Amateur Gardening – 29 June 2019

29 JUNE 2019AmAteur GArDeNING 33

Main photo: GAP. All others Alamy, unless credited

Best rose companions for...

Alchemilla mollis AGm

Yellow-green flowers combined with

lovely softly hairy foliage – it all adds

up to the perfect weed-smothering

partner for roses in any colour. To

spark fresh new foliage, cut the entire

plant back hard and water well after

flowering. H: 16in (40cm).

Vinca

The smaller-leaved and less vigorous

Vinca minor (V. major is too aggressive)

makes a low textured carpet between

and around roses. Choose one of the

delicately variegated varieties such as

cream-edged ‘Argenteovariegata’

(above). H: 8in (20cm).

Geranium

Blue-flowered hardy geraniums, such as

‘Orion’ (28in/70cm, above), provide the

one colour that roses do not, while those

with white flowers, like ‘Kashmir White’

(16in/40cm), will complement all roses.

Their dense cover ensures that weeds

find it hard to establish. H: Varies.

Hesperantha

The kaffir lily’s slender foliage is a good

foil for roses in summer, but in autumn

the spikes of pink or white flowers are

invaluable. Like roses, they dislike

drought. Look for pink ‘Jennifer’ (above)

and ‘Snow Maiden’ (white). H: 2ft (60cm).

Penstemon

Taller penstemons will complement roses

(when they first open), before extending

the display into September and October

• but only if deadheaded regularly.
  Try those in the Pensham Series, like
  ‘Pensham Laura’ (above). H: 28in/70cm.

Artemisia

Finely divided, super-silvered foliage is

a great foil for the foliage and (especially)

flowers of roses. ‘Powis Castle’ (2½ft/

75cm) is bushy and finely feathery;

steadily spreading ‘Lambrook Silver’

(above, 39in/1m) is almost white. H: varies.

Aster

With their delicate daisies in foaming

clouds, asters are ideal between roses

• they’ll steadily enlarge to fill the space
  by flowering time in autumn. Try ‘Little
  Carlow’ (lavender blue) or pretty pink
  ‘Ochtendgloren’ (above). H: 4ft (1.2m).

Ground

cover

textural

contrast

GAP

Hosta

Invaluable among roses, big hosta leaves

smother weeds, hide bare stems and add

substance and elegance. ‘Royal Standard’

(above, 28in/70cm) has lush foliage, and

produces scented white flowers when

most old roses are over. H: Varies.

A long

season

Iris

The slender pointed leaves of irises

make an appealing contrast to roses. Tall

bearded irises have big, bold foliage, but

the narrower leaves of I. sibirica varieties

are more subtle, and the patterning of

their flowers more intriguing. H: Varies.