Roses' Many Bedfellows

Companion plants for roses need to be carefully picked for success.

- Gerald Schofield

These days rose bushes are often incorporated into flower borders alongside an array of different companion plants that share the same growing conditions. This is in complete contrast to many traditional rose gardens of yesteryear where roses grew in beds all on their lonesome.

By creating an integrated rose garden with various other plants, the lean periods when roses are not in bloom are not nearly as noticeable. The companion plants enhance the roses when they are performing and compensate when they aren’t, a winning formula for year-round good looks.

Obviously all companion plants must be able to cope with the same growing conditions that roses require. Full-day sunshine and plenty of water are the key growing factors for good roses, but selecting other plants to combine with them goes beyond just fulfilling the basic growing conditions. These companions need to enhance the roses without detracting from their growing performance. Therefore, they can’t be aggressive in growth habit, can’t grow too large and mustn’t compete with the roses’ root systems below ground. Fortunately there are numerous plants that fit this bill, offering a wide array of choices to gardeners in various different climates.

Some of these companions are annuals, other are perennial. Some are grown for flowers whilst others are used predominantly for their colourful or contrasting foliage. Make your own choices based on the overall impact and effect that you desire. In many instances it’s more effective to use just a single plant for under-planting, especially in more formal gardens. Conversely, cottage or country-style gardens combine roses with a colourful array of different flowers. Here are but a few plants to consider from the huge range available to local gardeners.

Annuals