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Great Foliage Plants as Rose Companions

Best Rose Companions, Companion Planting

Underplanting roses, Best David Austin Roses, Best roses for borders, Rose borders, Shrub Roses, Rose companion plants, companion planting

Roses need friends or companion plants around them for various reasons, including pest and disease control, longer season of interest and aesthetics.

There is a wide range of companion plants that will bring out the best qualities of your roses and share their space with a serene balance. Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle) and Heuchera (Coral Bells) make soft ground covers around the bases of roses, their mounds of scalloped-edged foliage adding texture and interest to that part of the border.

Silver foliage plants such as Stachys byzantina (Lamb’s Ears) or Artemisia illuminate shady spots where roses cast their shadows during the day.

Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass) forms clouds of tan color that softly mingle with rose blooms, while the misty lavender-blue tints of Perovskia (Russian Sage) add a taste of late summer.

Incorporating foliage plants alongside roses can provide depth and multi-seasonal interest in the garden. Their leaves act as a canvas, allowing rose flowers to pop and be the focal point, while also contributing to the overall harmony of the garden space. When chosen carefully, these companions can also offer added benefits like pest control and extended blooming periods.

There are many other varieties suitable for companion planting with your roses, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find your own successful rose combinations!

Guide Information

Hardiness 4 - 9
Plant Type Roses
Genus Rosa, Rosa - Grandiflora Rose, Rosa - Hybrid Tea Rose, Rosa - Floribunda Rose, Rosa - Shrub Rose, Rosa - English 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

Great Foliage Plants as Rose Companions

 

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!

Garden Examples

A Fabulous Duo: Rose ‘Grace’ & Heuchera ‘Marmalade’
A Fragrant Path
A Welcoming Hedge
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 4 - 9
Plant Type Roses
Genus Rosa, Rosa - Grandiflora Rose, Rosa - Hybrid Tea Rose, Rosa - Floribunda Rose, Rosa - Shrub Rose, Rosa - English 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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