Thank you all for your input! I appreciate your thoughts and suggestions. The plants in the bed behind the RofS are endless summer hydrangeas, so shouldn't get more than ~4 feet (per the tag anyway), I know they haven't taken a math class either ;) I'm still not sure what I'll do... wait it out and see how fast they grow or plant a third since things look good in threes and as long as I prune them they should stay in bounds okay. I don't have space for carpet roses on either side and think it would probably look funny to just have one in between. I did consider a Miss Kim lilac, but since that would stay shorter I thought it might look odd to have the thing in between be shorter. So I think I'm down to either leaving the 2 and composting well or adding a third. Wellspring, I must confess that you are onto something when you said "It has me thinking that something else about your choices is the real culpritÂ" When we planted the RofS, I thought a lavender RofS was a lavender RofS, and I loved the lavender RofS shrub in the backyard of the house where I grew up. When shrubs first bloomed, I thought something was wrong because the blooms looked odd and mutant. After the second year of mutant blooms, I did a little research and figured out ours are the lavender chiffon variety, and the "double" flowers are normal for that variety. I personally find them ugly and fru-fru, and hate that they are in such a prominent spot. To me, the beauty of a RofS is the contrasting center, and that is covered up by little petal flaps in the chiffon variety :( So that is why I hesitate to plant another RofS shrub there. If it weren't for the fact that I dislike the lavender chiffon blooms, I think I would plant a third one in a heartbeat and stop obsessing over it. If they weren't thriving so well I'll consider ripping them out or at least moving them, but alas they thriving where they are so I have resolved to live with them where they are.

Hi Jbfoodie, I think we have to use latin names, or it will be a misunderstanding. I see now there's a difference between "violets" and "violas" - it's the same in italian, "violette" (Viola tricolor, V.x withrockiana and hybrids, like in Sielverkelt's pictures above) and "viole" (V. odorata and related, like V. riviniana, V. sororia, V. princeana), like in the picture here: (from the garden of my friend Gabriella in Umbria, Italy) Viola sororia (bot blue and white, or spotted like 'Freckles') and V. princeana (amazingly beautiful, the flowers seems to be white porcelain with a blue, thin net painted in their centers) are tuberous, and deciduous, they spread from seeds around the mother plant. Viola riviniana (V. labradorica 'Purpurea'), Viola odorata and Viola hederacea spread by layering stems (hope this is the correct word... Melissa, help me! :o)) but also reseed themselves freely (and abundantely), except for V. hederacea (aka Viola banksii). These violas are also evergreen. Viola hederacea isn't fragrant, unfortunately, but she's so pretty.... Here is a link that might be useful: Viola banksii/hederacea at ASGAP website

You use different pots to ensure that if a water mold fungus, or root rot sets in not all of your cuttings will die. I've started ROS in pots before and they are pretty easy to do. Since I'm a basic and simple person I use this method: Coarse builders sand (not play box sand), Siran Wrap, bamboo stakes and Clay pots. If you tend to overwater (and I do) this helps lessen the chances of root rot. You don't need a tall cutting, so you can use a normal sized clay pot, say 8 inches or so. Use the Bambo stakes (cut to size) inserted in the sand to hold the Siran Wrap up and away from the cuttings. You space your cuttings not only for air circulation but also so that there will be space between the roots when you remove the cuttings from the sand. In an 8 inch clay pot you will probably use 2 cuttings per pot. When a month or so has passed (or if you see new growth) it's simple to gently slide a large spoon or something like that down into the sand and lift up the cutting to see how the roots are developing. Return back to pot if you aren't satisfied. If you are move to a pot that has very well drained potting mix in it (add additional sand or perlite if necessary). Good luck

Just a word of caution re blue star creeper. See my post, "What's the best way to kill blue star creeper", on Sep. 6. Your photo suggests that bsc would work much better than the scenario we had; i.e., as a lawn replacement. It is beautiful and steppable, but so very invasive. Also, when we started the project, we needed a lot of starter plants (at least, we thought we did, not realizing how fast they spread). So we ordered flats through a local nursery and cut them up to plant, rather than buying a gazillion of those small containers, thereby saving a lot of money. The nursery got the flats from somewhere in Oregon, but they weren't available year round and might not be available now. When we were shopping, we just happened to see some ground covers in the large flats; never realized before that they came that way. They were out of bsc flats at the time, but special ordered for us. You might ask at your local nursery once you decide. Good luck on your selection!