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What plant to use to underplant roses
in Plants
I have a lovey narrow border which has lots of climbing roses, Clematis and honeysuckle along it. In the spring it has low lying bulbs that come up underneath but I am after suggestions as to what to grown under the roses et al during the season now- there is lots of creeping Jenny which I like but it is looking a bit monotonous. The garden is very much a cottage garden so something English without maintenance would be great. Any suggestions? Would astrantias work?
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I grow verbena rigida under my roses.
It grows to about 12-18" and gently creeps around and fills the space over a few years.
It disappears over winter and the shoots are re-appearing now. It flowers for months on end
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I have just planted Salvia X Jamensis Nachtvlinder it is supposed to protect roses from blackspot and mildew. flowers from June to November.
I only have one rose at the moment but i am hoping to buy a couple more soon.
I have roses that are underplanted with snowdrops and Hellebores. Then hardy Geraniums and Astrantias follow on as backdrop with Alliums and Aquilegias for points of interest and foxgloves and Sidalceas for later in the summer, when ths roses can take over completely. This gives interest for at least 9 months of the year - I want to try for something more in autumn. There are early flowering snowdrops and Hellebores and autumn crocuses so may add them too. Already have some Colchicums to move in from elsewhere.
Mine is quite a wide border in partial shade. If your border is narrow you may have to limit your selection, but all of these are easy to grow with some sun and reasonable soil that is not too wet or too dry.
It would hardly need any maintenance apart from pruning the roses and general tidying IF I didn't have ground elder!
Last edited: 29 May 2017 11:30:16
Both of those look lovely. My roses are peachy and pale pink do they do the verbena and salvia in other colours?
it is a narrow boarder. I have the spring interest with bluebells, daffs and narcissi so it is the interest now that is needed to complement the creeping Jenny. While i love aliums rhere isn't room for their height! (Though I will plant them in my wider boarders for next year!) also have the ground elder so feel your pain!
Do astrantias, the salvia and the verbena self seed? And creep?
Lizziec1988, have a look on Ashwood nurserie website, they have a fantastic selection of salvias in many colours. I also underplant with allchemilla mollis.
I am very fond of Ajuga burgundy glow - a little bit taller than your creeping Jenny and deep blue flowers above a mixture of green and dark red fioliage. It spreads like the creeping jenny, but is also easy to take out if spreads too much. One or two plants (ask your neighbours - somebody is sure to have some) will soon spread out. Pulmonarias are quite good too - nice foliage after the early flowers and don't forget the heucheras - again they spread well. My alchemillas need a damp area and haven't done well where it is too dry for them.
You're going to have fun with this - browse the nearest garden centre for ideas, and then beg bits from friends and neighbours.
So are all salvias good to plant with roses? Mine are a martyr to black spot!
Am I the only one who likes roses on their own, I don't like anything around them.