Lavender

Lavender (Lavendula spp.) is an herbaceous perennial that’s easy to grow and its blue-purple hues are complementary to roses. “Plants with shades of blue make great complements to typical rose colors,” says Tom Soulsby, senior horticulturist at Chicago Botanic Garden. “Blues found in lavender are appropriate if soil and light conditions permit.”

“Lavender is thought to deter pests such as aphids and whiteflies,” adds Ward Dilmore, founder and head landscape designer at Petrus, a luxury estate landscaping company. “Planting lavender near the borders of your rose garden is also a great way to attract pollinators.”

Lavender thrives in similar conditions to roses, requiring sunny locations with well-draining soil.

• Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, dry soil

Boxwood

Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) are versatile green shrubs that create a perfect backdrop for roses, offering structure and texture for your landscape.

“Boxwoods can either be used in a parterre application, or as a beautiful backdrop to the garden and roses within it,” says Helaine Vrana, plant buyer at landscaping company R.P. Marzilli & Company. “Their texture creates a wonderful curtain effect allowing the rose’s color to pop.” They can also be more easily shaped than other evergreens, she adds.

These evergreens can grow in full or partial sun and prefer well-draining soil. 

• Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
• Sunlight: Full to partial sun
• Soil: Well-draining, loamy neutral or alkaline soil

Clematis

Clematis (Clematis spp.), also called leather flowers, are low-maintenance climbing plants with blooms that come in many colors. “There are so many varieties and colors of this vine, which I like to use to climb and mingle with roses on pillars, arbors, and walls,” Soulsby says. “Some cultivars also nicely scramble along the ground, creating a unique ground cover.”

These hardy, disease-resistant perennials offer pops of color to complement roses. Like roses, clematis grow well in sunny conditions with well-draining soil.

• Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, loamy soil

Catmint

Catmint (Nepeta spp.) is a perennial ornamental herb that can protect your roses by bringing in beneficial predators. “Catmint is a great plant for attracting natural pollinators and beneficial predators,” Dilmore says. “Natural predators are a smart addition to your rose garden to help reduce any pests that may be attacking your roses.”

According to Dilmore, there are many catmint varieties available and many have a trailing, ground cover growth habit—all varieties will contrast well with your rose blooms. This easy-to-grow plant thrives in well-draining soil and can grow in full to partial sun. Catmint’s small flowers come in shades of lavender, white, or pink, offering long-blooming bursts of color to complement roses. 

• Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
• Sunlight: Full to partial sun
• Soil: Well-draining soil

Marigolds

Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) are colorful annuals that offer pest-deterring properties that can benefit roses.

“Marigolds are often planted in vegetable gardens specifically to deter pests,” Dilmore explains. “They are one of the best plants for natural help deterring nematodes and whiteflies. Roses can be a magnet for pests like aphids and Japanese beetles, so planting annuals that have some pest-deterring qualities may help.”

Marigolds flourish with plenty of sunshine and well-draining soil. 

• Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Soil: Well-draining, moist soil

Geraniums

Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) are a versatile flowering plant that provides pops of color in shades of red, pink, purple, orange, and white.

“Geraniums bloom all summer long,” Dilmore says. “They are known to help deter pests like Japanese beetles and aphids. There are endless varieties available and different vibrant versions of pink, white, red, salmon, and purple.”

To grow geraniums, plant them in a sunny spot with 6 to 8 hours of sunlight and organically rich, well-draining soil. 

• Hardiness Zones: 9 to 12
• Sunlight: Full sun, partial shade
• Soil: Well-draining, rich soil