Need ideas for my 6 foot wooden privacy fence under patio

We have a patio that has two 8 foot sections of privacy fence between house patios. (We live in a townhome/ twin. I would like to hang some planters to add more color to that section of the fence but since it is in shade all day under our patio not sure what to plant in the planters the?? I have seen hangers that you can put multible flower or plants in but since there is no sun what could I plant there???

Impatients would be a good for lots of color and they really fill out nicely.

Clematis likes shade and could easily be trained to the fence. I have one in full sun that is viney. My neighbor has one on a trellis in shade and it looks like a bush. The flowers of both are simply gorgeous!

Some clematis prefer shade and some will grow well in sun so be sure to check it out if that's what you plan to go with. Even though the name "dead nettle" sounds like it belongs to an ugly plant, it's actually quite pretty and prefers dry shade. It has a long bloom time too. I have one in a pot on my shaded front porch this year and it looks great. Mine has bright silvery colored leaves with pink blooms.

I agree with msrobins. Impatiens would be perfect for your needs. Another good option is coleus.

How about adding some caladiums to that area? They love shade, are so easy to grow, and should come back reliably for you each year in your cooler zone.

Ferns,mixed with coleus and small hostas and would be a good mix
for a planter or pot. Larger hostas for in ground.

Jess: It appears you have a wide array of suggestions and options open too you, can hardly wait to see pics of your design.

Lots of great ideas! Love them all!

Shebs, love your coleus. I guess I didn't have mine planted close enough together to make that kind of impact! I have several varieties of hostas, coleus and some ferns along the north side of our house and I just love the look.

Thanks, msrobin, I had them in a container, which you can see better in this pic. I had planted them closer together than the recommended spacing. Coleus always fill in nicely and can take over a container mixed with other plants, if not cut back occasionally.
Your mix of ferns, coleus and hostas sounds very attractive. Post some pictures if you have any.

jess, I don't know what kind of planters you were thinking of, but those hanging green plastic bags with flowers are specifically made for hanging on fences or walls. Several of them staggered at different heights on your fence would be very pretty. I have even bought empty bags, filled with potting mix, and planted my own selection of flowers in them. They turned out very nice.

Were do you get those bags that youn plat flowers in?? I can not seem to find them?? I like that idea..

Sorry to say it has been a number of years since I purchased them, and I'm not sure where I bought them. I think it may have been Home Depot. If a garden center doesn't have them, I found this source online. http://www.exterior-accents.com/hagaflbasof3.html also http://www.usahardware.com/inet/shop/item/91760/icn/20-223164/echo_valley_rsr/ev6000.htm
Maybe someone reading this thread will know of some other sources.
I was thinking that you could make your own using mesh vegetable bags, like the kind onions come in. I never did try it, but I would imagine you would have to line the bag with moss first to keep the soil from falling out. Anyone have any other ideas?

I've never used them, but why couldn't you use some of the new vinyl coated shopping bags selling so inexpensively at the grocery stores? They could easily be pierced to allow good drainage and painted any color one wanted. Just a thought.

Good idea, mocatmom.
I also found them at Thompson & Morgan. They come 3 to a pack. http://www.tmseeds.com/product/m10844.html

You can buy those bags preplanted at many garden centers and greenhouses. I plant all of my own containers, but I do splurge and buy a preplanted hanging pouch of impatiens from a local greenhouse every year to hang under my honey locust. I just bought one yesterday and it's simply spectacular . . . I don't think I could get it to look like this if I planted it myself!