Do you already have roses planted in your garden but are looking for plants that would maybe complement them?
Well, your quest has certainly led you to the right place!
This article will walk you through some of the more popular pairing choices for roses and why those pairs work so well together. Let’s get right into it, shall we?
9 Best Companion Plants For Roses
Let’s take a look at the best companion plants for roses that will also make your garden even more beautiful!
9 – Lavender
Combining roses with lavender can turn your garden into a fragrant heaven. Both plants complement each other very well in every aspect including color contrast, texture, scent, and visual appeal.
The bushy but lush growth of roses combined with the spiky upright blooms of lavender just make for an eye-catching duo.
8 – Catmint
Catmint can be a solid complementary plant for roses. Their color contrast is striking and the combined fragrance of both plants will come through really well.
The deep and vibrant shades of roses paired with the soothing hues of catmint is really a match made in heaven. Roses also showcase thick foliage while catmint is a more “open” grower. For a garden, these differences are what make it alive.
7 – Verbena
When looking for a companion plant for your roses, it’s important only to select plants that won’t aggressively compete for water, sunlight, or nutrients in the soil.
Verbenas fit this requirement very well and also complement the aesthetic appeal of roses. Furthermore, if you wish to attract pollinators like hummingbirds or butterflies to your garden, pairing roses with verbenas is a literal shortcut!
6 – Lantanas
Lantanas and roses can be a highly effective pairing because they both especially complement each other’s strengths.
The color contrast can be pleasingly different and striking since roses usually have soft pink, red, and white flowers while lantanas bloom in an unmatched diversity of vibrant colors including purple, orange, and yellow.
The biggest upside of having lantanas with roses, however, is the brilliant sweet, and complex fragrance these plants give off when together. Anyone who visits your garden when both plants are mature and blooming will leave with an unforgettable sensory experience.
5 – Marigolds
Although, yes, marigolds definitely add to the visual appeal of roses in a garden, that’s actually not the primary reason you should pair the two.
Marigolds benefit roses because their strong scent helps combat insects and pests which unfortunately are common with roses.
This pairing will allow your roses to grow safely, maintain integrity during vulnerable periods, and keep your garden pleasantly fragrant.
4 – Salvias
Like the verbenas, salvias too attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Combining roses with salvias can be a solid idea for aesthetics and even practical purposes.
The color combination in the garden will be one to drool over because the soft hues of roses go amazingly with the spiked salvia blooms that just ooze color and vibrancy.
Also, since salvias are known to repel pests and insects, they can practically allow roses to thrive by giving them an ideal environment.
3 – Peonies
Peonies and roses have pretty similar needs when it comes to overall care and maintenance. Generally speaking, peony blooms are often much larger in size compared to roses and they will definitely appear overpowering if you plant too many of them at once. The trick with peonies and roses is to make them complement each other in the garden and achieve aesthetic through balance.
2 – Bee Balm
Bee balms go very well with roses in the garden to create a vibrant and dynamic scene. Both plants contrast each other in terms of maintenance and visual aesthetics but that is how they bring out each other’s strengths.
1 – Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks complement the bushy nature of the rose plant because of their vertical growth patterns. They also attract pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies, meaning your garden will be uplifted in all the good ways.
Final Words
Choosing a companion plant isn’t as complex as people make it seem.
In your quest for the perfect companion plant for your roses, it’s important to consider factors like sunlight tolerance, growth habits, soil requirements, and maintenance procedures.
Don’t just create pairs based on what sounds good; it would be a big mistake that could ruin your garden! Always make a calculated choice and observe how your roses respond to it.
