Not that roses are not elegant in their appearance and decorate the garden wonderfully. But have you thought that they can give you a companion and enhance the effect? Or how about plants that bloom while the roses are dormant? In this article we will introduce you to which perennials are suitable as rose companions. From evergreen representatives to beautiful flowers - everything to create an effective, fairytale look in your garden.
Perennials as rose companions: What do I have to consider?
As with people, plant partners should fit together and complement each other. If you plan to grow flowers, perennials and grasses together, you should make a few considerations in advance.The right plant partnersshould not only bring out their mutual qualities aesthetically, with texture, color or shape, but also place equal demands on growing conditions and plant health.
So you should look good together and value equal conditions. Choose plants that keep pests away, enhance the soil or have other improving qualities. Do not plant the plant partners too close together. Leave a distance of at least 30 cm between them.
What goes with roses? Lavender – Aesthetic and functional companion
While the flowers of the roses look lush and magnificent, the bare “feet” are usually a bit sparse to look at. The rose thorns in particular give a woody, rather bitter image. TheLavender (Lavandula angustifolia)is very suitable for concealing this cosmetic problem. Other benefits that lavender brings is that it helps keep weeds and pests away and provides pleasant cooling to the rose roots.
Last but not least, lavender is a beautiful, fragrant plant that is very valued and used by beneficial insects such as bees. The sight and olfactory experience that the lavender plant gives us are also invaluable for our mood and well-being. Lavender and Rose – A dream duo to try in your garden.
Perennials as rose companions: Lilies – double color, double scent
For a fragrant and visual reward, try lilies as a rose partner. You can plant them on the edges of the rose beds. Lilies (Lilium) are upright growing and perennial plants. They bloom around the same time as the roses, so you have double the color andFragrance experience at the time of flowering. You can create a real play of colors that you and your garden guests can enjoy. Be careful, the lilies are slightly toxic, take this into account if the plant location is heavily used by children and pets.
Geraniums – The fragrant carpet
Geraniums (Geranium) are an excellent choice as a rose accompaniment. The hardy, low-growing plants feel comfortable with the rose and form a fragrant carpet in the colors white, pink or blue. They form a living mulch and thus protect the rose roots.
Not only do they fit together visually, but they also benefit each other. The geranium repels pests and protects your rose partner without you having to take action and possibly use insect poisons.
Echinops – Exotic touch in shape and color
The steel blue globe thistle (Echinops ritro) from the sunflower family, native to southern Europe, is aesthetically a truly exotic combination with the rose. The blue globe thistle reaches a height of up to around 100 cm, blooms from August to September and is an extremely popular pasture for bees. Leave enough space between plants and plant no more than three thistles per square meter. Because beauty grows in a nest and needs space. The intense, cool blue of the unreal-looking plant goes perfectly with roses in pink, coral or yellow and highlights them. The loud combination is something for eccentrics, because this couple is anything but quiet and quiet when they look at it.
What to plant in the rose bed? Sparrow bush – the easy-care partner
The spirea (Spirea) or spirea bushes are extremely richly flowering shrubs in the colors white or pink. They belong to the rose family and are an absolute eye-catcher when they bloom. However, they not only look great when they are in bloom, they also beautify your garden for the rest of the year. Many types of shrubs grow up to 2 meters high, which is why Spiraea japonica, which only grows up to a height of one meter, is particularly recommended as a rose companion. A big advantage of this beautiful shrub is its ease of care and its role as a ground cover.
What to plant under roses: wormwood
What sounds like the title of a fairy tale also looks like it visually. The eccentric rose in contrast to the modest and easy-care wormwood (Artemisia absinthum) - it's the combination that counts. The wormwood herb with its silvery-green leaves looks pretty all season long and requires little time and effort. It is onevaluable medicinal plant, whose effect has been used by humanity since ancient times. With its modest, quiet beauty and presence, it underlines the loud appearance of the elegant rose, bringing it out and showcasing it. At the same time, it helps keep the scene free of weeds and pests and acts as a ground cover.
