Verbena homestead purple. No succumbing.

Rozanne, perennial geranium would look beautiful.

Hi ladies,

thanks for the suggestions!

lilyfinch, yep it was posted that long ago. Maybe houzz was hiding my post. But, y’all found it :)

if y’all have these combos would you share a pic.? I’m a visual learner.

Now, to decide seeds or plants.

thanks!

I too suck at combining plants. But I think my combination of QoS works well with an Endless Summer pink/blue hydrangea. When the Queen is not blooming, my hydrangea provides blooms during the summer. The Queen being very tall and normally producing blooms on the top half, the hydrangea provides adequate cover for her barer bottom.

I agree that it will also pair well with a blue geranium like Roxanne. But I have found that Roxanne is a thug. A less thuggy blue geranium that you may want to consider is Havana Blues. It blooms much better than Roxanne and is very well behaved. Though if you have enough space for Roxanne to spread, it may work very well for your bed.

Here's a pic of Havana Blues geranium. It blooms from June to September.

In June

In August

My 3 Queen of Sweden are also near hydrangeas and tall garden phlox. Works well for me so far.

In my zone 7b they put on a great spring flush, then start growing straight up like the jolly green giant. I just cut them back and they don't mind and give me intermittent blooms after the first flush. They seem to like morning sun and afternoon shade.

In zone 8 you should be able to reliably overwinter stoechas lavenders like anouk (below). I have to grow it as an annual here, but its still one of my favorite companions for pink roses.

Oh I was going to suggest a sage...An Anise Blue one, like this:

Or my perennial favorite, Blue Clock Flower (Thunbergia Battescombei)

Both of these will take far more heat and humidity than any rose.

Oh how pretty, Karen , do you cut your hard and strait across? Perhaps I need a new method, I just deadhead and my shrub isn't so great looking. I actually cut it to the ground this spring as I had so much ugly going on it wanted it to start over . I need to look for that geranium..I love geraniums!

Ben lovely photos! That look like the black and blue salvia I am thinking of . Hummers love it therefore I love it . I saw a lovely photo of "amistad " salcvia as well .

Eb that lavender is so gorgeous

Ok, Y'all gave me great suggestions! I have ordered some Salvia from here

Colonia Creek Farm - I ordered 2 each of Omaha Gold Hummingbird Sage (s. guaranitica) and Mexican Bush Sage 'Midnight' (salvia leucantha 'Midnight')

Regarding Lavender, I have tried several types in the past in pots with well draining soil and they look great until about mid-May. Then they just die no matter what I try. It's just too humid and rainy here for them.

I'm going to look into Shasta or Becky Daisies, more Echinacea (I have a few), cranesbill (boy are these expensive!! 15.00+ at all the online plant sites I've seen. Cranesbill may be too expensive for me!

If anyone wants to trade some divisions of their plants for either a Brugmansia Frosty Pink (rooted and ready to go!) or a Loquat seedling, let me know!

Thanks!

KarenPA What a lovely rose in your pic!

ebharvey1, that is such a gorgeous plant. I have never seen or heard of it. Do you think it would pair well with my Olivia? Do you grow yours from seeds?

BenT, I also like your combo ideas very much. Do you think both of your plants hardy for zone 6? I think the blue will look really nice with my Golden Celebration.

Thanks, Svetlana! It is a good spring bloomer but rather scant the rest of the year unfortunately. I am going to try to correct this by pruning her hard down this July and then follow by a feeding in mid August. Hope it will give me a good fall flush.

I agree with Ben on the sage - I have some that blooms lavender - don't know the name but it has small leaves - came back great after the 10 degrees we got this winter. I cut it back after flowering, it flowers again. I love salvia May Night - its a perennial that blooms, if you cut it back, all year for me. I just found a fuchsia colored one that is gorgeous. I love daylilies with roses - they make a great edging. Salvia farinacea is perennial here and is a good mix with roses. Zinnia seeds scattered among the roses is always lovely. For annuals, verbena, periwinkles are good.

Judith