I have two newly planted shrub roses. One I am attempting to train in sort of an espaliered fashion against a fence and the second is a rosa glauca. I wanted to plant some perennials around them and hopefully something low enough to see the roses, but that could possibly attract beneficials and be attractive with it? The rosa gluaca will have a single pink rose with a white center and the trained rose is a penelope with small roses that open apricot and fade to cream.
I have heard of lavender,lamb's ears or nepeta suggested. I don't think any of those are going to work for me. Although I would love the look of nepeta, would I attract cats to the yard? Any other ideas?
Thanks :-)
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Something to grow in front of roses for protection?
lamb's ears do not need a lot of water and roses do. Keep in mind as you think about this, the types of plants that will be tended and stay with things that are tended the sane as roses. Such as something that likes water, since roses like water. Chives/garlic is always good and helps to keep bad bugs away from the roses. yarrow is beautiful, lavender (which i favor),santolina as a border,mint helps keep bugs away but do not plant too close, marigolds are good for keeping bad bugs away.
