Roses are often the stars of the garden, with their showy blooms and intoxicating fragrance.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with various companion plants to pair with my roses, and I’ve learned that the right companions can make all the difference.
Not only do they enhance the beauty of your roses, but they can also help improve the overall health of your garden.
When choosing companion plants, I consider factors like color contrast, plant height, and how well they thrive in similar growing conditions.
In this article, I’ll share 14 of the best plants to grow alongside roses, based on my personal gardening experiences.
These plants will not only complement your roses but will also add texture, fragrance, and color to create a well-rounded garden.
1. Lavender
One of my favorite companions for roses is lavender.
The silvery-green foliage and soft purple flowers of lavender provide a stunning contrast to the bold, often brightly colored blooms of roses.
I’ve found that planting lavender near my roses creates a calming, aromatic display, especially when the wind carries the scent of both plants through the garden.
What makes lavender an excellent companion is that it loves full sun and well-drained soil—just like roses.
Additionally, lavender’s natural pest-repellent properties can help protect roses from aphids and other unwanted insects.
When paired together, lavender and roses create a romantic, cottage-style garden that’s hard to beat.
2. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint is another wonderful companion for roses, offering a more informal, wild look that contrasts nicely with the stately elegance of rose bushes.
Its lavender-blue flowers bloom over a long period, filling in the gaps when your roses may not be at their peak.
I’ve planted catmint around the base of my rose bushes, and its soft, billowy form helps to soften the rigid structure of the roses.
What’s more, catmint is incredibly drought-tolerant and attracts beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies, which can help improve the overall health of your garden.
The best part? Catmint’s fragrance is known to repel pests, which is always a bonus when growing roses.
3. Foxgloves
Foxgloves bring height and drama to the rose garden.
Their tall, spiky flowers tower over rose bushes, creating a stunning vertical element that contrasts with the rounded, bushy form of roses.
In my experience, the combination of tall foxgloves with shorter roses creates a layered effect that adds depth and visual interest to the garden.
I particularly love planting pale pink or white foxgloves with darker roses like reds or purples—the contrast is simply beautiful.
Foxgloves thrive in similar conditions to roses, preferring full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Be sure to plant them in a spot where they can self-seed and return year after year.
4. Geranium (Cranesbill)
Perennial geraniums, also known as cranesbill, are excellent ground covers that pair beautifully with roses.
Their low-growing habit and colorful blooms create a carpet of color beneath taller rose bushes, filling in empty spaces while keeping weeds at bay.
I’ve planted geraniums around my roses for years, and I love how their delicate, five-petaled flowers contrast with the more structured roses.
The vibrant shades of blue, pink, and purple geraniums provide an eye-catching pop of color that complements any rose variety.
Additionally, geraniums are incredibly low-maintenance and thrive in similar growing conditions, making them a perfect companion for busy gardeners.
5. Salvia
Salvia is one of those plants that I find myself using again and again in the garden.
It’s a hardworking plant that blooms profusely, attracting pollinators and adding vertical interest to garden beds.
I particularly love pairing salvia with roses, as their spiky blooms contrast nicely with the more rounded rose blossoms.
Salvia’s blue and purple flowers provide a cool contrast to warm-toned roses like yellows, oranges, and reds.
One of the great benefits of salvia is its ability to repel pests like aphids and Japanese beetles, which often plague roses.
Salvia’s long blooming season also ensures that your garden remains colorful, even when your roses are in between bloom cycles.
6. Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow is a tough, drought-tolerant plant that pairs wonderfully with roses.
Its flat-topped clusters of flowers add a different texture to the garden, and its feathery foliage provides a lovely contrast to the glossy leaves of roses.
In my garden, I’ve found that planting yellow or white yarrow with deep pink or red roses creates a beautiful contrast that catches the eye.
Yarrow is also known for its ability to improve soil quality by adding organic matter as it grows, which can benefit nearby rose bushes.
Additionally, yarrow’s blooms attract beneficial insects, like ladybugs and hoverflies, that help control aphid populations on roses.
7. Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a sun-loving perennial that adds cheerful, daisy-like flowers to your rose garden.
Its bright yellow, orange, or red blooms provide a lovely contrast to the more formal appearance of roses.
I love using coreopsis as a filler plant between my rose bushes because it’s easy to grow and blooms prolifically throughout the summer.
The airy, delicate form of coreopsis softens the look of roses, creating a more relaxed, cottage-style feel.
