Confront your fears. And get what you prefer. Sedum in front. Drifts may be hidden, but you will still know they are there. An small raised platform, placed in front of the border, will allow others to peer over the sedums and enjoy the Drifts. Platform shoes is another approach.

Rifis, you crack me up! By all means, platform shoes. I love them anyway.

As for the original question, I have never grown Drift roses, but do they really stay 18 “ tall? I have found few roses that stay as short as the tag says they will. I can hardly imagine the sedum overtaking the roses once the roses mature, but I could be very wrong. As my Dad always said, I was wrong once before. ;)

@judijunebugarizonazn8

Last year it was their second full season and they did not grow that much in height. I don't think they got above 18 inches, as the label says. They do tend to grown more in width.

I think they may end up about the same height if the sedum grows tall enough. When they are close, you never know who might overtake whom, but I do want the Drifts to be visible as they are the start of the bed.

In front :). Looking forward to pictures.

@dianela7analabama

I guess I can do in front and if they get too tall and cover the Drifts, oh well - I'll take them out and move them. Those sedums are like steel.

The way I ended up with them was from what I thought was a tiny weed that had grown on my grandmother's grave. I snatched it and wanted to throw it away but since my grandmother was very special to me, I placed it in the pocket instead and then I forgot about it.

A few days later I found it wilted and again I wanted to throw it away but I couldn't, so I placed it in my luggage. I flew with it over the ocean (I know, technically I shouldn't have) and days later it was virtually a dead tiny weed. But I still couldn't throw it away.

Back home I ended up placing it in a glass of water...miraculously it came back and the rest is history.

Now it is thriving and I have many plants from it.

It's this one:

I wanted something purple, easy and non-costly to accompany the Coral Drifts.

It is such a strong plant, it's incredible. Nothing can defeat it and it's very easy to propagate too. I ended up ordering thunderhead last evening too - for the color.

http://www.allplant.eu/content/pd-23938-1-244653/Sedum_Thunderhead_fp.jpg 

I wish I could find a picture of drift roses with sedum as companion plants to get an idea, but I can't find any. Granted, roses like rich soil and lots of water whereas the sedum doesn't, but I've had them in pots in rich enough soil and plenty watered and they still did fine. I think they're OK either way.

I absolutely love the sedum you are growing and I think it will look fantastic with the drift roses. In my experience the drifts can grow bigger than their stated size given a few years so I am hopping the combo will be perfect. I am growing autumn fire mixed in with the fairy here which has a somilar height as yours but is new and don’t have pictures. I have grown sedum Angelina for several years in-front of the Faun/Fawn.

@dianela7analabama

It looks like your sedum is the low-growing ground cover type. Beautiful combo btw.

Mine is the tall variety, with flowers and upright growth, so it would not be the same thing.

I love your roses!

If you placed the sedum in front of the roses, does this variety let you do the “Chelsea chop” to keep them shorter than the Drift roses? If so maybe that would be an option.

I am not sure what the Chelsea Chop is but it may work. I can always keep them shorter I guess.

I also grow autumn fire with the Fairy and Kendyl Marie (small poyanthas) but I didn’t take pictures last year. It should be pretty similar in size and height to your sedum but it dies To the ground in the winter and it is just barely picking out. I’ll share pictures after it grows

Gorgeous Sedum, Dianela!

I picked it because it was an inexpensive and headaches-free purple companion for the coral drifts. I could easily propagate it from a plant I already have in a pot and did not want to spend on five or so pricey perennials like salvia etc.