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Roses are cherished in gardens for their large, colorful blooms that are visually stunning. Their striking appearance isn’t the only reason they are favored; they also bring a lush presence to various garden designs and make excellent bouquets in arrangements. To truly make your roses shine, it’s important to choose the right companion plants that bring out the best qualities in each other.
Just like us, roses enjoy having friends. Companion plants for roses work together, sharing soil and helping to fight off various pests and diseases. Choosing the right companions isn’t just about compatibility; it’s about creating a blend that enhances both visual appeal and growing conditions.
Here are 16 plants that visually complement roses and thrive alongside them in similar garden environments:
Tickseed (Coreopsis)
Coreopsis is known for its bright, daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow, gold, orange, and sometimes red or pink. It makes an excellent companion plant for roses. It attracts beneficial insects and requires similar growing conditions. This hardy, drought-tolerant plant blooms from early summer to fall, adding lasting color to the garden. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it an easy-care option for various settings. Zones 2-8
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Peonies
This old-fashioned, low-maintenance plant offers densely packed blooms perfect for cutting. Peonies make excellent companions for your roses, providing a beautiful backdrop of rich green foliage. This lush foliage offers a striking contrast, making the rose blossoms look even bigger when they bloom later in the season.
Bee Balm
Bee balm is a win-win plant; it keeps mosquitoes at bay and attracts butterflies, bees, and even hummingbirds, which help pollinate roses. Bee balm grows in almost any soil condition but thrives in evenly moist ones. It’s a part of the mint family, so it spreads easily and will give you lots of blooms from mid to late summer. Zones 4-8
Marigolds
The vibrant blooms of marigolds draw a variety of beneficial insects, from bees to butterflies and wasps. Their bright colors and diverse textures make them a visually appealing addition and companion to roses.
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Phlox
Known for its clusters of flowers and ability to attract pollinators with its nectar. This sweet-smelling flower is a must-have in any garden. It thrives in conditions similar to those preferred by roses, making it a suitable companion.
Sweet Alyssum
This plant forms blankets of fragrant flowers in shades of white, rose, lavender, or purple. It’s a low-maintenance, cool-season annual, perfect for edgings, flower beds, and containers, thriving in full to partial shade.
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Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed, a form of milkweed, is a brightly colored wildflower. It blooms in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red. This sun-loving plant thrives in light, sandy soil with good drainage. Its bright flowers and preference for full sun and well-drained soil make it a good companion for roses. Zones 3-9
Geraniums
Perennial Geraniums are hardy perennials that bloom in various colors and prefer full sun to light shade. It is easy to grow and flourishes in simple, well-drained, fertile soil. It is pest-free and disease-free and blooms from early summer to fall. Their long blooming season and various colors complement roses beautifully. Zones 4-7
Lavender
Lavender is a beautiful, rich purple color with a comforting scent. It adds beauty and fragrance to your garden. Lavender thrives in a sunny spot and can be grown in pots. Its purple flowers contrast beautifully with rose blooms, and it thrives in similar growing conditions
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Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow produces clusters of small, flat-topped flowers in colors including yellow, white, pink, and red. It’s drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun. Zones 3-9
Agastache
Agastache is a favorite among bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. It features tall spikes of fragrant flowers in purple, pink, and orange shades, perfect for pairing with catmint. Agastache requires full sun and well-drained soil. This plant is fairly pest-free and will bloom through summer. Zones 4-10
Catmint
Catmint produces lavender-blue flowers throughout the summer. It’s easy to grow, drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun to partial shade. This sun loving plant is not fussy about soil conditions and grows anywhere from 18-24 inches. Zones 3-8
Salvia
Salvia plants are recognized for their spikes of purple flowers and are drought-tolerant, thriving in full sun. While some salvia varieties are perennials that return year after year in most zones, others may also be grown as annuals or biennials.
Lantana
This sun-loving perennial is treated as an annual in cooler climates but is hardy in zones 9 to 11. Its clusters of small, brightly colored flowers can attract butterflies and hummingbirds, making it a perfect addition to a rose garden.
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Rue
The rue plant is a hardy perennial herb known for its bluish-green, fern-like foliage and clusters of small, yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. Rue prefers full sun and well-drained soil. It is ideal for zones 4-9, where it can thrive with limited care.
Thyme
The oil released from crushed thyme leaves is effective in repelling many pests.
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