ROSES AND PERENNIALS
A Match Made in Heaven
By Terri Hiatt
The myth continues that roses must be grown alone for fear of further disease problems. The belief is that growing other plants close to roses will cut down on air circulation and promote more mildew and blackspot on your roses. If the roses you grow are chosen based on their excellent disease resistance and are give 6 or more hours of sun a day during the growing season and fertilized organically with rose foods like Terosa there is no reason why your roses cannot do beautifully planted amongst other perennials, annuals, bulbs, vines (especially clematis) and even some small shrubs, as long as the shrubs have the same soil (ph) needs and don’t have the root system of a 50 foot conifer.
My list of perennials below are certainly just some suggestions. There are so many other perennials, etc. to include. Come visit me and I can show you some of the best and longest blooming perennials to include with your roses.
ASTERS – Daisy like flowers come in lavenders, purples, pinks and white. Their average height is 2-3 feet. ‘Wonder of Staffa’ and ‘Monch’, both in the lavender/blue tones bloom for months.
CAMPANULA – One of my very favorites is ‘Blue Waterfall’. This variety blooms from June until fall, but is a low growing and spreading plant best used as a groundcover or as a rockery plant spilled over the edges of the rocks. The royal purple ‘Sarastro’ blooms from June until October.
COREOPSIS – These bloomin’ machines are usually in the yellow and orange shades. ‘Moonbeam’, ‘Zamfir’ and ‘Goldfink’ are some of the best choices. Their average height is 2-3 feet.
DAHLIAS – Another obvious choice. Dahlias and roses are fantastic together. Planting just one red ‘Olympiad’ rose along with a 4 foot tall red and white dahlia will yield over 200 cut blooms during the growing season. There are so many great dahlias that I can’t even recommend any. The majority of them are great.
DAYLILIES – Often evergreen, I suggest using the all summer blooming varieties like the bright yellow ‘Happy Returns’, ‘Stella d’ Oro’ and ‘Apricot Sparkles’. All of the above reach 1-2 feet.
DELPHINIUMS – An obvious choice for perennial beds. The 6 foot Pacific series should be planted behind the roses. Available in shorter varieties these majestic beauties come in brilliant blues, lavenders, pinks and whites. They often need to be staked and love the sun.
ECHINACEAS – This wonderful daisy like plant is usually 2-3 feet tall and available in pink, white, orange and yellow. Some have a fruity fragrance. Some great ones are; ‘Sunset’, ‘Sunrise’, ‘Kim’s Knee High’ and ‘Razzmatazz’ to name a few.
HARDY GERANIUMS – This plant is not like the annual geraniums you see everywhere during the summer months. This plant is best used in the front of the border as the best varieties are usually 1-3 feet tall and covered in small blooms in the blues, pinks, purple and white shades. Some favorites include; ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Ballerina’.
LILIES – Like dahlias lilies are planted as bulbs. Lilies can be planted in the spring or fall or as plants growing already which you often see in the nurseries during the summer months. Many lilies are intensely fragrant and easy to grow. Their height ranges from 2-10 feet. Varieties like the white ‘Casa Blanca’ are 4 feet tall and stunning.
NEPETA – ‘Walker’s Low’ is one of the best Nepetas to grow. The aromatic foliage smells of clove and citronella and carries lavender blooms for months. Some believe it keeps bugs away…what about deer?
PEONIES – Granted they only bloom for a month or so, but their spectacular blooms are worth it. Peonies usually come in white, red or pink or a mix of the above colors. Their foliage looks great from April until the first hard frost. The peony reaches 3-4 feet. Peony trees can reach 10 feet.
PHLOX – Because Phlox are prone to mildew make sure you choose the disease resistant varieties. ‘David’ is a fragrant white very disease resistant 4 foot tall variety that everyone should grow. ‘Blue Paradise’ and ‘Eva Cullum’ are other tough varieties to grow with roses.
SALVIAS – Most often found in the colors of blue and purple, salvias are gorgeous, dependable additions to your perennial beds. Some of the best are ‘May Night’, ‘East Friesland’ and ‘Marcus’. Average height is 2-3 feet tall.
VERONICAS – Another category of predominately blue flowered, long blooming plants, Veronicas are usually 2-3 feet tall. Some of my favorites include; ‘Royal Candles’ and ‘Sunny Border Blue’.
Obviously there are hundreds (thousands) of perennials that will do beautifully with roses. Choose perennials that require lots of sun, a rich soil full of compost and Terosa fertilizer and provide 1-2 inches of water during the growing season and you will have so many cut flowers you will think about opening your own flower shop.
Now….get planting!
Terri Hiatt works at Peninsula Gardens as a buyer, designer and rose expert. She teaches gardening classes all over the Pacific Northwest and also at Peninsula Gardens and at Tacoma Community College in Gig Harbor and is the creator of Terosa Ultimate Once A Year Fertilizers. She can be reached at terrihiatt@hotmail.com.
