Moses, I’ve always intermingled shrubs, herbaceous perennials, dahlias etc. with roses. My longest flowering shrubs are probably the shrubby salvias. I have some big, sprawling ones, but there are much better behaved, compact varieties on the market these days that would play better with roses in more restricted spaces. Which gives rise to my question - is this variety of buddleia really as compact and well-behaved as advertised? If not it could soon swamp your roses. Maybe it would be safer to experiment with some perennials that would give you a similar look?

I had two Buddleia Pugster Amethyst towards the front of one of my flower beds a few years ago. I planted them as soon as they became available so they had a long season to establish roots. They looked great all summer, stayed nice and compact and bloomed extensively. Sadly both of them didn't survive the next winter. I don't think it was the cold in my zone 5b/6a Indiana garden at the time. I think what did them in was the clay soil in my area that holds lots of water each winter. I think color wise and size wise they could work well with roses. Let us know what you decide to do. Good luck!

Thank you Nollie. Your wisdom always blesses me. Yes, any flowering plant, be it a woody/semi woody bush or perennial has to have well behaved growth, and particularly have foliage that does not shade its neighbors nor restrict air flow. Buddleia Pugster Amethyst is small, 2'x2', a profuse bloomer (its appeal to me), has a flower color that proceeds, and is in an appealing light pastel lavender shade, but the bush does have very dense foliage growth. Maybe just two placed carefully to experiment is the order of the day. In my climate, Buddleia are always planted in spring to let them get their roots well out into native soil before winter so survivability is Increased. Winter survival of the dwarf/miniature Justified is often an issue in colder zones, even here in 6b.

In the meantime I have several months ahead to consider other plant possibilities to incorporate into my rose bed. The ideal candidate must be a long, long continuous bloomer, light colored, self leaning or easy to dead head, survive winter, and have rugged, disease free foliage with an airy form. If it's out there, I'll find it.

Thanks again, Nolie.

Moses.

Both when I gardened in western Massachusetts (5a) and here, too, I've grown Caryopteris 'Dark Knight' among my roses and have found it very nice. It grows to around 2 to 3' every year, blooms for at least several months, and is easy and long-lived. It is the Caryopteris variety I like best of the ones I've grown.

Thanks Marcindy. I have had some hands on experience where I gardened in an additional location other than my home garden some few years ago. It was also in my zone, 6b. Small Buddleia varieties died out their first winter. Only stalwart varieties likelike the workhorse Buddleia Pink Delight (still a top butterfly bush), survived winter admirably.

The word on Buddleia Pugster Amethyst is that because for its robust, thick stems, survivability in its coldest zone limits is pretty good.

Will keep you posted on the outcome...now I am challenged to proceed.

Moses.

Catspa, your recommendation comes well received. I have always admired Caryopteris, but have no hands on experience with it that I can recollect. Will investigate further. Thanks!

Moses.

Well good luck, hope they work out for you. You have opened my eyes to the possibility of dwarf buddleias, so thanks for that. There is a series called ’Butterfly Candy’ my go-to online shrub supplier carries that look very appealing!

My preliminary research on your Butterfly Candy series, like Lil' Raspberry, made my jaw drop! What a beauty....2-3' tall may be a bit too tall, but I may be able to keep it to 2' with careful pruning. The amazingly abundant blooms don't seem to bend over or arch down as so many Buddleas do. Amazing! Upright posture is a strong asset here.

Moses.

Yes Moses! I grow many perenials in my beds. I just added some pugster whites to the front. I think that collection is perfect as companion plants for roses and you will enjoy them very much!

Nollie, et al,

Take a look at this video:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=jKdtYUykVHA (*)

This dwarf Buddleia is 'Little Rockstars,' series, 1'-20" tall, in all the usual colors

Moses.

(*) Overdevest Nurseries Little Rockstar series Buddleia bush. Nollie, you may not be able to click the link above....possibly some Houzz quirk at work.