Daisy's recommendation of Catmint, Nepata 'Walker's Low,' may be a better choice over lavender. It is far more adaptable than lavender, and just as beautiful, but in a different way.

Lavender grows best in intense, full sun. It also must have excellent draining, poor, sandy/gravely soil to do its best, which is incompatible with the cultural needs of roses. Grown next to each other just supplying the water needs of roses could adversely effect the lavender.

Moses

Daisy,

Your photos show that you have a wondrously magnificent garden! Is that kiwi vine in your first shot? If so, can you grow the fuzzy kiwi or the little, smooth fruited kiwi?

Moses

I have two Walker Lows in our one rose bed...Might add another one next year by taking a cutting...Bees love them!

I have one on the slope in front of The Faun and Mel’s Heritage. It’s very happy with the good drainage because it’s grown to a good 4F wide. I’ve forgotten what kind it is. It’s low water and no fuss. What’s not to like? I really don’t even take care of it. The key is good drainage. Lisa

Oops, I just read Mr. Moses’s comment. He’s right, but I get away with it, even in my heavy clay soil. I think the reason is that it’s planted on a steep slope, and I never water it. It may get a bit of runoff from the drip irrigation to the rose above it, but not much. So it can succeed, it just needs the right spot. Lisa

I have Spanish lavender planted near Burgundy Iceberg rose bushes. It looks great side-by-side. Fantastically pretty when both are in bloom. However, lavender has been a short-term bloomer for me so I wouldn't believe it if the description says it flowers all summer long. It flowered for maybe three-four weeks in late May/early June, and that was that. So be sure you are OK with the look of just foliage, not flowers.

I agree - Lavender is a lovely almost silver gray so it is a pretty contrast with the roses. But it doesn't bloom long and it will rot out either from too wet or too much fertilizer. It also hates any type of sprays, fungal or pesticide. It is not winter hardy anymore in my gardens even with mulch. Augustifolia is the most common available. The plants will say hardy to zone 5 but the seeds will say hardy only to zone 6. I seed up about a dozen plants every summer and overwinter them in my greenhouse window and have new plants ready to put out in the spring.

I have never grown lavender(I use nepeta fassenii instead) but have read that the English varieties can handle more water than the French, hence they are better companions for roses.

Heres a better pic of our Walkers Low Catmint

Agree - roses need way more water than lavender, which is a challenge if you plant them next to each other. If you really love lavender, you could try putting it in a pot - that way you can feed / water it differently from the roses. (I have some potted lavender, and I planted it in a mix of 3/4 potting soil + 1/4 sandy cactus soil.)

Sorry Moses, I have been away from my computer for a few days.

Much as I love Kiwi, I do not grow it. I think, what you can see, are the leaves of my apricot tree which is overhanging that bed.

Daisy