Best Companion Plants With Roses

When growing roses, it’s not just about the beauty of the blooms; it’s about creating a harmonious, healthy garden that thrives together.

At Dealnew, we believe that roses can be part of a symphony of color, fragrance, and function when paired with the right companion plants. In this advisory blog, we’ll walk you through some of the best plants to grow alongside roses, helping you create a garden that is not only visually stunning but also benefits your roses by providing natural pest control, weed suppression, and improved growing conditions.

Let’s delve into the best practices for choosing companions that complement your roses both aesthetically and functionally, ensuring that your garden flourishes with ease and elegance.

Why Companion Planting with Roses Matters

Roses are famously high-maintenance plants. While their blooms are stunning, they require specific growing conditions and care. By incorporating companion plants into your rose garden, you can ease some of the challenges associated with growing roses. A great companion plant will:

Complement the roses visually, providing color contrast and varying height levels.
Help suppress weeds and shade the soil, reducing the amount of work you need to do.
Protect roses by deterring pests or attracting beneficial insects.
Share similar water, soil, and sunlight needs, reducing competition and maximizing efficiency.

Selecting companion plants carefully is key to creating a harmonious garden. And that’s why Dealnew is here to help you by providing smart advice for your garden to thrive.

Selecting the Right Growing Conditions

When choosing companion plants for roses, the first step is to consider the growing conditions. Roses require full sun exposure, and well-drained soil, and thrive best in USDA growing zones that match their specific type. Therefore, it's important to select companion plants with the same needs. Plants that grow in the same conditions help maintain the overall health of your garden and reduce any unnecessary competition for resources like water and nutrients.

Some great options for companions that align well with roses in terms of growing conditions include English lavender, snapdragons, and lantana. These plants share the same preference for full sunlight and well-drained soil. Lavender, in particular, is a beautiful partner, as its soft purple flowers contrast nicely with the rich hues of roses, creating a striking visual appeal while thriving in the same conditions.

Another aspect to consider is the spacing between your roses and companion plants. To avoid disturbing the sensitive root system of roses, leave at least a 1-foot gap between them and their companions. This ensures each plant has enough room to grow without competing for nutrients or space.

Visually Pleasing Companions: Create Contrast and Interest

In garden design, the aesthetic aspect is just as important as the practical. Roses typically form the centerpiece of any flower bed due to their elegance and vibrancy, but adding companion plants can elevate the garden to another level. Look for plants that provide contrast to the structure and color of roses.

Snapdragons are an excellent choice. Their tall spires add height and contrast to the more rounded and bushy shape of roses, drawing the eye upward and adding vertical interest to your garden. Additionally, snapdragons come in a variety of colors that can be selected to complement or contrast with the color of your roses.

Another great addition is verbena. Verbena’s delicate clusters of flowers come in shades of pink, purple, and white, making them perfect for creating a soft, romantic garden palette. This ground-covering plant fills in spaces between your roses, providing visual unity and a pleasing contrast with the larger, showy rose blooms.

For a more vibrant pop, consider Lantana. Known for their bold colors, lantanas bring in oranges, reds, and yellows that can add a lively burst of energy to your rose garden. They also thrive in the same sunny conditions and well-drained soil, making them ideal companions.

By selecting plants that complement the look of your roses, you not only create a visually engaging garden but also extend the flowering season. Verbena, lantana, and snapdragons all bloom for long periods, providing color even when your roses are not in peak bloom.

Living Mulches: Plants That Help Solve Problems

Some plants do more than just look good beside your roses—they improve the health of your rose garden by acting as "living mulches." These plants help to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and shade the soil, which can reduce the need for additional mulching.

Lavender, catmint, and tall pinks are ideal choices for this purpose. They grow densely enough to cover the ground, preventing weeds from sprouting and competing with your roses for nutrients and water. These low-growing plants also shade the soil, helping to keep it cooler in hot climates, which is essential for maintaining healthy roots in the heat of summer.

Additionally, these plants can help disguise the often bare and leggy stems of roses, creating a more lush and full look for your garden. Their foliage and flowers provide a beautiful underlayer to the taller, more upright roses, creating a garden that looks well-rounded and thoughtfully designed.

Non-Aggressive Competitors: Annuals That Play Nicely With Roses

One of the biggest mistakes gardeners can make when selecting companion plants is choosing varieties that aggressively compete for resources like water and nutrients. Roses are already demanding plants, so it’s crucial to pick companions that don’t exacerbate this issue.

Annuals like heliotropes, lantana, verbena, and petunias are perfect companions because they have similar water and nutrient needs without being overly competitive. These plants thrive alongside roses, providing complementary blooms and foliage throughout the growing season. Annuals also allow you to change up your garden’s design each year if you want to experiment with different color palettes or textures.

These companion plants won’t outgrow or overwhelm your roses, making them ideal for filling in gaps between roses and adding layers of color and interest to your garden beds.

Natural Pest Control: Aromatic Herbs and Repellents

One of the most significant benefits of companion planting with roses is the potential for natural pest control. Certain plants possess natural repellent properties that help to deter common rose pests such as aphids, spider mites, and beetles.

Herbs like geraniums, thyme, sage, and lavender are not only fragrant but also deter pests that could damage your roses. Aromatic plants tend to confuse pests, making it harder for them to locate your roses. Lavender, in particular, is a superstar in this area—its strong scent repels many of the insects that plague roses, such as aphids and whiteflies.

Members of the onion family, such as garlic and chives, also make excellent pest-repellent companions. While their appearance may not be as showy as other companions, planting garlic or chives around your rose bushes can help protect them from harmful insects. These plants emit sulfur, which acts as a natural insect deterrent and may also help to prevent fungal diseases.

Catmint and yarrow are additional options that repel pests. Catmint’s minty fragrance and yarrow’s strong aroma keep aphids, Japanese beetles, and other common rose pests at bay. Not only do these plants protect your roses, but they also add texture and interest to your garden with their delicate flowers and foliage.

Rose Care and Maintenance with Companion Plants

While companion planting is an excellent strategy for enhancing the beauty and health of your roses, it's important to remember that proper rose care is still essential. Roses require regular pruning to ensure good air circulation and to prevent disease. By keeping your roses pruned, you reduce the risk of fungal infections and create a healthier growing environment.

Ensure that your roses and companion plants are spaced correctly—leaving at least a foot of distance between the plants is essential to prevent crowding. This spacing allows each plant to receive the sunlight, water, and nutrients it needs without interfering with the growth of its neighbors.

Regular watering is another key aspect of rose care. When watering your rose garden, make sure to water at the base of the plants to avoid wetting the foliage, as this can promote the spread of diseases like black spots and powdery mildew.

Lastly, keep an eye on your garden for any signs of pests or disease. While many companion plants can help reduce these issues, regular monitoring and care are still necessary for maintaining a thriving garden.

Creating a Harmonious Rose Garden with Dealnew

By incorporating the right companion plants, you can turn your rose garden into a stunning, low-maintenance oasis. Whether you’re looking to enhance the visual appeal of your garden, protect your roses from pests, or reduce the need for constant weeding, there’s a companion plant that can help.

At Dealnew, we’re committed to providing you with expert advice and recommendations to help you grow the garden of your dreams. Roses may be demanding, but with the right companions, you can create a healthy, vibrant garden that requires less work and offers more beauty in return. By following these guidelines and choosing companions like lavender, catmint, snapdragons, and thyme, your rose garden will not only look beautiful but also thrive for many seasons to come.

Happy gardening from all of us at Dealnew! May your roses bloom and your garden grow in harmony.