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Rose companion planting

FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
in Problem solving
Hello, I'm looking for some knowledgeable peeps to help me plan a rose border.

I'm digging it in my parents garden. It will run along the patio so I want lots of nice smelling roses in there but I don't know what to plant with them.
It's clay soil. I think something evergreen at the base to give a bit of structure during all seasons might be good but I'm clueless as to what! First thought, potentilla? 
Any help appreciated! 

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    For low care perennials you should look at geranium macrorrhizum which has scented foliage which stays evergreen but goes red in all but the harshest winters.  It flowers in April/May with palest pink to strong purpley pink flowers depending on variety.  All you need do is tidy up tatty foliage in March.

    Underplant with spring bulbs such as daffodils and hyacinths and maybe some alliums which will also finish flowering before the roses start to flower.

    Another, truly evergreen possibility is bergenia or pachysandra if you want really low maintenance.  Potentilla are either herbaceous perennials which die down over winter or small deciduous shrubs.

    Lavender is good with roses too and its perfume can attract pollinators and deter aphids but it's not good on heavy clay soils.
    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
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    Hi Obelixx thanks for your advice. For some reason I thought potentilla were evergreen! Duh!
    I've never heard of that geranium so I'll definitely try that. I've got some pachysandra in my garden so I'm  familiar with that one. I love lavender but I do worry about the soil. 

  • SophieKSophieK Posts: 244
    Ffoxglove said:
    Hi Obelixx thanks for your advice. For some reason I thought potentilla were evergreen! Duh!
    I've never heard of that geranium so I'll definitely try that. I've got some pachysandra in my garden so I'm  familiar with that one. I love lavender but I do worry about the soil. 

    I have clay soil in Wimbledon and my lavenders have been growing very well, just add a bit of compost when planting. They are evergreen, divine scent, and loved by pollinators - go for it
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I garden on heavy clay soil but digging in tonnes of grit, compost and manure means I can stretch what plants I grow, including lots that prefer a free-draining soil, like achillea and agastache. Lavender always dies on me though, apart from L x Intermedia. The only true evergreen (well, everpurple) I use for underplanting is Euphorbia Blackbird. I’ve just acquired some parahebe to accompany the roses tho, that is allegedly evergreen/semi-evergreen depending on where you live. It remains to be seen of if survives my sub zero winter temps, however!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    sorry sorry to resurrect an oldish thread but I’m only just getting around to doing this! 
    The area in which I’m planting does have a tendency to get waterlogged on one side I’ve noticed so I think I’ll have to avoid lavender. 
    I have some roses for the border already but they’re different colours: Arthur bell, yellow, prima ballerina pink, blackberry nip purple and meilove white . 
    I can decide whether to buy all one colour rose instead. 

    Any opinions about a mixture or colours or stick to one? The border will be about 2,5 metres long x 1m
  • edhelkaedhelka Posts: 2,351
    You obviously need to buy new roses... :D just kidding.
    Roses colours mix well. Mixed roses and one colour perennials or mixed perennials and one colour of roses, both work well. Or even mixed colours + mixed colours for people who like chaotic colourful combinations.
    If it were me, I would be tempted to do yellow and purple roses with blue and purple perennials.
    Just know that Blackberry Nip is more magenta than pure purple but I think it doesn't matter.
  • FfoxgloveFfoxglove Posts: 538
    Hi @edhelka thanks for posting. Am I that transparent? Any excuse to buy new roses...
    your idea of yellow and purple sounds fab! 
    I really like the euphorbia @nollie mentioned. 
    Maybe if I just add a magic carpet yellow rose into the mix the predominant effect will be yellow....
    ...scours Internet...
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