Plants for shade

Good shade plants include hostas, ferns, lily of the valley, periwinkle, bergenia, plus many houseplants (ZZ plant, peace lily). These species get by on diffuse light and don't need full sun. In the atlas you can filter them by the "shade" light requirement.

Partial shade means 2–4 hours of sun a day or light filtered through tree canopies. Full shade is a spot with no direct sun, such as against a north wall. Many shade-lovers tolerate both, but in deep shade they grow more slowly and flower less.

Yes, though flowering is often more modest than in sun. Shade bloomers include hostas, lily of the valley, columbine, loosestrife, impatiens and many hydrangea varieties. If you want colour, pick shade-tolerant species described as flowering, not just grown for foliage.