If you want your roses to truly thrive, the secret might just be in choosing the right companion plants for roses. Companion planting is a well-known gardening technique where different plants are grown together to improve growth, deter pests, and create a harmonious, thriving environment. By choosing the best companion plants for your roses, you can enhance their beauty, improve their health, and even reduce the need for pesticides.
Whether you’re growing classic David Austin roses or any other type of rose, the right companions can help your garden become a stunning, well-balanced oasis. In this post, we’ll dive into the top 7 companion plants that pair perfectly with roses, providing a boost in both aesthetics and garden health. From pest control to soil enhancement, you’ll discover how these plants can work wonders for your rose beds.
Don’t miss out…
I’ve written a whole other blog post about how to care for your roses in autumn, plus my favourite varieties from David Austin: 7 Best Ways to Care for Your Roses in Autumn: Expert Tips for UK Gardeners
Why Companion Plants for Roses Are Essential
Companion plants for roses do more than just fill in the gaps between your rose bushes. They play a vital role in creating a balanced ecosystem that promotes the health of your roses. But what exactly makes a good companion plant for roses? First, they should be non-competitive, meaning they won’t steal too much sunlight, water, or nutrients from your roses. Secondly, they should offer benefits like repelling pests or attracting beneficial insects like bees and ladybirds.
By planting companion plants with your roses, you’ll also be able to introduce different textures, colours, and scents that complement the bold beauty of the roses. Not only will your rose garden look better, but it’ll also function better—like a well-oiled machine.
1. Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender is one of the best-known companion plants for roses, and for good reason. Its spiky foliage, vibrant purple-blue flowers, and strong, heady fragrance create a perfect backdrop for roses, especially in a traditional English garden. Lavender’s scent not only calms the senses but also repels aphids and other pests that can damage your roses. Plus, its drought tolerance makes it a low-maintenance companion.
Lavender grows well in full sun and well-drained soil, two conditions that roses also favour, making them ideal partners in the garden. Additionally, lavender attracts beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies, which help with the overall health of your garden ecosystem. Its silvery foliage contrasts beautifully against the lush green leaves and vibrant colours of roses, creating a balanced, visually striking display.
Best Lavender Varieties for Roses:
- Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’: A compact variety with deep purple flowers, perfect for edging rose beds. It grows about 45 cm tall and thrives in sunny borders.
- Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’: Taller and more robust, this variety can reach up to 90 cm, making it great for planting alongside larger or climbing roses like David Austin’s The Generous Gardener.
- Lavandula stoechas ‘Anouk’: Spanish lavender with its distinct ‘rabbit ear’ petals, adding a playful touch to rose beds. It prefers full sun and is a perfect contrast to bold roses.
Caring for Lavender:
- Sunlight: Lavender needs at least 6-8 hours of sunlight daily.
- Watering: Water sparingly once established, as lavender prefers dry conditions.
- Pruning: Trim back after flowering to encourage new growth and maintain a neat, compact shape.
- Pests: Generally pest-free but can be susceptible to root rot in overly wet soil.
2. Hardy Geraniums (Cranesbill)
Hardy geraniums, or cranesbills, are wonderful low-growing companions for roses. These plants provide excellent ground cover, helping to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil, all while adding their own delicate beauty to the garden. With their mounds of dainty flowers and dense foliage, hardy geraniums offer a soft, flowing contrast to the stately blooms of roses. They are also incredibly low maintenance and will thrive in most garden conditions.
Geraniums bloom throughout the summer and into early autumn, ensuring your rose bed remains colourful even as some roses begin to fade. Their sprawling nature helps fill in the gaps between rose bushes, creating a cohesive, well-planned look in the garden. They’re also highly attractive to pollinators, which is an added benefit for any garden.
Best Hardy Geranium Varieties for Roses:
- Geranium ‘Rozanne’: One of the longest-flowering hardy geraniums, with violet-blue blooms that last from late spring into autumn. A perfect partner for pastel-coloured roses like David Austin’s Desdemona.
- Geranium sanguineum ‘Max Frei’: A compact variety with bright magenta flowers. Ideal for smaller spaces or the front of a rose bed.
