How about something deep, dark purple? Or how about another, smaller rose (or plant) in the same color range but not as bright? I do that quite a bit and it looks nice, kind of a two toned effect.

Lynn

How about some low growing blue or purple perennials - lavender, one of the lower veronicas, a blue companula, etc.

If you have room, try the mini rose Green Ice around the edges. In bud form, it has a slight pink/coral hue, opens to white, and picks up a slight green shade in some weathers. It grows about 1 ft tall and spreads maybe 1.5 ft wide. Good bloomer and good disease-resistance. I think it would look great with your bright beauties.

Kate

Thanks all. I was thinking about a lavender but they like a sunny, dry site. Mine is a sunny site, but would a lavender withstand being watered quite regularly?
I do have some short campanula planted around it 'blue pearl' I think it's called, but it isn't tall enough to hide anything. I also thought of some salvia.
I like the idea of the mini roses! They could be fed right along with the main hybrid tea.
I also thought about a smaller version shasta daisy, but I'm not sure how shasta daisies would look next to a coral colored rose. How about achilleas? I've never grown them but I wonder if they would look alright.
I appreciate the ideas! I've been thinking all summer about what to do with Maria Stern, and couldn't come up with anything! Her color is soooo unique that it's hard for me to find anything that looks quite right.
I do have some clems planted in my other garden. Maybe a shorter clem? It might overwhelm the rose though. It's a thought.
So far I'm leaning on the mini roses. So many colors to choose from too.

I vote for a dark purple or rose-purple salvia. There are soem new varietiens that stay shorter but spread out to fill a space beneath a rose very well. Either kind would complement your Maria Stern well.

I have Oh So Easy Paprika rose which has similar coloring. Mine looks wonderful with Salvia farinacea, Rhea (true blue) and Salvia Mystic Spires (navy blue). Not only do the colors look great together, but the spiky form really complements the roses too. I also have a chartreuse Chaemycyparis in that bed. It makes oranges just sing.

I was also thinking about asters, maybe some purple or 'blue' asters?

Kentstar, I have lavender and salvia in front of my roses, and I just water the roses near them (by hand, with a hose, though)completely avoiding them. They both like it dry and sunny, so they do not want any water other than rain. I haven't killed them yet, and it's been a few years now!
Maybe it's just the kind I have, but asters sure love to spread. That might not be a good idea, but perhaps they are not all like that.
Judith

Geranium 'Rozanne' covers the "bare knees" perfectly here.

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Asters won't bloom until fall; my purple ones are starting to open up right now. They also get pretty tall and flop easily, and must be divided every couple of years because they get invasive.

If you're thinking along the lines of purple, I have a lot of purple salvia growing in my beds. It must be cut back 2-3 times a year, but it's easy to do with big loppers. The bees also love it. I noticed since I planted salvia, the deer avoid my roses also...another plus!

I also grow lots of minis in my rose beds, along with daylilies, irises, candytuft, and daisies. Bluestone Perennials has tons of perennials for cheap also and may give you lots of ideas; I bought the salvia from there and it grew quickly.
-terry

Hidcote lavender might be a good choice. It's hardy down to zone 4 (which is why I got it) and it doesn't seem to mind extra water. In fact, I have some in front of my roses (to deter the deer) and they get watered much more than recommended and are doing very well. I think they're bluer than most kinds of lavender and they look very nice with a Tamora (peachy/pink) David Austin rose I have planted with them.

The perfect rose to blend with that color is Rokoko. It is light yellow that fades to an off white. A sort of buff color. A large nicely formed flower. Stands out.

One problem it that it is hard to get. Hortico seems to be the only supplier in North America. Wait a minute also a company called Martin & Krause also in Canada. By the way it is a Tantau rose.

One reason lavender and roses are frequently planed together is that their watering needs are the same. You may be over-watering your roses. Once a week in summer is quite sufficient, except for band babies in extreme heat. Deep water your roses so the roots are forced down, which strengthens the plants and keeps the roots at a more constant temperature. If you water too often, the roots stay close to the surface--and are more likely to freeze in winter.

Soft yellows would be another choice; it would smooth out the orange and help rest the eyes.

You have received excellent suggestions, really.
I just add two candidates I would consider. Both are landscaping roses by meilland and as such have the problem of being NOT fragrant. However, they are healthy and repeat well.
One is "botticelli" (Meisylpho ) , pinkish orange (starts pink then turns pink-orange):
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(the dots on the leaves are paint, I was painting some wooden windows nearby)

The other is "cocorico" (Meilasso ), bicolor.
Cocorico came in my garden due to a mistake by the nursery, and I was angry, but when I saw these blooms I was no more angry, not at all:
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PS: lavender is used together with roses also because it is said to be a deterrent for aphids. Furthermore, if used together with HT roses, lavender covers their ugly naked canes.

Beautiful roses, Daniel! Amazing!

I think that bicolor would really complement the vividness of Maria Stern. I think the white too! brings enough contrast.

I think the blue companion idea is right. I would also suggest... don't be afraid... a bright, darker intense pink, like the color of Electron or Peter Mayle. I think it would like great with Maria Stern, but since the brightness is already frightening you, it might be too much.

The right yellow would work, as well. I would not do white.

Check out some varieties of bluebeard. That might work.

I would second the use of yellow, which would bring out the yellow in Maria Stern and create a golden glow. Two short growing yellow roses would be Julia Child and Sun Flare. The short habit would help cover the knees of Maria Stern. Both Julia Child and Sun Flare have good fragrance

Julia Child left, Sun Flare right, Falstaff middle
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I already have Maria Stern, so I'm not looking for a rose, just something to cover her bare ft.
I am going to plant just 3 asters around her, the other can go in front of a miscanthus gracillimus that I have. I'm sure I can shear the asters down some in June to keep them from flopping so much. Pinching them back will help too.
Thanks all for your help and suggestions! If the asters don't work out there, then I can move them to a more suitable place.

I don't have any plant suggestions, but the best way to tone down a color is to plant something that will harmonize with it rather than contrast. So, something in a light shade progressing toward a color harmony. That's my 2 cents.

Also, it just occured to me that an ornamental grass might work there like Fescue.

Barbara

Here is a link that might be useful: Blustone's Dwarf Fescue