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Underplanting Roses – Companion Plants for Roses

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. Below are some basic rules to follow when pairing your favorite roses with other plants.

  • Growing roses by themselves is an open invitation to the pests and diseases that favor roses. Roses are healthier when provided with companion plants which help repel destructive bugs while encouraging beneficial insects. For instance, Alliums repel aphids, weevils, borers and moles. Geraniums repel Japanese beetles, aphids and other rose beetles. Marigolds help repel harmful nematodes and many pests, etc.
  • Underplanting your shrub roses with a succession of flowers will reinforce the beauty of their romantic blooms and extend the flowering season of your mixed border. Start with low-growing spring bulbs such as snowdrops, crocus, grape hyacinths, scillas, anemones and narcissi. They will provide color to your rose borders at a time when your roses are not at their best.
  • Roses do not like too much competition and it is recommended to surround them with plants that are not too aggressive or invasive as they might overpower your roses. Companion plants should be planted at least 12 in. (30 cm) away from your roses so that their roots are not disturbed
  • Make sure you maintain good air circulation to prevent attacks from insects and diseases.
  • 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. Make sure you select any ornamental grasses, perennials, annuals or shrubs that have the same growing requirements as your roses. Roses do best in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, roses have average water needs and require regular fertilization to promote new blooms. Their companion plants should share similar water, fertilizer, and pesticide treatments.
  • Texture, color, and form are also important in the selection of companion plants. 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.

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!

Guide Information

Hardiness 4 - 9
Plant Type Roses
Genus Rosa - Grandiflora Rose, Rosa - English Rose, Rosa - Hybrid Tea Rose, Rosa, Rosa - Floribunda Rose, Rosa - Shrub Rose
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
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 Colorful Rose Companion Plants
Great Foliage Plants as Rose Companions
Great Rose Companion Plants: Allium
Great Rose Companion Plants: Geraniums
Underplanting Roses with Low-Growing Spring Bulbs
Great Rose Companion Plants: Nepeta, Salvia and Lavandula

Garden Examples

A Fabulous Duo to Try: Rose ‘Sharifa Asma’ with Campanula
A Fabulous Duo: Rose ‘Gertrude Jekyll’ & Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’
A Fabulous Duo: Rose ‘Harlow Carr’ & Lavender ‘Hidcote’
A Fragrant Garden Haven Idea
A Fragrant Garden Retreat Idea
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 - Grandiflora Rose, Rosa - English Rose, Rosa - Hybrid Tea Rose, Rosa, Rosa - Floribunda Rose, Rosa - Shrub Rose
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
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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