- Geranium pratense ‘Johnson’s Blue’: Known for its sprawling growth and bright blue flowers, ‘Johnson’s Blue’ pairs beautifully with cream or white roses.
Caring for Hardy Geraniums:
- Sunlight: Geraniums prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade, making them versatile companions.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist during the first growing season. Once established, geraniums are fairly drought-tolerant.
- Pruning: Deadhead after flowering to encourage continuous blooms, and trim back in autumn to tidy up the plants.
- Pests: Hardy geraniums are generally pest-free, though slugs and snails may nibble on young leaves.
3. Foxgloves (Digitalis)
Foxgloves are tall, stately biennials or perennials that add vertical interest to any rose garden. Their bell-shaped flowers come in a range of colours, from soft pastels to vibrant purples, and they create a stunning visual contrast to the rounded blooms of roses. Foxgloves are excellent for attracting bees, which are beneficial for pollination, and their height offers some shade to the roots of your roses, helping to keep the soil cool.
These elegant plants bloom in late spring to early summer, providing height and drama to your garden. Foxgloves thrive in part shade, so they work well alongside roses that need some protection from intense midday sun.
Best Foxglove Varieties for Roses:
- Digitalis purpurea ‘Excelsior Group’: Known for its tall spikes and purple-pink flowers, this variety adds a touch of English cottage charm to any rose garden.
- Digitalis grandiflora: With soft lemon-yellow flowers, this foxglove contrasts beautifully with bold red roses like David Austin’s Darcey Bussell.
- Digitalis lanata ‘Café Crème’: This unique variety has creamy, light brown flowers that add a sophisticated, understated elegance to the garden.
Caring for Foxgloves:
- Sunlight: Prefer part shade but can tolerate full sun in cooler climates.
- Watering: Keep the soil moist but well-drained.
- Pruning: After flowering, cut the flower spikes back to encourage the plant to reseed naturally.
- Pests: Foxgloves are relatively pest-free, but watch out for aphids, which can be controlled with a strong blast of water.
4. Alliums (Flowering Onions)
Alliums are not only visually striking with their globe-like flowers but are also highly effective at repelling pests, including aphids and other insects that commonly plague roses. Their tall, round blooms add architectural interest to the garden, standing tall over shorter plants and creating a beautiful contrast against the lushness of roses.
Alliums are late spring to early summer bloomers, which makes them perfect for filling in the gaps before your roses reach their full glory in midsummer. Their unique appearance and ability to thrive in poor soil make them ideal rose companions.
Best Allium Varieties for Roses:
- Allium ‘Purple Sensation’: Deep purple globes that grow up to 90 cm tall, perfect for adding a vertical element to rose beds.
- Allium giganteum: Reaching up to 1.5 meters, these giant alliums create a dramatic backdrop for climbing roses.
- Allium schoenoprasum (Chives): Not only does this variety deter pests, but it also provides edible foliage and flowers, making it a practical choice for the garden.
Caring for Alliums:
- Sunlight: Plant in full sun for the best results.
- Watering: Water sparingly once established, as they prefer dry conditions.
- Pruning: Remove spent flower heads to prevent reseeding, but leave the foliage to die back naturally.
- Pests: Alliums are relatively pest-free and can deter aphids and other insects.
5. Salvia (Sage)
Salvia is another excellent companion for roses, offering vibrant colours and fragrant foliage that attracts beneficial insects while deterring harmful ones. Salvias come in a variety of heights and colours, from deep purples to bright reds, making them a versatile addition to any rose bed. They also have a long flowering period, which can help extend the blooming season of your garden.
Salvia’s upright, spiky flowers create a beautiful contrast to the rounded blooms of roses, and their fragrant leaves help keep pests like aphids and spider mites at bay. Plus, their drought tolerance makes them an easy-care plant for any garden.
Best Salvia Varieties for Roses:
- Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’: With deep purple flower spikes, this variety is perfect for planting alongside lighter-coloured roses.
- Salvia officinalis (Common Sage): A practical herb with silvery-green foliage that adds texture to the garden.
- Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’: Known for its stunning blue flowers and long blooming period, this salvia creates a bold contrast with white or yellow roses.
Caring for Salvia:
- Sunlight: Salvias prefer full sun but can tolerate light shade.
