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Companion/complimentary plants for a rose in shade

Mr. Vine EyeMr. Vine Eye Posts: 2,394
in Plants
Hi, I've got a new bed that I made by making our garden path narrower. It runs along a North facing fence for nearly four metres. It's about 60cm front to back, maybe a tad more.

I'm planting a climbing rose in the middle to train along the fence. Obviously that still leaves space for planting in front of it and along the rest of the bed.

Ive been reading advice on good plants to put with roses in terms of warding off pests or just looking pretty next to them, however all of these - salvias, Lavendar, allium etc. want a decent amount of sun and this bed receives only indirect sunlight for the majority of the year apart from midsummer, when it receives afternoon sun.

So I wondered if anyone had some recommendations of good shade tolerant plants that would compliment roses aesthetically or give some health benefits.

Thanks
East Yorkshire

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    There are quite a few hardy geraniums that do well in shade - phaeum, Ann Folkard or Russell Pritchard, sylvaticum.  Alstroemerias should do well, bergenias for early colour then primulas and foxgloves for a bit later and Japanese anemones for late summer.    If the soil is moist rather than dry, try astilbes, chelones, hostas..... but those last will need slug protection. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    Yes there are lots you can do with that....  these are what I have north facing with my roses that grow there..
    early Spring... Brunnera 'Jack Frost'... planted en masse... it's very easy to grow and propagate..
    for late Spring/early Summer Aquilegias... mixed varieties in blue and yellow... 'Blue Barlow' is a favourite..

    ..and Foxgloves...an essential with roses of all kinds..

    for June onwards I grow Astrantias… they need no protection from slugs as they don't touch them...  I recommend Astrantia 'Roma' and/or Astrantia 'Warren Hills'..

    ..these have a long flowering season right into autumn, I've still got flowers on Astrantias now..  

    For front of border I use Geranium cantabrigiense varieties... the usual kind is 'Biokovo' which is white, but there are pink kinds like 'Karmina' and 'Cambridge'.. these flower from mid May to mid July...  Geranium 'Patricia' flowers into autumn..

    If you can afford it, do try and plant in groups of 3 or 5,.. a single one on its own doesn't have much impact... but you can divide these easily from the 2nd year to make more plants...  


    Those are my choices.. may not be yours... so happy choosing and go for what you really like the look of...
    East Anglia, England
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    I might as well put up some photos, as I usually do... not everyone would like my packed cottage garden style, you might prefer the neat and tidy look , but here are the plants I like to grow in shade under my roses... this is a narrow bed, with quite a few roses in it, on obelisks and free standing..

    I don't like daffodils in rose beds but I do grow a perennial tulip called 'Lady Jane',  it's very easy and comes up every year.. shade or sun..


    Brunnera 'Jack Frost' weaving through..


    I also grow pink and white Dicentras…


    and Primula japonica 'Millers Crimson'...


    mixed Aquilegias...


    those Geraniums I mentioned above... for edging a shady border...


    Astrantia 'Roma'... one of the best you can get...


    You wanted something beneficial, so you should consider the simple herb Chives... it will grow in sun or shade, I have lots of it.. it flowers all summer too, and starts very early into growth...

    East Anglia, England
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    And together with all those above I’d suggest Alchemilla mollis because it looks fabulous with pink roses. Just cut it hard back after flowering to avoid selfseeding and you’ll get a new flush of gorgeous foliage within a few days. 

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





  • Mr. Vine EyeMr. Vine Eye Posts: 2,394
    Thanks for all the suggestions there are some great looking plants there. I'll definitely be getting some of the ones suggested.
    Love the look of Astrantia Roma and some of the Hardy Geraniums particularly.
    East Yorkshire
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