7 Front Yard Companion Plants for Roses: Excellent Choices

Front yard companion plants for roses complement them and help to prolong flower displays in gardens. On the one hand, you can grow companions that produce flowers when your rose bushes are not in bloom to keep your garden from looking bare.

On the other hand, you can choose plants that will complement your roses and help protect your garden from pests.

If you’re asking what plants grow well around roses, you can view a selection of the best ones below.

A List of Choice Front Yard Companion Plants for Roses

1. Salvia Yangii

Salvia yangii popularly known as Russian sage is a tough perennial shrub grown popularly in several parts of Asia. These plants are hardy and can resist arid environments, which makes them perfect for planting in arid regions.

They have a long blooming season, so if you want companions because you want flowers in your front yard at all times, they are an excellent choice for companion planting with some beautiful roses, as their colors would be looking very graceful next to one another.

– Characteristics

Salvia yangii’s tiny, bluish, almost purple flowers make them stand out in any rose garden, among other plants. Their leaves and stems also make a stunning display of their own. Most varieties of these plants typically grow about five feet tall and spread about four feet wide. In addition to this, they are all fast growers and, as a result, reach maturity quickly as you give them the proper care.

Growing Salvia yangii plants as rose companions will deter specific pests like aphids and beetles. They will also attract a handful of pollinators like bees and birds to your garden of roses.

– Care Guide

Salvia yangii plants require minimal care once they’re established. Since most varieties grow tall, they will need the occasional support to prevent them from breaking or toppling over. These plants thrive in the full sun, just like roses would, which means that you should avoid planting them in shaded areas. If your soil is constantly waterlogged, don’t attempt to grow Salvia yangii plants in them, as they can develop a case of root rot and this would cause hindering to their growth.

2. Horsemint

Horsemint, also known as bee balm is an excellent choice for pairing with roses. They are flowering perennials found growing naturally all over North America. 

There are several varieties of these wildflowers available, and most of them are suitable for companion planting. Most times, Horsemints are seen growing in areas where they’re unwanted, but if you plant them intentionally alongside your rose bushes, the results will be phenomenal.

– Characteristics

The most important feature of Horsemints is their gorgeous flowers. They grow in clusters of white, purple, and pink petals and stay on the plants all through summer. Their vibrantly colored blooms enable them to attract beneficial insects and pollinators which favor roses. To be specific, they are great companion plants for David Austin roses.

– Care Guide

You have to monitor Horsemints carefully because they will spread aggressively if given a chance. Asides from that, caring for them is almost effortless. Like most other flowering plants, they need direct sunlight for a minimum of six hours daily. 

You should avoid growing these plants in shaded regions because too much shade can cause them to become thin and gangly. Horsemints love moist nutrient-rich environments. These plants will thrive as long as the soil is well drained, with average pH between 6 and 7, which is neither completely acidic, nor neutral.

3. Alliums

Believe it or not, most allium bulbs can be grown as ornamental plants, including the most common ones like garlic and onions, shallot, and chives. While these are the most common allium plants, there are other types of alliums that can be used for companion planting. The types people grow in gardens with roses are usually the ornamental forms of the plants.

Note that some roses thrive with these bulbs when paired together because, alliums add other benefits to the front yard besides looking good. They have a pungent scent that helps to repel disease-causing pests like aphids or even others like spider mites. However, it’s important to note that the taller varieties of these plants might not be suitable to grow with shrub rose types.

– Characteristics

Alliums are primarily grown for their pretty flower heads. Their flowers grow in spherical clusters atop thick green stalks that rise above the foliage. Planting them with pastel-colored roses creates a lovely aesthetic that’s hard to resist, especially when they are in the midst of their maturity, when they shoots are growing in a healthy way.

Furthermore, pollinators are usually attracted to the beautiful display of colors of the flowers, and this would help the roses as well. 

There are several varieties of alliums to choose from, including the short ones which are at most four inches tall all the way to the tall ones, which are over five feet tall. They are great in floral arrangements and are the perfect companion plants for roses in containers.

– Care Guide

Alliums like a sunny location, and the more sun they see, the better they will grow However, most varieties can survive in a shaded area, but it’s not ideal. They should be planted in well-draining, nutrient-rich soils to get optimum growth. 

Lastly, not that these plants do well when grown in groups rather than alone because they support themselves and have a fuller look that way, almost no pests will approach them and multiply in them.

4. Lavender

Lavender plants are great evergreen companion plants for roses. Even when they’re not in bloom, their green-grey foliage contrast well with rose heads in front yard gardens.

 They pair perfectly with pink, red, or white roses, and their sweet-smelling fragrance only gets stronger when combined with these roses. The fact that lavender plants repel certain harmful pests is an added benefit, and in planting roses with them, these delicate flowers will benefit more.

– Characteristics

Lavender plants grow in upright spikes, with their beautiful flowers arranged towards the top. While these plants repel insects and other pests, their strong scents also attract pollinators to the area.

Mature lavender plants grow to different heights depending on the variety, usually between two and three feet tall.

– Care Guide

Like with most plants, growing lavender successfully in your garden will largely depend on the variety you choose to grow and the light, water, and soil conditions. That said, they’re easy to propagate.

