However, if possible I would like plants that form a cover OVER the surface, but stays in a fairly tidy clump in the soil. So not really a spreading groundcover, but more like a Rozanne Geranium. I actually have some Rozannes, but need more colors and varieties of plants. I also have some Nepata Walker's Low. These are great since they are tough and fairly low maintenance. Any other similar suggestions, especially with different colors? Thanks!

I also like purple queen or purple jew for its.......purple color! It can grow in the shade of the rose bush or out in full sun for an even stronger purple color. I've had it return as a perennial (at least, I don't think it was a seeded plant growing, since it is just 1, not many, in the same spot), but in case your zone will be different, I also overwintered 2 plants and they have already given me over 50 cuttings to be new plants for this year. The more you cut, the more they grow, and I'm sure I could get another 50 cuttings right now if I needed that many.

I also like nasturtium for the edibleness, but the trailing varieties make a good option for your bed, too.

Some sedums can also have a trailing effect. When they fill in an area, they make a really good groundcover. In my zone, the blue-spruce sedum I grow will not die back in the winter, so it makes a good cover year-round.

All the others I mentioned will die back in the winter.

Narrow leaf zinnia, easy low annual for prolific color all season

Thanks for some suggestions, but I think some of those are spreaders, like Oregano. I am hoping for a plant that stays more in one place and grows over the ground. In previous years I used Wave Petunias but I found those are a bit too much of a good thing--TOO many flowers, TOO much color. So I was hoping for something more restrained, and hopefully a perennial.

I'm looking at Rosemary but I'm worried that the type that would trail will also spread.

Hardy geraniums are an excellent choice as a rose companion. In addition to Rosanne, I'd look at a couple of the sprawlers (Anne Folkard, Sunrise Blue, Anne Thompson) as well as some of the clumping forms, like Geranium sanguineum or any of the many hybrids.

As for the other geraniums, they look fairly similar to the Rozannes I have, but with slightly different leaves/color. I'll give them a good look anyway. Thank-you.

What I had in mind was something a bit more decorative along the line of 'Kent Beauty', one of the ornamental oregano types. The ornamental ones are good for spilling over a wall but then I see small leaf plants as looking best for this personally.

You most likely will do better talking to the northern gardeners because its so different down here, I've noticed we tend to visualize differently.

Ornamental oregano....

IME trailing rosemary doesn't spread; it has a central growing point that the stems grow from and they just get longer.

My upright Rosemary's wintered fine.

If Petunias were successful how about using just one or two colours? Maybe just white.

Martha

Martha

They will root down where the stems touch the soil, but are very easily to pull up after the fall or in the spring. And they come in a few color varieties.

A bit late! Last year I planted a couple of Rozannes, which I believe are Geranium Sanguineum. I thought they spread by rhizomes and the seeds were sterile? I didn't expect them to shoot seeds all over. Guess I will have to keep my eyes open for that.

My other geraniums are Biokovo, and I love the fragrance of the leaves!