Companion Plants for Roses

Many garden designers have said that gardens should be a reflection of nature (minus the weeds). So why are there so many gardens with hybrid tea roses all in a row and nothing but bare dirt below them?

I have a theory that companion plants not only add beauty to the garden, but also reduce the incidence of pests and diseases. My own garden has over 600 unique varieties of plants. About 50 of these are roses. None of the roses has ever been sprayed with anything other than my homemade organic rose fertilizer, but I've rarely seen any sign of disease on them. Maybe that's because I grow disease- resistant shrub roses, but it might also be because the roses are separated by other plants, which reduces the spread of disease.

Sometimes in the spring, we have an infestation of aphids. But I don't worry because I know that ladybugs and other beneficial insects will show up for the feast when the weather warms. Hummingbirds also eat aphids. So hummingbird flowers would make good companion plants for roses. If the aphids look really scary, I shoot them off with a strong spray of water from the hose.

I chose my companion plants for roses not only for their ability to attract beneficial insects and hummingbirds, but also for their beauty. Since I'm a fan of color schemes, I grouped them by color. When in doubt, try planting blue flowers next to roses. Some of my favorites are blue woodruff, larkspur, lavender, love-in-a-mist and peach-leaved bellflower.

One last comment on color schemes: Just because I wouldn't plant a purplish-pink foxglove next to an orange rose doesn't mean that you shouldn't. Be daring! I admit that I'm on the conservative side. Many garden designers are in favor of breaking all of the "rules" and going hog wild with color. Sometimes, combinations that you think would really stink turn out to be fabulous. You never know until you try....