Reader’s Question
Annette Groenewaldt from Upington asks: I would like to know what would be a good companion plant to add to my rose garden.

Anna’s Answer
I presume you have enough water in scorching Upington for a lovely rose garden. If this is the case, there are many perennial plants that will be good companions for your roses.

• Lavender is the first one to come to mind. It likes dry heat and has the added advantage of keeping plant lice away.
• White gaura (Gaura lindheimeri) is another good choice. Use the more compact varieties such as Gaura lindheimeri ‘Siskuyu Pink’ and cut them back regularly to ensure more flowers.
• Alyssum also works well because you can sow it yourself. Its flowers have a sweet fragrance and are low growing.
• Lobelias and Dianthus are also pretty and have a long flowering season before they have to be planted again.
• Groundcovers such as morning glory (Convolvulus sabatius) and Erigeron karvinskianus work well in combination and look especially lovely under white or pink roses.
• Low-growing rosemary and Corsican mint will also do well.
• You can actually plant any groundcover or annual plant under your roses, as long as it likes to be watered as regularly as the roses and is not intrusive by nature.

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