta 'Illustris'

About the plant: With giant heart-shaped 6-inch to 14-inch leaves, this Elephant's Ear grows 12 to 36 inches tall. Prominent green veins stand out against dark gray to black leaves which are edged in lime green.

Use in the garden: Plant this exotic in a container with coleus and bright-colored impatiens or combine it with other Elephant's Ears. Planted at the edge of a pond with Iris, it adds drama to the garden.

Planting and care: A moist soil rich in organic matter and part shade is ideal for this giant-leaved plant. You can also plant it in a pot and submerge it in a pond. If you plant it in full sun, make sure to provide constant moisture.

Source: Ashe-Simpson Garden Center, 4961 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30341; 770-458-3224

Source: for Caladium 'Aaron' and 'Red Flash,' Habersham Gardens, 2067 Manchester St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30324; 404-873-2484

Erica Glasener is a horticulturist and host of "A Gardener's Diary," which airs on HGTV on Thursdays at 7 a.m.