Total sun exposure, dry, well-drained soils with an alkaline pH, in addition to some moderate watering will ensure these plants thrive and survive the drought, however, what you should note is that they would start to yellow once they have been overwatered, which is what you should avoid doing.

5. Salvia

Salvia, also known as sage, is a summer garden staple. This summer plant is a member of the mint family, and several varieties of it are used as herbs. The most common variety is Salvia officinalis which is commonly called garden sage.

Gardeners all around the world grow the ornamental varieties of these perennial plants for their beautiful fragrant blooms. 

– Characteristics

Salvias look like tall green spikes with tiny tube-like flowers arranged in clusters towards the tip of the stem. Their flowers usually appear in bright blue, pink, purple, red, white, or yellow hues. 

As they have some beautiful leaves that are arranged in a cascade directly below the upright flower stalks, the flowers are the focal point of these plants. The contrast difference between the structure of salvias and roses makes them suitable knockout rose companion plants. 

A significant benefit of growing salvias is that their blooms invite pollinators like bees and butterflies to visit, and if they visit your plants, they won’t leave without visiting the roses in your garden too. 

Thankfully, salvias do not frequently draw animals like deer or rabbits, so you won’t see these animals eating them. Their leaves’ distinct, strong scent is a deterrent to many plant pests that can also affect roses.

Additionally, depending on the species, salvias can reach heights of 18 inches to five feet tall, this variation in height makes some of them suitable as container plants. 

– Care Guide

Some varieties of these herbaceous plant are hardy, while others are not, so it’s imperative to take good care of them and provide optimum conditions for their growth. As full-sun plants, it’s essential to grow salvias in areas where they will be able to receive no less than six hours of direct sunlight a day, and as a result you will see them blooming. 

Some varieties, especially the ones that produce light flowers, can tolerate a bit of shade, and still they will thrive. However, it is important to keep in mind that Salvias can thrive in almost any type of soil, provided it drains well, so that no water will be clogged. 

6. Baby’s Breath

Baby’s breath plants are fantastic climbing rose companion plants. There are several varieties of these plants, and most of them have different physical looks. The flowers, with their cloud-like look, paired with roses, are show-stoppers. 

Baby’s breath plants somehow always make their way into flower arrangements, and coincidentally, they’re usually arranged with roses and a few other plants as fillers because they have a unique luscious texture to add. 

– Characteristics

Baby’s breath plants stun with gorgeous white or pink flowers during summer, depending on the variety. Their narrow bluish-green or grayish-green leaves also make a statement wherever the plants are planted. 

Many varieties of the plant creep and spread, while others grow upright. They are generally classified as invasive species in the United States because of how fast they grow and spread, and how rich they would be producing flower.

Many beneficial insects and pollinators love baby’s breath flowers and will naturally be drawn to wherever they’re grown. This is good for your rose plants and other flowering plants in your garden. It is important to note that baby’s breath plants are toxic to people and pets. 

– Care Guide

Baby’s breath plants require relatively little upkeep, as a result they will essentially take care of themselves if you plant them in a location with enough sunshine and sufficient soil drainage. 

These plants typically only need to be watered during dry seasons. Baby’s breath plants have fragile stems that can fall over when strong winds blow; as a result, they’ll benefit from a bit of support.

7. Lilies

We’ve mentioned several common flowers in gardens, but lilies take the cake. They are dainty plants that add a touch of elegance to any landscape. Their gorgeous flowers look delicate, and most are fragrant. 

Growing them with roses will enhance the looks and smell of your front yard garden. A big number of plants are called “lily,” but most aren’t true lilies, so don’t be confused. The real deal grows out of bulbs and belongs to the Lilium genus, and this is what signifies thm. 

– Characteristics

Lilies have long flowering seasons, mainly when different varieties are grown together. You will almost always find them in gardens during spring, summer, and fall. Lilies, with their trumpet-shaped, orange, pink, purple, red, white, or yellow flowers, transform rose gardens into elegant spaces that attract an array of lovely pollinators and beneficial insects. 

You can extend the booming season of these plants by combining several varieties of your garden. On the other hand, note that different types of lilies can adapt to life in containers, and many of them can be cut and some are even used for stunning floral arrangements.

– Care Guide

As flowering plants, it’s no surprise that lilies thrive and produce more of their gorgeous blooms when they’re exposed to full sunlight for some time every day, which is a minimum of six hours.

They are generally affected by constantly damp or boggy soils, so it’s essential to find a site that drains water properly. If you choose to grow these plants with your roses, you need to pay attention to your garden soil’s pH as several varieties of these plants thrive in different soil pH. 

For example, Madonna lilies thrive in alkaline pH conditions, but others may not, hence, you should be specific with this aspect.

Conclusion

All in all, you can try a variety of fantastic plants to pair with roses in your garden; you need to pay attention to Specific details like blooming seasons and growth requirements to choose the ones that work best.

If you want to get started, remember;

• Plants grown as companions are supposed to complement the main plants or provide a suitable contrast without overshadowing them.
• Most flowering plants, including roses, require direct sun for optimum flower production.
• Several companions will add many benefits to your garden.

With several plants available, you can get creative and style your front yard to your taste. We’ve made it easier for you by providing you with the above-listed companions. So, without wasting time, get to planting!