Tough, full-foliage plants for shady spots will keep on giving

Hostas come in various leaf patterns, heights and sizes, but all form the neat, circular mound they're famous for. They all flower, too, but are really grown for their beautiful perennial foliage, which ranges from light green to deep bluish-green, (aka "blue"). With shade, moisture and plenty of rich soil they'll be a dependable perennial groundcover. However, these forgiving plants will tolerate a variety of soils; taking a little extra time to mature and get big is their only trade off.