Re: Companion Plants for Roses

Joe Seals wrote:
Robin:


This is one list I didn't have. So I started putting one together. Here's my first shot.


But let me first say that there's a reason I didn't have a list. First,
good rosarians frown on planting ANYTHING around roses. Call it purity
of passion or cultural focus.




Second, and speaking of cultural focus, roses require MUCH more water
and care (including fertilizer) than typical Mediterranean plants need
or want. In fact, most Meds resent such treatment, if you know what I mean.



Hi

There has been a magnificent response to this and lacking local
knowledge would make it difficult for me to come up with anything
better. I only offer one suggestion which i have seen working very well
locally and that is Lobularia maritima (Sweet Alyssum). This comes in
white, mauve and pink and though short lived self-seeds itself
generously. Being very low-growing however it would not do anthing to
disguise ugly "legs" of the roses. I first saw the pink and white forms
carpeting the ground under standards (tree roses to Americans I think)
along a paved path and was quite enchanted.



I think the argument for planting no companions among roses may have
first arisen in England where in many places damp air is often a problem
and apt to encourage disease especially where the roses are hemmed in
by tall vegetation. In a dry climate on the other hand the opposite
might apply with the companions hogging a fair part of the water
supplies so urgently required to keep the roses healthy. I myself grow
some of the smaller Austin roses in their own bed with only small
creeping groundcovers, but my larger roses (the majority of which are
standards) all occupy spaces in a mixed border.



Regarding the larger herbaceous plants mentioned by several people as
companions i would like though to sound a note of caution. No doubt as a
result of the combination of extra moisture and specially enriched soil
in the near vicinity of the roses, I have had a few Agastache in
particular get quite out of hand and even try to overtop some of the
standards. I now try as far as possible to exclude tall growers in the
near vicinity of any of the roses



Moira

--

Tony & Moira Ryan,

Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm

NEW PICTURES ADDED 4/Feb/2004














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