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northtexasdude

Favorite rose companion plant?

northtexasdude
16 years ago

What is your favorite rose companion in the garden?

Some of my roses are in a somewhat shady area, and therefore have them growing along side hydrangeas. The color contrast looks nice. I also have a few gardenias mixed in, but they don't seem to be blooming too well. They look twiggy next to the roses.

How about you?

Comments (19)

  • maalfred
    16 years ago

    I went to Frederick Meijer Gardens in Bay City, MI last summer and they had clematis growing in their climbing roses. They were gorgeous. I planted them w/my climbers but they are just getting started.

  • bean_counter_z4
    16 years ago

    Salvia "May Night" and lambs ear.
    {{gwi:289100}}

  • luxrosa
    16 years ago

    Purple Veronica, Forget-me-nots which rebloom from spring through autumn here if sheared back after blooming. Apricot and white foxgloves. Sky blue delphiniums.
    The veronica will self seed and spread. We grow our foxglove at the edge of our largest rose garden which is partially shaded by decidous trees. Because it's shaded , we grow Hybrid Musk roses there. The foxglove will spread if you amend the soil where you want it to grow to, with coarse sand, about 2 parts sand to 8 parts soil.
    Violets are my favorite plants for weed control, although snails do love them, we apply Sluggo every month of the bloom season and a few times in winter.

    Luxrosa

  • alicia7b
    16 years ago

    Foxglove, iris, baptisia, and Carolina bush pea.

  • msrose
    16 years ago

    I am trying to mix in a few other things now, but I mainly have daylilies. I tried growing a dwarf gardenia two different times and it died both times. I love the fragrance and would give any thing if I could grow one without killing it.

    Laurie

    EARLY DAYS
    {{gwi:289101}}

    AWESOME BLOSSOM
    {{gwi:289102}}

    JOLYENE NICHOLE
    {{gwi:289103}}

    PURPLE EYED MAGIC
    {{gwi:289104}}

  • gnabonnand
    16 years ago

    Perennial: 'Marcus' salvia nemerosa
    Annual: Petunia

    Laurie, those are killer daylilies! Could EARLY DAYS be any more perfect? Isn't JOLYENE NICHOLE great? Mine has been doing so well this year.

    Randy

  • msrose
    16 years ago

    Randy - I almost got rid of EARLY DAYS last year because the first year blooms were not very pretty. I'm glad I kept it.

    Laurie

    EARLY DAYS - 1st year
    {{gwi:289105}}

  • gnabonnand
    16 years ago

    Wow, what a change from LY.

    Randy

  • medusa_
    16 years ago

    The taller white Veronica is stunning when it hides the barelegs of a darker rose behind it. The low blue veronica is stunning in front of the more rounded roses, like Austins.

  • JaneGael
    16 years ago

    How close to the actual bush do you companion plant?

    Peace,
    Jane

  • sunnishine
    16 years ago

    What about for full sun areas beside day lilies and clematis? I have a x above ground pool area i am changing to a bed...

  • redsox_gw
    16 years ago

    I am also very much interested in Jane's question: how close to the actual bush do you plant companions? I assume the companion's roots stay closer to the surface?

  • jumbojimmy
    16 years ago

    - Osteospermum (otherwise known as African daisy)
    - Lillies
    - Delphiniums
    - clematis - dark purple and blue varities.

    Check out this site I found in the net -
    http://www.hisakoroses.com/

    I liked the way how this person uses statute cherub, perennials and clematis together with the roses - looks superb.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Hisako's rose garden

  • alla_pa
    16 years ago

    Jumbojimmy,

    Thank you very much for the provided link, you made my day!
    I have never seen so amazingly beautiful photography!
    It's just unbeleivable that this gorgeous garden is only a rooftop pot getto.
    OMG, I still can't get over the stunning quality of the photos.

  • petaloid
    16 years ago

    I love blue salvia with the roses, as in bean counter's photo. Mine is Blue Enigma and is about 4ft tall -- the hummingbirds love it too!

  • greenthumb102
    16 years ago

    I love my allysum with roses. The smell is in my opinion the most amazing smell imaginable. The blanket of white around the roses fills in the area and also serves as a mulch. And the smell is like honey, and travels in the breeze. The only downside is that you have to trim it back a lot to keep it from crowding the roses.

  • stephanotis_1
    16 years ago

    Allysum, large flowered purslane, calibrachoa, superwave petunias, trailing vinca (the annual), and dwarf daylilies.

  • hoovb zone 9 sunset 23
    16 years ago

    I need to get me one of those Joylene Nicole daylilys. That is gorgeous.

    Geranium 'Rozanne' is really terrific!
    {{gwi:289106}}