Who doesn’t love a garden full of roses? While these flowers make quite the statement, you may also want to add other flowers to round out the display.
What to plant with roses: When planning your rose garden, you want to be careful about what companion plants you choose. You can think about plants that help ward of unwanted pests, such as allium, in order to keep your roses nice and healthy. You can also think about the extra ground cover, such as ornamental grass, to add to the presentation. Another consideration is plants that flower at different times, such as tulips and lilies, so your garden is always a burst of color. Whatever you pick, just make sure the plants like full sun, well-drained soil, and won’t encroach on the space of your roses.
Which plants grow well with roses?
Lavender
Roses can grow to be quite tall so it’s a good idea to have a plant that is closer to the ground. Lavender is a nice contrast because as long as you annually prune it, the plant won’t intercede with the blossoms of your roses.
Lavender is also a good choice because it needs soil that drains well. Furthermore, while both lavender and roses are very fragrant, the two smells complement each other.
Alliums
With their massive globe-like head of flowers, alliums start to bloom in late spring and will fill in the gaps of your garden as you await your roses to bloom later in summer.
Alliums belong to the same family as garlic, and even their stems will provide a subtly off-putting scent to ward off pests.
Tulips
Tulips, along with other spring bulbs such as daffodils, are incredibly easy to plant. Simply place the bulbs in the dirt in fall and come spring they will burst into color, as if by magic.
The simplicity of tulips allows you to have an easy way to fill your garden in as you wait for your roses to shine. Furthermore, you can cut these bulbs back when they have finished flowering and they then won’t detract from the glow of your roses.
Baby’s Breath
Although often paired with carnations, a baby’s breath is also a great contrast for roses. These tiny, delicate flowers fade into the background and allow roses to show their true colors and really pop to the forefront.
Planting roses and a baby’s breath is also nice because the two flowers are in bloom at the same time. This means you can hardest them together and make a gorgeous bouquet.
Shasta Daisies
The great thing about Shasta daisies is that they are extremely easy to care for. This allows you to spend more time on your roses, which may need a bit more help.
It’s also a nice idea to pair Shasta daisies with roses of a different color. Bright red roses pop next to the white and yellow color of the daisies.
Marigolds
One aspect you may want to consider when planting companion flowers is pest control. Marigolds are an excellent option as they naturally repel hornworms and nematodes.
Furthermore, marigolds attract good insects, such as bees and other pollinators. As a result, both flowers will really thrive together.
Parsley
Yes, you read that right. While most people plant herbs in containers, you can actually plant them anywhere in the garden and parsley can make a great companion to roses.
With a bold dash of green, this herb will help the bright color of your roses really stand out. Furthermore, parsley can deter unwanted pests and its fragrance actually enhances the perfume of roses.
Ornamental grass
You can decide just how tall you want your ornamental grass to be, but it’s best that it doesn’t reach the blossoms on your roses. Instead, have this grass as a shorter plant that will offset the bright hues of your roses while still offering some ground cover.
Clematis
It’s always nice to have different types of flowers in your garden, so why not plant clematis near your rose garden? While clematis starts off as a thin vine with gorgeous flowers, it can actually become quite bushy.
Clematis is fairly easy to grow and has the same needs as roses. Plant it on a trellis so you have more control over the final size of this plant.
Lilies
Just as your roses begin to fade in the summer, your lilies are ready to take action and show off. This is a great companion flower as it ensures you have an endless supply of color in your garden.
Although the two different bloom times mean you aren’t able to construct a bouquet, it does mean your garden is always able to show off its potential. As a bonus, both flowers like plenty of sunlight so the growing conditions are the same.
What should not be planted with roses?
- Fuchsias – Even though their bold colors are attractive, fuchsia like some shade, which goes against the needs of roses.
- Large shrubs – Planting takes a bit of time to become proficient at and one step most rookies make is planting flowers too close together. Both roses and shrubs will continue to grow each year and they can quickly restrict airflow and nutrients.
- Azaleas – These flowers are bright and beautiful but can grow very quickly. In just a few years your azalea bush can overcrowd your roses.
Where should I plant roses in my garden?
Roses are a tad temperamental, so you want to find the ideal growing situation for them.
The key with roses in full sun, so be sure to find an area with at least six to eight hours of sunlight, and always watch out for tree branches that can cast more of a gloom.
Another consideration is soil. The roots of roses don’t like to stand in water so ensure the soil can drain well and doesn’t clump up.
Conclusion
There are many different companion plants to roses. You can select a plant that compliments their flowers, one that wards off pests, or one that provides blossoms at different times of the year.
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