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What shall I plant under my roses

HortusHortus Posts: 43
in Garden design
I have 2 roses under my sitting room window (Queen of Sweden) that are behind a small box hedge as you can see from the images.(Sorry I cannot get the images to stay rotated)
I think the gap between the bottom of rose and the top of the hedge looks a bit odd so I am thinking of planting something to fill the space.
For spring there are already some bluebell and daffodils there but otherwise it is a bit sparce.
I am thinking of lavender but wanted to know if anyone had any other ideas.


Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Nepeta looks good under roses. Alchemilla mollis also works well. If you don’t want it to spread just remove the flowers before they seed. 



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





  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    For a similar colour to lavender, I use Nepeta under pink roses. The Nepeta to seems to cope better with the richer conditions (and feeding) that roses need but still mix in some grit, especially if its clay soil. Lavender needs a not-too-rich, gritty soil with good drainage so might struggle there. Does it get good sun? Most perennials will want to lean out from the wall, especially of its a bit shady.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • oooftoooft Posts: 191
    I don't think lavender and roses have the same feeding and watering requirements. They may not have a long and happy marriage. Nepeta and salvia are great bedfellows for roses
  • HortusHortus Posts: 43
    It is interesting that you have all come back with similar answers.
    I was concerned about the soil type as my soil is stony/sandy so would be great for the lavender but I have to mulch the roses.
    The front of the house is the shadier side but it does still get a reasonable amount of sun.
    I do like the sound of Alchemilla mollis as the citrus green would look good against the dark green of the box and will only come into flower once the spring bulbs have gone over.
    Thanks everyone!
  • OmoriOmori Posts: 1,674
    Another option is penstemon. 
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    We must have all been typing at the same time! 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053
    Just be careful they don't block the airbricks.
    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    No one has mentioned hardy geranium.
    I have G. Patricia climbing up the bare lower stems of a Rose, looks very good.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    I have lavender close to roses on sandy soil and happy but I am not sure if you have enough sun for them there. Also, I am not sure how big is the gap. You don't want to plant too close to the roses.
    I would do some of the hardy geraniums. 
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