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What’s this amongst the roses?!

Liz WarnerLiz Warner Posts: 199
in Plants
This is a poor screenshot from a recent episode of gardeners world. They spoke about roses being able to grow with other plants in close proximity. Any idea what this purple flower is growing amongst the roses? Is it catmint? Thanks  
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I'm on my phone and can't see it very clearly, but to me it looks as if it could be Linaria purpurea

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Nick does say in that segment (min 21) that the roses were growing with nepeta.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    edited August 2018
    Blowing it up, they look like Linaria purpurea.  I think it is too tall for Nepeta.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Whether it is or isn't, LP goes great with roses, whatever the colour
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Janie BJanie B Posts: 963
    I grow salvia caradonna amongst mine as I read somewhere that they were great companion plants (something to do with the bugs)... 


    Lincolnshire
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    That's beautiful janieB
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    the OP does look like Linaria but it's not too tall for Nepeta. I have some that are at least 5' til they fall over


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Liz WarnerLiz Warner Posts: 199
    Janie B-your photo confirms I NEED to put one of these options in amongst my roses! They’re beautiful. I definitely need something to fill the gaps at the base of the roses. Like the look of the nepeta-is it like mint in that it will spread a lot? I’ve had several salvias, admittedly in other parts of the garden, and I can’t get them to look right. They either spread with bare patches in the middle or get eaten by something. 
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,700
    edited August 2018
    The are not like that at all. They may sprawl a bit but they tend to thrive in poor drier soils in full sun and need little watering. Classic combinations have always been Nepeta around the base of roses.
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    Liz Warner.... gardeners will often recommend Catmint to plant with roses, it's blue, it looks nice with those spikes, but may I caution you against this, as like mint, it's a thug and will spread by underground runners coming up right in the middle of your roses and everywhere else in the vicinity...  I'm not always convinced that those who recommend these types of plants grow that many roses... but still...

    I used to grow two... nice as they were in the first season, 'Weinheim Summer Blues', and 'Walker's Low'... I'm delighted to report I got rid of both..  need I say more?

    This is 'Weinheim Summer Blues' at bottom of photo..  I had to give it the Chelsea Chop twice to keep it compact...  it's gone now,  better to grow the blue on the right which is Penstemon 'Westminster Belle'...


    East Anglia, England
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