Roses, the aristocrats of gardens, are whimsical, sweetly scented, romantic, and timeless, with a lineage tracing back millennia. Large, showy rose blooms, ranging from delicate pastels to vibrant reds and deep purples, are a visual feast.
The enchanting rose fragrance also makes these perennials a sensory delight. Planting roses alone is perfectly okay since these plants hold their weight. But have you ever wondered what perennials pair well with roses?
Well, I’ve got great news for you. This piece explores 20 perennial plants perfect for planting with roses for an even more enchanting space.
What To Plant With Roses (Perennials)
1. Lavender
A pairing of roses and lavenders is a classic choice. Their contrasting forms complement each other, elevating your garden’s design. They also have similar growing requirements, particularly regarding sunlight and soil, both thriving in full sun and well-drained soil.
Place lavender plants in front of your rose beds or borders to allow their low-growing habit to provide a neat edge. This way, the taller rose bushes remain the focal point.
Hardiness zones: 5-9
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2. Catmint
This plant’s soft, billowing form, purple flowers, and silvery foliage contrast beautifully with the roses’ upright, structured growth. In addition, since catmint grows low and sprawls, it helps conceal bare rose stems and provides excellent ground cover to the space around your roses.
Catmint is also a great deterrent to pests that plague roses, such as aphids, Japanese beetles, and spider mites.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
3. Feverfew
Planting feverfew alongside roses offers multiple benefits. This hardy perennial herb’s aromatic foliage repels many common rose pests. Moreover, its bright, cheerful, yellow flowers contrast the roses’ rich tones beautifully.
You can place feverfew plants at the front or middle of rose plants to give color to your rose plants’ bases. Feverfew flowers attract beneficial insects.
Hardiness zones: 5-9
4. Salvia
Salvia’s greatest attribute is its ability to attract pollinators. Salvia flowers are rich in nectar and attract various pollinators, so planting them near your roses enhances pollination. This is especially beneficial if you have edible roses like Rosa rugosa.
Considering there are nearly 1000 salvia species, you probably wonder which one to grow among roses. Notable options include woodland sage and culinary sage.
Hardiness zones: 5-9
5. Foxglove
Do you love the appearance of cottage gardens? If so, pair your rose bushes with foxglove plants. This plant is a natural companion for traditional roses like English or heirloom varieties. Together, they evoke a romantic, nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of English country gardens.
Capitalize on foxglove’s height and vertical structure by placing them towards the back or middle of garden beds. Pick foxglove colors that complement your roses’ color palette.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
6. Russian Sage
Give your rose bushes a splendid backdrop with this fantastic plant with airy, lavender-blue flowers and aromatic foliage. Since Russian Sage blooms from mid to late summer, this fills the gap between early and late-blooming roses.
Russian Sage is drought-resistant once established and doesn’t need much fuss. You’ll love its delicate fragrance as well.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
7. Yarrow
Roses’ shallow roots can benefit from yarrow’s deep, fibrous roots that help aerate compacted soil and increase water infiltration. This top pollinator plant also attracts beneficial insects that help pollinate roses and prey on garden pests.
Aesthetically, the flat-topped umbels of yarrow flowers provide a contrasting texture to the rounded blooms of roses. This adaptable, drought-tolerant plant can thrive in different conditions and soils.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
8. Anise Hyssop
This delightful perennial herbaceous plant is aesthetically and practically an excellent companion plant for roses. For instance, it’s a valuable food source for butterflies and bees that help pollinate roses. Moreover, anise hyssop’s structural look accentuates the roses’ curve blooms.
In addition, its fragrant foliage will add a pleasant herbal aroma to your garden, contrasting beautifully with the scent of roses. Anise hyssop’s aroma may also deter deer.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
9. Dianthus
Roses and dianthus are often combined in floral arrangements. However, that’s not all; these perennials also grow splendidly together. You can use dianthus to fill the gaps around rose plant bases because it’s a smaller plant.
Define your garden spaces and add contrasting colors using dianthus as a border plant or garden bed edge alongside roses. You can also plant them in containers along with roses.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
10. Lady’s Mantle
Lady’s mantle typically forms low mounds of soft, velvety, palmate leaves that catch and hold dewdrops, giving them a sparkling appearance in the morning sunlight. This difference in texture with roses’ smooth, glossy leaves lets these plants pair beautifully.
Its chartreuse-yellow flowers complement pink, red, or white rose blooms. Take advantage of the lady’s mantle’s low-growing habit and lush foliage to create soft transitions between spaces.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
11. Phlox
This pollinator favorite is another stunning companion plant for roses, making your garden more colorful. Pair early-blooming Phlox varieties with spring-flowering roses and late-blooming types with summer and fall-blooming roses for continuous color.
