Roses can be excellently combined with a variety of plants. You can find out here which plants go best with the popular ornamental plants. You will be introduced to 40 different companion plants for roses.

In a nutshell

  • Variety of possible companion plants for roses
  • Rose companions visually underline the ornamental plants
  • protect against pest infestation
  • aesthetic rose beds realizable

Perennials accompanying roses

Columbines (Aquilegia)

  • blooms from May to mid-July
  • white, yellow, red, blue to purple bell-shaped flowers
  • 30 to 70 cm high
  • sterile varieties recommended as rose companions

Speedwell (Veronica)

Longleaf speedwell (Veronica longif.webpolia) is also known as meadow speedwell.
  • Flowering period from May to September
  • Flower spikes in white, pink, red, blue, violet
  • up to 200 cm high
  • Meadow Speedwell (Veronica longif.webpolia) and Candelabra Speedwell (Veronicastrum virginicum) combine beautifully with roses

Fine Beam Asters (Erigeron)

Erigeron speciosus
  • Flowering period from June to July
  • white, pink, purple daisy flowers
  • up to 100 cm high

Foxglove (digitalis)

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
  • Flowering time from mid-June to late August
  • blooms in white, pink, yellow, red, or purple bell-shaped flowers
  • 50 to 200 cm high
  • go well with white roses

Notice: Caution! Foxglove is poisonous in all parts of the plant.

Flame Flowers (Phlox)

Tall garden phlox 'Uspech' (Phlox paniculata)
  • Depending on the species, flowering time from April to October
  • white, pink, blue, violet and mixed-colored panicle flowers
  • up to 100 cm high

Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla)

  • yellow-green flowers from June to July
  • inconspicuous flowers
  • up to 60 cm high

Bluebells (Campanula)

Carpathian bellflower (Campanula carpatica)
  • Flowering time from mid-June to mid-September
  • different flower forms in white, blue, violet
  • up to 200 cm high

Bee balm (Monarda didyma)

  • scarlet flowers from early June to mid-September
  • up to 90 cm high
  • Leaves can be used, e.g. for tea (Oswego)

Autumn anemones (Anemone hupehensis)

  • Flowering time from July to October
  • white, pink, or crimson calyx flowers
  • reaches growth heights of 80 to 150 cm

Autumn chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum indicum)

  • flowering basket flowers from August to December
  • shines in white to red pastel tones
  • up to 120 cm high

Lilies (Lilium)

Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum)
  • fragrant flowers from May to mid-September
  • available in numerous colors and patterns
  • up to 250 cm, often under 100 cm

Lupins (Lupinus)

  • Flowering May to June
  • decorative flower candles in numerous colors
  • 70 to 120 cm high
  • Flower spikes up to 50 cm long

Marguerites (Leucanthemum)

  • Basket flowers from April to mid-October
  • flowering in white, pink, red or yellow
  • reaches growth heights of 50 to 100 cm

Peonies (Paeonia)

  • Flowering time from late April to mid-June
  • white, pink, orange, red, yellow, or bicolor flowers
  • 50 to 150 cm high

Bladderwort (Liatris spicata)

  • Flowers July to late September
  • white, red or purple spikes
  • 20 to 130 cm growth height

Purple bells 'Palace Purple' (Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple')

  • Ornamental foliage perennial with reddish-brown foliage
  • up to 60 cm high
  • June to August with small, white flowers

Larkspur (Delphinium)

  • Flowering period from July to September
  • white, blue or purple flower spikes
  • up to 200 cm
  • are a perfect companion to historical rose varieties

Irises (irises)

  • bloom from April to August
  • fragrant flowers in numerous colors and patterns
  • up to 120 cm high
  • ideal companion plants for Hybrid Tea roses

Starworts (Astrantia)

Great masterwort 'Venice' (Astrantia major)
  • bloom from May to June, second bloom possible in August
  • Umbelliferous flowers in green-white, pink, red, violet
  • 30 to 60 cm growth height

Cranesbills (Geranium)

Geranium wallichianum
  • Cup flowers blooming from June to August
  • flowers white, pink, magenta, blue, violet
  • Growth heights up to 100 cm

Turkish poppy (Papaver orientale)

  • large flowers from May to June
  • bright scarlet
  • up to 100 cm high

Magic snow 'Diamond Frost' (Euphorbia hypericifolia 'Diamond Frost')

  • flowers pure white from May to October
  • up to 40 cm high
  • can be combined well with white roses (e.g. ground cover roses).

ornamental onion (Allium)

  • Flowering time from mid-April to September
  • spherical flower umbels in white or violet, other colors depending on the variety
  • 12 to 150 cm high
  • go perfectly with shrub roses

Notice: Ideally, choose companion plants based on their flowering time and color. In this way, you can easily combine them with each other and, of course, with the roses, and look forward to extensive blooms in the garden from spring to autumn.

