I guess I've not really gotten very far with purple roses. I had a Stephen's Big Purple once that survived much longer than most HTs usually did in NJ. I have The Prince which is more maroon than purple. I have Falstaff which is reddish purple. On even numbered days I am agog at its ability to make really pretty flowers, but on odd numbered days its long list of minor deficiencies tempts me to dig it up and use the space for something else. I guess Paradise touches on purple and I've been surprised by how well it's doing in its first year in my garden - chest high and maybe a dozen blossoms.
Come to think of it, I guess I had Brass Band planted among purple salvia before I moved it. I ended up really regretting that I moved them, but I was not sure why. Thanks, Toni and Cindi for helping me with figure it out. Sadly, there's no going back because Boule de Niege - at four feet tall - is growing in that spot. It suddenly occurs to me that it might be a good idea to extend the salvia into an area where Grande Dame, Firefighter, Leanne Rimes, Paradise Found, and Rainbow Sorbet live. Yes, I'm liking this plan.
(Steve checks out
homestead purple verbena) Wow! That's bright stuff. I can see how it would stand up to the brightest orange, red, and electric pink roses. Does it really bloom nonstop spring to frost? Cold hardy to zone 5? But it doesn't like heavy clay and wet feet in winter? I have been mulling over a plan to surround a small flat area on three sides with Don Juan trained on a fence, then plant california poppies in the sandy soil enclosed by the climbers. I wonder if Homestead Purple verbena might look good around the feet of the roses? Finally, would it look good with Julia Child? Or is the rose too pale?
