Companion Plant For Roses
Just like humans, plants need companions too, and roses are no exception. For those of you who aren’t aware, companion planting is the practice of growing different plants together in the hope of making them more productive, reducing pest control, or maybe just making them look better. After all, who doesn’t love a gorgeous looking garden! While roses are undeniably beautiful on their own, they still benefit from a little bit of companionship and with that in mind, here are some of the best companion plants for roses.
Companion Plant For Roses: For The Aesthetic
When it comes to making your garden look as lush as possible, there are three things to consider; texture, colour, and form. Perennials and shrubs with silver, purple, or pale green leaves complement the resplendent rose blossoms and their many colours, while plants with tall spires are best at accentuating the wide, cup-shaped flowers of roses. If done right, the practice of companion planting can extend the flowering season by providing pops of colour between the main flushes of rose bloom in early summer and even autumn.
Peonies provide a great aesthetic
Companion Plant For Roses: For Problem Solving
Flowers may not have soulmates but some of them just seem to be made for each other! Take the feathery purple and blue grey-catmint for example. Its colours perfectly offset those of the pale pink rose, with its fine spires graciously camouflaging any blemishes that may arise on the rose’s foliage.
The tops of roses are unquestionably the show-stopper, while the bottoms are known to become spindly and sparse. That is why it’s important that your rose companion covers their bare legs. An example of a companion plant for roses that does this is lavender (Lavandula). Other examples include tall-growing pinks (Dianthus) and catmint (Nepeta). Good companions are also handy at suppressing weeds and lightly shading the soil, which keeps the rose roots nice and cool.
Lavender plants can protect spindly rose stems
Companion Plant For Roses: For Discouraging Pests
Chemicals are not the only way to get rid of those pesky pests. Simply giving your rose the right companion will do the job for you through the natural substances in their roots, leaves, and flowers that repel the insects!
Fun Fact! Just like myself, roses love garlic! Members of the onion family, such as ornamental alliums, chives, and edible onions, actually increase the perfume of roses while warding off pests and preventing black spot. They’re a match made in plant heaven!
Other aromatic plants and herbs that make wonderful companion plants for roses include:
Rue (Ruta)
Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)
Parsley (Petroselinum)
Thyme (Thymus)
Marigolds (Tagetes)
Culinary sage (Salvia)
Anise-hyssop (Agastache)
Russian-sage (Perovskia)
Lavender (Lavandula) - great at keeping the rabbits away!
Yarrow (Achillea) - super at attracting ladybirds which in turn eat the aphids!
Oregano (Origanum)
Catmint (Nepeta)
Scented geraniums (Pelargonium)
Salvia Sage wards off pests - and evil spirits apparently
Companion Plant For Roses: For Harmony
The ideal companion for any plant is one that enjoys the same growing conditions but also does not compete too aggressively with them. Roses flourish in full sun and well-drained soil, so it makes sense that the companion plant for roses does the same! They have to be in perfect harmony with each other so one doesn’t steal all the water and nutrients from the soil.
Heliotropes (Heliotropium), summer-snapdragon (Angelonia), lantana (Lantana), verbena (Verbena) and million bells petunia (Calibrachoa), are all examples of plants that love the sun. They hold their own during summer and are perfect at filling those spaces among the roses. Not to mention, they all have modest water requirements and will most definitely benefit from the heavy feeding regime that roses demand.
Snap dragon brings harmony
Companion Plant For Roses: How To Plant Them
Roses are a work of art, and so is their planting! It is imperative to plant the companion plant for roses at least 1 foot away from them so that their roots don’t become entangled. It might be worth investing in some leather gauntlet gloves if you want to get really stuck in with your rose garden (and avoid getting spiked by those thorns)!
In order for your roses to reach their full blooming potential, it is also worth creating a healthy open structure for them with good pruning practices. Maintaining good airflow around them will also help to prevent pest and disease attacks as well.