Shrubs as rose companions

Farmer's jasmine (Philadelphus coronarius)

  • blooms from May to June
  • small, creamy white cup-shaped flowers
  • pleasantly scented
  • up to 300 cm high

Bearded Beard (Caryopteris)

Caryopteris x clandonensis
  • blue flowers from August to late September
  • up to 80 cm high
  • excellent rose underplanting

Bladder bush (Colutea arborescens)

  • blooms from May to mid-September
  • forms yellow butterfly flowers
  • up to 300 cm high

Blue rue (Perovskia atriplicifolia)

  • Flowering time from mid-July to late October
  • blue-violet flowers, pleasantly scented
  • 60 to 200 cm high

Fingerbush (Potentilla fruticosa)

  • blooms from mid-June to October
  • radially symmetrical flowers in golden yellow, some varieties in other colors
  • 20 to 100 cm high

Red Elder (Sambucus racemosa)

  • Flowering time from April to the end of May
  • large paniculate flowers in green-yellow to white
  • Growth height from 100 to 300 cm
  • ideal background planting for roses

Butterfly bush (Buddleja)

  • blooms from July to mid-September
  • large flower candles in white, pink, red, blue, violet
  • 150 to 400 cm
  • ideal companion for roses in the bed

Aromatic companion plants for roses

Anise (Pimpinella anisum)

  • Flowering time from July to August
  • seeds usable
  • Harvest time from September to October

Curry herb (Helichrysum italicum)

  • yellow flowering basket flowers from June to September
  • whole herb usable
  • Harvest time all year round

Scented Nettles (Agastache)

  • flowering spikes from June to the end of September
  • flowers usable
  • Harvest time begins with dried flowers

Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

  • yellow-green flowers from May to June
  • Shoot tips and leaves can be used
  • ideal harvest time just before flowering

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

  • Flowering July to September
  • Roots, herbs and seeds can be used
  • Ready to harvest from May to October

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

  • Flowering period from June to mid-September
  • intensely fragrant flowers in white, pink, blue-violet, violet
  • high protection against pests
  • can be given dried cats

Lavender (Lavandula)

True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • flowers from May to August in a characteristic color
  • intensely scented
  • Flowers and leaves usable
  • Harvest time just before flowering

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

  • Flowers from March to mid-May, second flowering possible in late summer
  • Needles usable
  • can be harvested continuously from April to mid-October

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Salvia officinalis
  • Flowering period from June to mid-August
  • purple ears of corn
  • usable leaves
  • Harvest possible until shortly before flowering
  • high protection against pests

thyme (thymus)

  • blooms from June to late July
  • Leaves and pink to violet flowers can be used
  • Harvest possible from April to October

Notice: Herbs are ideal companion plants for roses because of the fragrances they contain. They keep numerous pests away, which can otherwise severely affect the roses.

frequently asked Questions

Which plants are not suitable as rose companions?

If you want to combine roses with other plants, you have to pay attention to the space requirement and the growth height. It is best not to permanently overshadow or constrict a rose. For this reason, for example, many trees are not suitable. Likewise, only plants with similar site characteristics should be selected. Moor or rock garden plants would not be suitable for this reason.

What must be considered when choosing a location for the companions?

Ideally, the location for the rose companions should not differ too much from those of your rose plants. Lots of sun, a well-ventilated spot and no shady plants nearby are perfect. Likewise, they should never be planted too close together unless it is a planned underplanting.

Which grasses are suitable as companion plants for roses?

If you want to combine roses with ornamental grasses, there is a small but fine selection. For example, you can plant switch grass (Panicum virgatum) and love grass (Eragrostis spectabilis). These work great as a background for rose beds. Equally suitable are various blue fescues (Festuca) and red feather bristle grass (Pennisetum setaceum rubrum).

Category:

Garden plants