Best Rose Companions, Companion Planting
Roses need friends or companion plants around them for various reasons, including pest and disease control, longer season of interest, and aesthetics.
Growing roses by themselves is an open invitation to the pests and diseases that favor roses. Roses are healthier when provided with companion plants that help repel destructive bugs while encouraging beneficial insects.
Hardy geraniums are classic rose companions. They are often recommended as companion plants for roses for several reasons:
Pest Control: Geraniums are known to deter common pests that can afflict roses, such as Japanese beetles, aphids, and other rose beetles. The strong scent of the geraniums can help to mask the fragrance of the roses, making it harder for pests to locate them.
Visual Appeal: Geraniums have beautiful flowers that can complement the look of rose bushes. They are great at insinuating themselves among the bare legs of roses and help reinforce the beauty of their romantic blooms. They have a different growth habit – typically lower and bushier – which can provide a nice contrast to the taller rose plants. Additionally, when roses are not in bloom, geraniums can provide continuous color, as they have a long flowering period.
Disease Deterrence: Geraniums can also help deter fungal diseases. They help increase air circulation around the roses, reducing conditions that fungi thrive in.
Beneficial Insects: Certain types of geraniums can attract beneficial insects to the garden, aiding in pest control and pollination.
Remember that companion planting is just one tool in an integrated pest management program and can’t entirely eliminate pest or disease problems. Regular care and attention to your roses, including proper watering, feeding, and pruning, are still necessary to keep them healthy.
There are numerous species of Geranium and cultivars in whites, blues, pinks, and mauves.
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials, Roses |
| Genus | Geranium, Rosa, Rosa - Floribunda Rose, Rosa - Grandiflora Rose, Rosa - English Rose, Rosa - Shrub Rose, Rosa - Hybrid Tea Rose |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height | |
| Spread | |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Formal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
With such a multitude of companion plants to pair your roses with, you are sure to find several combinations that will enhance your landscape and please your eye!
photohampster / 123RF Stock Photo
| Hardiness |
4 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials, Roses |
| Genus | Geranium, Rosa, Rosa - Floribunda Rose, Rosa - Grandiflora Rose, Rosa - English Rose, Rosa - Shrub Rose, Rosa - Hybrid Tea Rose |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall |
| Height | |
| Spread | |
| Maintenance | Average |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Formal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
