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Companion Planting for Roses: Home

Photo courtesy of Flickr cc/Karen Roe
Photo courtesy of Flickr cc/Karen Roe

What makes a good companion?

Plants, like people, are searching for partners that will make them look good, bring out their best qualities and share their space with equanimity — neither overpowering nor paling in comparison.

There are several considerations when choosing suitable plant companions: aesthetics, growing conditions, and plant health. Plant companions should both look good together and require similar growing conditions. Another component of companion planting, one often referred to in organic gardening, is selecting companions that ward off pests, improve the soil or in other ways have a beneficial effect on plant health.

Texture, color, and form are all important in the aesthetics of companion planting. Plants with tall spires complement the wide, cup-shaped flowers of roses, while perennials and shrubs with pale green, silver or purple leaves accentuate the sumptuous rose blossoms. Companion planting can also extend the flowering season by providing color between the main flushes of rose bloom in early summer and fall.

Some plants just seem to be made for each other. The feathery purple and blue-gray catmint (Nepeta) offsets any pale pink rose beautifully, and its wispy spires gracefully camouflage any blemishes that may occur on the rose’s foliage. While the tops of roses are nice and lush, the bottoms can become leggy and sparse. Good companions are those that hide their bare legs. Traditionally, lavender (Lavandula), catmint (Nepeta), lady’s mantle (Alchemilla) and tall growing pinks (Dianthus) all make good partners. Good companions also act as living mulches—suppressing weeds and lightly shading the soil, keeping their roots nice and cool.

Good companions should enjoy the same growing conditions but not compete too aggressively with the roses. Roses do best in full sun and well-drained soil, and so should their companions. Plants that are too aggressive may crowd the roses and take too much water and nutrients from the soil.

Many sun-loving annuals such as heliotropes (Heliotropium), summer-snapdragon (Angelonia), lantana (Lantana), and verbena (Verbena) hold up well throughout the summer and fill the space among roses nicely. They all have modest water requirements and will benefit from the heavy feeding regime that roses demand.

Good companions are said to enhance one another’s growth or, in some way, protect each other from harm. Some companion plants may help discourage pests without the use of chemicals since there are natural substances in their leaves, flowers or roots that repel insects. Roses love garlic is a popular expression. In fact, members of the onion family such as chives, ornamental alliums and edible onions are rumored to increase the perfume of roses, ward off aphids and prevent black spot.

Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence' is a beautiful companion for roses; photo by Ivo Vermeulen

Lavandula x Intermedia 'Provence'; Lavender is a beautiful companion for roses; photo by Ivo Vermeulen

Herbs and other aromatic plants make wonderful rose companions. Scented geraniums (Pelargonium), rue (Ruta), feverfew (Tanacetum), parsley (Petroselinum), and thyme (Thymus) all may help ward off Japanese beetles and aphids. Marigolds (Tagetes) may also repel pests and encourage growth. Try ornamental and culinary sage (Salvia), anise-hyssop (Agastache), Russian-sage (Perovskia), lavender (Lavandula), yarrow (Achillea), oregano (Origanum), catmint (Nepeta) and calamint (Calamintha). Oddly enough, tomatoes allegedly prevent black spot, but not many people will be inclined to combine roses and tomatoes. Lavender (Lavandula) and catmint (Nepeta) are good at keeping rabbits away. Four-o’clocks (Mirabilis) and larkspur (Consolida) are said to act as decoys by attracting rose-loving Japanese beetles to eat their poisonous leaves. Yarrow (Achillea) may attract ladybugs who in turn feed on aphids.

Remember to plant companions at least one foot away from your roses so that you do not disturb their roots. Create a healthy open structure for your roses with good pruning practices. Always maintain good air circulation around your plants to help prevent attacks from pests and diseases. With proper care of your roses, you will be able to surround them with many interesting companions. Here a just a few suggestions:

Good Plant Partners  

Perennials

Botanical Name

Common Name

Agastache
anise-hyssop
Campanula
bellflower
Nepeta
catmint
Baptisia
blue false-indigo
Phlox
garden phlox
Echinops
globe thistle
Geranium
geranium
Teucrium
germander
Alchemilla
lady's mantle
Lavendula
lavender
Lillium
lily
Salvia
meadow sage
Allium
ornamental onions
Kniphofia
red hot poker plant
Perovskia
Russian sage
Eryngium
sea holly
Euphorbia
spurge
Artemisia
wormwood
Achillea
yarrow

Shrubs

Botanical Name

Common Name

Caryopteris
blue mist shrub
Buxus
boxwood
Daphne
daphne
Cornus
red-twig dogwood
Cotinus
smokebush
Spirea
spirea

Annuals

Botanical Name

Common Name

Phlox
annual phlox
Mirabilis
four o'clock
Heliotropium
heliotrope or cherry pie
Lantana
lantana
Consolida
larkspur
Calibrachoa
million bells
Viola
pansies
Strobilanthes
Persian shield
Angelonia
summer snapdragon
Nicotiniana
flowering tobacco
Verbena
verbena

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Related Guides

  • Basic Classifications of Roses
  • Flower Shapes and How to Use Them in the Garden
  • Gardening in a Changing Climate
  • Organic Perennial Gardening and Pest Control
  • Planting Roses
  • Pruning Roses
  • Rose Problems
  • Winning Plant Combinations
  • Winter Preparation for Roses
  • Working with Nature to Deter Pests

Rose Societies

  • American Rose Society
  • Manhattan Rose Society

Noteworthy Books on Roses

  • Armitage's Garden Perennials by Allan M. Armitage
    Call Number: SB434 .A63 2000
    ISBN: 0881924350
    Publication Date: 2000-03-01
  • Book CoverEasy Roses for North American Gardens by Thomas Christopher
    Call Number: QL 145 .R6 C47 1999
    ISBN: 0762101237
    Publication Date: 1999-01-25
  • Book CoverFragrance in Bloom by Ann Lovejoy; Lynne Harrison (Photographer)
    Call Number: SB454.3.F7 L68 1996
    ISBN: 1570613974
    Publication Date: 2004-01-06
  • Roses Love Garlic by Louise Riotte
    Call Number: SB453 .R53 1983
    ISBN: 1580170285
    Publication Date: 1998-01-02
  • Landscape with Roses by Jeff Cox; Jerry Pavia (Photographer)
    Call Number: QL 145 .R6m C68 2002
    ISBN: 1561583820
    Publication Date: 2002-01-15
  • Roses in Modern Gardens by Sally Court
    Call Number: QL 145 .R6 C68 2004
    ISBN: 9781840008920
    Publication Date: 2004-04-01
  • Book CoverThe American Rose Society Encyclopedia of Roses by Charles Quest-Ritson; Brigid Quest-Ritson
    Call Number: QL 145 .R6 Q47 2003
    ISBN: 0789496755
    Publication Date: 2003-10-06
  • Book CoverThe Perennial Gardener's Design Primer by Stephanie Cohen; Nancy J. Ondra; Allan M. Armitage (Foreword by); Rob Cardillo (Photographer)
    Call Number: SB434 .C63 2005
    ISBN: 1580175430
    Publication Date: 2005-02-15
  • Book CoverThe Well-Designed Mixed Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust
    Call Number: SB473 .D57 2003
    ISBN: 0881925594
    Publication Date: 2003-01-02
  • Last Updated: Aug 23, 2022 3:22 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.nybg.org/companionplantingroses
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Subjects: Roses