Many of the flowering plants that thrive in shadier environments are perennials, and columbine is one of the earlier ones to appear in mid-spring. The Clementine series of columbine lack the characteristic spurs and form a more compact but lush clump of greenery, a bit over a foot tall and not quite as wide. 'Clementine Salmon Rose' adds lovely pastel color to the shade garden with double-petaled, clematis-shaped blooms that attract pollinators but not deer or rabbits (usually). Most columbine are short-lived and reseed freely but not invasively, so consider leaving late-season flowers on the plant for more plants next year.