Rose seeks companionship

For centuries, roses have touched people's hearts and senses with their beauty and fragrance. Lovingly combined, they turn every garden into a wonderfully blooming oasis. And that's from early summer to late autumn. In early spring, bulb flowers adorn the rose beds, followed by early-flowering perennials and, in summer, framed by annual summer flowers and perennial shrubs. In romantic gardens, conifers are used as background planting and to accentuate bed borders, and together with climbing plants, they create a picturesque setting for many a façade and passageway. 

 To ensure that roses and their companions thrive, their requirements in terms of location and care should be similar. Each plant needs a certain amount of space between its neighbours so that air can circulate between the roses and their companions. This allows the leaves to dry more quickly and protects them from mildew and black spot. 

Combine your favourite roses with their companions according to height, growth habit, colour and flowering time. Tall perennials should be tied up and supported early on. If the companions become too intrusive, only a spade and shears will help. The soil under the rose remains open so that it can be loosened and used for earthing up in autumn. 

Among the shrubs, trees and summer flowers, there are many varieties that harmonise well with roses.