- Watering: Water regularly during dry spells, but avoid overwatering.
- Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers, and cut back in late autumn to maintain shape.
- Pests: Salvia is generally pest-resistant, though watch for mildew in humid conditions.
6. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint is a wonderfully low-maintenance plant that pairs beautifully with roses. Its soft, grey-green foliage and delicate lavender-blue flowers provide a gentle contrast to the boldness of roses. Catmint is not only loved by cats, but it also attracts bees and other pollinators to the garden, which can help improve the overall health of your rose bushes. Its sprawling growth habit makes it perfect for planting at the base of roses, where it can help suppress weeds and retain moisture.
Catmint is also highly drought-tolerant once established, making it a great choice for gardeners who want to reduce their water usage. It blooms profusely from late spring through summer, providing a continuous display of colour and texture in the garden.
Best Catmint Varieties for Roses:
- Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’: A tall variety with lavender-blue flowers that can reach up to 90 cm, perfect for planting alongside larger rose varieties.
- Nepeta faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’: A compact variety with grey-green foliage and soft blue flowers, ideal for edging rose beds.
- Nepeta ‘Little Titch’: A dwarf variety with pale blue flowers, great for smaller gardens or containers.
Caring for Catmint:
- Sunlight: Plant in full sun for best flowering, though it can tolerate light shade.
- Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season, then reduce watering once established.
- Pruning: Cut back by half after the first flush of blooms to encourage a second round of flowering.
- Pests: Catmint is resistant to most pests and diseases, making it a trouble-free addition to your rose garden.
7. Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow is a tough, drought-tolerant perennial that brings height, texture, and colour to rose beds. Its flat-topped clusters of flowers provide a striking contrast to the rounded, layered blooms of roses, and it’s known for attracting beneficial insects like ladybirds and lacewings, which help control pests naturally. Yarrow also improves soil quality by adding nutrients and encouraging microbial life, making it a great addition to any garden.
Yarrow’s long blooming period, from early summer to autumn, means it complements roses well, providing colour and interest throughout the growing season. Its feathery foliage and wide flower heads make it a beautiful and practical companion for roses.
Best Yarrow Varieties for Roses:
- Achillea millefolium ‘Paprika’: With bright red flowers, this yarrow variety adds a bold pop of colour to the rose garden, especially when planted alongside neutral-toned roses.
- Achillea ‘Moonshine’: Known for its soft lemon-yellow flowers and silvery foliage, this variety works well with deep red or purple roses.
- Achillea millefolium ‘Summer Pastels’: This variety produces a range of pastel-coloured flowers, from pinks to purples, making it perfect for creating a soft, cottage-garden look.
Caring for Yarrow:
- Sunlight: Yarrow thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
- Watering: Water sparingly once established, as yarrow is drought-tolerant.
- Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming, and cut back after flowering to keep the plant looking tidy.
- Pests: Yarrow is pest-resistant and its strong scent helps deter unwanted garden visitors.
Get planting! The Perfect Companions for Healthy Roses
By carefully selecting companion plants for your roses, you can create a garden that is not only beautiful but also resilient and easy to maintain. Companion plants like lavender, hardy geraniums, and yarrow not only complement the visual appeal of roses but also enhance their health by improving the soil, attracting beneficial insects, and deterring pests. If you need more expert advice, there’s a handy guide about companion planting on the David Austin website!
Whether you’re cultivating classic David Austin roses or experimenting with new varieties, adding these companion plants to your garden will help ensure that your roses thrive year after year. With a little planning and care, your rose garden will become a stunning, vibrant display, full of colour, texture, and life.
Your next read:
7 Best Ways to Care for Your Roses in Autumn: Expert Tips for UK Gardeners
Roses are the quintessential flower for gardens across the UK, bringing timeless beauty and elegance to any outdoor space. As autumn approaches, it’s crucial to give your roses the proper care they need to ensure they flourish throughout the season and into the next year. This guide will focus on autumn rose care, including the best varieties of roses for UK gardens—especially the much-loved David Austin roses—and offer expert tips on pruning, feeding, and general maintenance. By following these steps, you can keep your roses healthy and vibrant even as the cooler months set in….
