What to grow in a rose garden besides roses?

[CruCru]

I've just planted eight roses in a little rose garden. What should I grow alongside them? At the moment they are a bunch of stalks in bare soil so I could use something to accompany the roses.

I love white foxgloves but they are very poisonous and I have small kids. What about some upright Rosemary?

Lavender is supposed to keep aphids at bay, it is also easier to keep under control than rosemary.

Came on to say lavender too.

Made for eachother, lavender and roses are

I have my roses under planted with marjoram and oregano. It has been working well for the last 15 years. Random other plants make guest appearances.

Ah that's a good idea, thanks! Does lavender like the same conditions as roses?

Gysophila for me because I love it in a vase with cut roses .

Problem with planting lavender is that roses thrive in well watered rich soil. Lavender likes light soil and dry conditions.

Well, I've had to dig in about 200 litres of compost as the soil was so tired. So I could possibly plant the lavender in the bits away from the piles of compost.

Bit random but I've had a look at French lavender (the stuff with the ears). It is semi hardy and we have no greenhouse. We live in the Isle of Wight so hardly ever have a frost. Do you think it would survive?

Roses like clay soil. Lavender hates clay soil. The combination looks beautiful in magazines but is doomed. ::bitter experience::

Perovskia and nepeta have a similar sort of look but may be more likely to thrive. Or how about underplanting with hardy geraniums?

Classic/safe choice would be lady's mantle alchemilla mollis

Ooh, yes. Alchemilla mollis.

I have heavy clay soil and roses and lavender and rosemary that's grown up to chest height, all in the same bed. Go figure.

My roses are shades of pink and are underplanted with golden thyme, oregano and chives, the onion smell works like garlic to be a natural deterrent to aphids, supposedly anyway, Johnson's Blue geranium (Cranesbill) and Convolvulus Cneorum. I've also got some lovely big blue Delphiniums in that bed and Cistus both white and pink, which is good value and evergreen.

Well, I have heavy clay everywhere in the garden - except this bed. I got some guys in to clear it (it was massively overgrown) and the soil left was this thin, sandy stuff. It looks as though it's just really tired so I've ploughed in a load of compost.

All good ideas - thanks!

I have rose beds surrounded by a low lavender hedge. Both are thriving in a very windy exposed area. Soil is rich soil/compost, on top of clay.

I mulch the beds with compost every year - and the lavender is very happy. I would recommend that you put in a very free draining and sunny area, though - I think lavender will tolerate most things except being waterlogged!

Underplanted with heuchera, hardy geraniums and lots of salvias & penstemons. Tulips & alliums in spring/ early summer & veronica and sweet peas to add a bit of height.

Would mint work or would it totally take over?

I have Six Hills Giant Catmint/nepeta under our rose walk. It is hardy, easy to propagate, has a lovely habit, you can cut it back two or three times and get new growth and flowers. Much easier than lavender if your conditions are not exactly right.

ive seen sage growing with roses as well - my favourite is alchemilla mollis because it is lovely picked with the roses and put in jugs in the house.

I love nepeta but already have quite a lot of it. I've found Calamintha Nepeta (blue / white cloud) really hard to get hold of.

Okay I've ordered some Rosemary, lavender, lady's mantle, yarrow, salvia, sage, thyme and heuchera. Thanks all for your help.

Hi all

I know I'm resurrecting an older thread but here's a picture of my rose garden so far.

That is going to be lovely in the summer CruCru

Thanks! I'm very excited. The lavender has bracts already (but hasn't flowered).

Would love to sed a photo in a few months time .

Will do! Not convinced the roses will flower this year, they were planted this spring.