You can also use low-growing varieties like Phlox subulata as ground cover around rose bushes. Besides growing phlox alongside roses, consider adding it to your rose floral arrangements and bouquets.
Hardiness zones: 4-8
12. Coneflower
Rose gardens are already colorful on their own. But add coneflowers to this space for even more vibrancy. Coneflower petals can be pink, purple, white, yellow, or orange and radiate outward from the central cone.
This perennial’s flowering period usually overlaps that of many roses, thus extending your garden’s season of interest. Besides color, coneflowers’ tall, sturdy stems provide height and structure that complement the roses’ bushy habit.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
13. Wild Spotted Geranium
Consider this plant for ground cover around your rose bushes since it spreads and forms dense clumps. Additionally, growing wild spotted geranium under and around rose bushes creates a layered effect.
Wild spotted geranium produces delicate pink to purple flowers and has palmately lobed, deeply cut, slightly hairy leaves. The foliage turns red in the fall, giving your garden season interest as it transitions into colder months.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
14. Rue
This pretty aromatic perennial pairs well with roses, whether you are designing a formal rose garden, a cottage-style retreat, or a mixed herbaceous border. Rue creates a defined border because of its rounded growth habit and blue-green, lacy foliage.
Rue is also known to repel pests like aphids, caterpillars, and, especially, Japanese beetles. Therefore, it can help protect your rose bushes from pest damage.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
15. Bee Balm
Help your rose plant to bloom profusely by planting bee balm among them. Bee balm flowers are rich in nectar and highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds that help pollinate roses. Its strong, minty foliage can also help deter certain pests that might otherwise damage your roses.
Bee balm also resists rabbits and deer. Like roses, bee balm thrives in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
16. Coreopsis
It’s easy to see why coreopsis is irresistible to gardeners and pollinators. This colorful perennial sparkles with bright, daisy-like flowers that hover above its fine, thread-like leaves from summer until frost. Coreopsis attracts pollinators and deters deer at the same time.
When planted with roses, coreopsis enhances the beauty of rose bushes. Yellow and orange coreopsis varieties enhance the warm tones of red, pink, or white roses.
Hardiness zones: 2-11
17.Sedum
This sun-loving plant looks fabulous in front of rose bushes thanks to its green to blue-gray, purple, or variegated, thick, fleshy, water-storing leaves and bright star-shaped flowers. Plant low-growing sedums with spreading habit and attractive foliage as ground cover for your rose garden.
Sedums make great companions for rose plants, especially in drought-prone areas, because they thrive in dry conditions.
Hardiness zones: 3-10
18. Campanula
Blooming in shades of blue, purple, white, and pink, campanula’s bell-shaped flowers are its hallmark and contrast or complement lovingly with roses’ more robust blooms. This perennial flower also helps extend your garden’s flowering period.
If you want ground cover for your rose bushes, grow low-growing campanula varieties. Their dense foliage provides a living mulch.
Hardiness zones: 3-8
19. Artemisia
Both roses and artemisia stand out on their own and contrast pleasantly, giving your garden depth and interest. Artemisia’s soft, pretty, silver-grey foliage accentuates the roses’ vibrant blooms. When picking artemisia plants to grow alongside roses, choose compact varieties.
Its aromatic leaves can repel various pests, such as aphids and caterpillars. Artemisia tolerates poor soil, drought, and heat.
Hardiness zones: 4-9
20. Baby’s Breath
A bouquet of roses you buy will likely have one or two sprigs of baby’s breath. So, if you already have a rose bush, why not add this beautiful perennial to complete the look? Baby’s breath produces tiny white or pink star-shaped flowers.
Baby’s breath will help soften your rose bed’s look and give it a cloud-like effect.
Hardiness zones: 3-9
Concluding Remarks
Many pests, from aphids, sawflies, and Japanese beetles to thrips, are problematic to rose beds. Luckily, several perennials like the ones discussed in this post contain pest-repelling qualities. Keeping these plants close to your rose plants helps ward them off and helps keep your rose bushes looking your best. The right plants also attract pollinators, improve soil health, and elevate your garden’s aesthetics.
Hey there, fellow plant enthusiasts! I’m Rachel, the green-thumbed writer behind Rooted In Garden. With a deep-rooted love for all things botanical, I’ve made it my mission to help you cultivate a thriving collection of houseplants. As a devoted plant parent myself, I understand the joys and challenges that come with nurturing these leafy wonders. Whether you’re a succulent aficionado, an orchid enthusiast, or simply adore all potted flora, join me on this journey as we explore the secrets to growing and caring for our beloved green companions. Together, let’s create a flourishing oasis indoors.