Cinco de Mayo's blooms change from coral to salmon to lavender as they age. Sun or shade doesn't seem to matter. The blooms last a fairly long while and it blooms freely, so you have a mix of colors on one bush. That picture you admired with shades of russet to lavender must not have had recently opened blooms, because they open - as you describe - vivid fluorescent orange. Even in the lavender phase there is so much warm undertone - IMO, it's better to go with the warm rather than try to tone it down with cool purples. I've moved mine a couple times and changed its companions. Initially I planted it near dark purples (Intrigue, Midnight Blue) but didn't like that. So I tried Blueberry Hill, a slightly warm lavender with semi double blooms. Sadly my Blueberry Hill was a weak plant and Cinco overwhelmed it to the point that it Blueberry hardly ever bloomed. I do think that might have been a pretty pairing, especially with the similar bloom forms. I decided to move Cinco out of my primarily purple/white bed and stuck it between Easy Does It and Hot Cocoa. I think either would have been OK, all three together was an orange riot. Now I have it in a large planter where it can be its own exotic color show without any competition. I believe my favorite companion of all that I tried was Hot Cocoa. My garden is primarily roses so I don't have specific suggestions for perennials companions. I think something with burgundy or chocolate foliage would look nice; CdM's new foliage is burgundy.

I've heard I should cut these back by a 1/3 or more at some point, in a warm climate like ours. Does anyone agree/disagree or know when I should trim these back for Spring? Thanks in advance.

Thank you! The rose trees do sooo much better than my standard bushes since they are up off the ground. It rains here nearly every other day in the summer and the humidity is horrible. The trees get more breeze and dry out quicker. Although I did lose a cane on one of them due to the wind from a bad storm the other day.

I like the "impossible pies" with bisquik-like mixes, and the impossible taco pie is easy n' tasty, too . and makes excellent planned/left overs.