Coreopsis thrives in the same sunny, well-drained conditions as roses and requires little maintenance, making it an excellent choice for gardeners looking to add vibrant color to their rose beds.
8. Alliums
Alliums are a great choice for adding structure and height to your rose garden.
Their tall, globe-shaped flower heads create a striking architectural contrast to the more rounded form of roses.
I’ve planted alliums in the back of my rose beds, where their purple or white blooms rise above the roses, adding a layer of visual interest.
Alliums are also excellent for deterring pests like aphids and deer, which makes them a valuable addition to any rose garden.
Plus, they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, just like roses, so they’re easy to grow together.
9. Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)
Lady’s mantle is one of my favorite foliage plants to pair with roses.
Its soft, scalloped leaves and chartreuse flowers provide a beautiful contrast to the more formal structure of rose bushes.
I’ve planted lady’s mantle at the base of my roses, and I love how its lush, mounding habit helps to cover the bare stems of the rose plants.
The lime-green flowers of lady’s mantle also add a fresh pop of color that complements any shade of rose.
Lady’s mantle thrives in partial shade and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, making it a versatile and low-maintenance companion for roses.
10. Clematis
Clematis is a climbing vine that pairs beautifully with roses, adding vertical interest and a second layer of color to your garden.
I’ve found that planting clematis at the base of a climbing rose creates a stunning display as the two plants weave together, producing blooms at different heights.
One of the keys to success with this pairing is choosing a clematis variety that blooms either before or after your roses, so that one plant is always in bloom.
The combination of roses and clematis creates a romantic, old-fashioned look that’s perfect for cottage gardens or trellised areas.
Both plants thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them natural companions in the garden.
11. Nepeta (Catnip)
Nepeta, or catnip, is a great low-growing companion for roses that adds a soft, billowy texture to the garden.
Its lavender-blue flowers bloom for an extended period, providing color even when your roses may not be at their peak.
I love using nepeta as a border plant around my rose beds, as its sprawling habit helps to cover the ground and reduce the need for weeding.
Additionally, nepeta’s fragrant foliage is known to repel pests like aphids and Japanese beetles, which makes it a practical addition to any rose garden.
Nepeta thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, just like roses, making it an easy-care companion that enhances the overall beauty of your garden.
12. Penstemon
Penstemon is a tall, upright perennial with tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees to the garden.
I’ve found that the spiky form of penstemon provides a lovely contrast to the more rounded blooms of roses, adding height and texture to the garden bed.
Penstemon’s flowers come in a range of colors, from pinks and purples to reds and whites, so it’s easy to find a variety that complements your roses.
In my garden, I’ve planted penstemon near deep red and pink roses, and the combination is always a showstopper.
Both plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil, making them natural companions in a sunny garden bed.
13. Echinacea (Coneflower)
Echinacea, or coneflower, is a hardy perennial that pairs beautifully with roses.
Its daisy-like flowers with prominent centers add a rustic, wildflower feel to the garden, while also providing a contrast in texture and form.
In my experience, planting purple or pink echinacea with white or yellow roses creates a stunning combination that catches the eye.
Echinacea’s long blooming season ensures that your garden remains colorful well into the summer, even as the rose blooms fade.
Plus, echinacea is easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and attracts beneficial pollinators, making it a perfect companion for roses.
14. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Sedum, or stonecrop, is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant succulent that pairs beautifully with roses.
Its fleshy, succulent leaves provide a unique contrast to the more delicate foliage of roses, while its clusters of flowers add a pop of color in late summer and fall.
I’ve planted sedum near the front of my rose beds, where its low-growing habit helps to fill in gaps and create a more cohesive look.
Sedum’s ability to thrive in dry conditions makes it a great choice for areas of the garden where roses may need a little extra protection from harsh weather.
Plus, sedum’s late-season blooms help extend the flowering season in your garden, providing interest long after your roses have finished blooming.
Final Thoughts
Roses are undeniably the stars of any garden, but with the right companion plants, you can create a more dynamic, visually interesting space that’s beautiful year-round.
The 14 plants I’ve shared here have proven to be excellent companions for roses, offering complementary colors, textures, and growing habits that enhance the overall health and beauty of the garden.
By carefully selecting companions that thrive in similar conditions and add contrasting elements, you can create a garden that’s not only stunning but also harmonious and balanced.
So whether you’re looking to add height, fill in gaps, or attract pollinators, these companion plants will help you create a rose garden that’s truly a work of art.
Happy gardening!