What To Plant Next To Knock Out Roses – 15 Stunning Companions For A

Ah, the beloved Knock Out® Rose. It’s the workhorse of the sunny garden, isn’t it? You love its relentless blooms, its vibrant colors, and its incredible disease resistance. But if you’re staring at your garden bed, you might agree that a standalone group of Knock Outs, as wonderful as they are, can sometimes look a little… lonely.

I promise you, transforming that simple patch of roses into a breathtaking, multi-layered garden tapestry is easier than you think. It’s all about choosing the right friends for your roses to hang out with! By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly what to plant next to knock out roses to create a stunning display that’s not just beautiful but also healthier and more dynamic all year long.

We’ll walk through the best perennials, annuals, and herbs that make perfect partners. We’ll also cover essential design tips and best practices to ensure your garden becomes the envy of the neighborhood. Let’s dig in!

Why Companion Planting is a Game-Changer for Your Roses

Before we jump into specific plants, let’s talk about why this matters. Companion planting isn’t just about making things look pretty—though that’s a huge perk! There are some serious benefits of what to plant next to knock out roses that create a healthier, more resilient garden ecosystem.

Think of it as building a little community in your garden bed. Here’s what the right neighbors can do:

• Create Visual Interest: Companions add diverse textures, shapes, and colors. The spiky wands of Salvia or the soft, cloud-like form of Catmint provide a beautiful contrast to the rounded shape of rose blooms.
• Extend the Season of Color: Knock Outs are bloom machines, but they do have lulls. Planting companions that bloom earlier in spring or later in fall ensures there’s always something exciting happening in your garden.
• Attract Beneficial Insects: Many companion plants, especially herbs and flowers like Alyssum, are magnets for pollinators and predatory insects like ladybugs and lacewings. These good bugs are your personal security team, helping to control pests like aphids. This is a core principle of sustainable what to plant next to knock out roses.
• Deter Pests Naturally: Some plants, like marigolds and alliums (the onion family), release scents that can confuse and repel common rose pests. It’s a wonderfully eco-friendly what to plant next to knock out roses strategy!
• Suppress Weeds: Low-growing groundcovers can fill in the empty space around the base of your roses, smothering out weeds and reducing your garden chores.

The Ultimate Guide: What to Plant Next to Knock Out Roses

Alright, let’s get to the fun part! The key is choosing plants that share the same love for sun (at least 6 hours a day) and have similar water needs as your roses. Don’t worry—these flowers are perfect for beginners! Here is our complete what to plant next to knock out roses guide, broken down by plant type.

Classic Perennial Partners for Long-Lasting Beauty

Perennials are fantastic because you plant them once, and they come back year after year, growing more established and beautiful over time.

1. Catmint (Nepeta): If I had to pick just one companion, it might be this one. Its soft, billowy mounds of grey-green foliage and lavender-blue flowers perfectly conceal the often-bare lower stems of roses, often called “bare legs.” It’s drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and blooms for months.
2. Salvia (Salvia nemorosa): The tall, upright spikes of deep purple or blue salvia, like ‘May Night’ or ‘Caradonna’, create a stunning vertical contrast to the rounded rose blossoms. Plus, pollinators absolutely adore it.
3. Lavender (Lavandula): The classic rose companion for a reason! Lavender’s silvery foliage and fragrant purple flowers are a perfect match for pink, red, or yellow roses. It also helps deter deer and rabbits. Just be sure you have well-draining soil, as lavender hates wet feet.
4. Coneflower (Echinacea): These sturdy, daisy-like flowers stand tall on strong stems and add a wonderful, natural meadow-like feel. They come in a variety of colors and extend the garden’s bloom season well into late summer and fall.
5. Daylilies (Hemerocallis): Daylilies are the definition of low-maintenance. They form lush, grassy clumps that help fill in gaps and come in nearly every color imaginable. Choose a variety like the ever-blooming ‘Stella de Oro’ for continuous color.

Vibrant Annuals for a Pop of Season-Long Color

Annuals give you the freedom to experiment with new color schemes every year. They are perfect for filling in gaps while your perennials get established.

1. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima): This low-growing, fragrant annual creates a living carpet of white, pink, or purple flowers. It’s a fantastic choice for the front of the border and is a powerhouse at attracting hoverflies, which feast on aphids.
2. Marigolds (Tagetes): An old-fashioned favorite for a reason! The scent of marigolds is known to deter pests both above and below the ground (like nematodes). Their sunny yellow and orange blooms are a cheerful addition.
3. Verbena (Verbena bonariensis): Tall, airy, and elegant, this plant adds a see-through layer of texture with its wiry stems and clusters of purple flowers. It weaves beautifully between roses without overcrowding them.
4. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans): For a blast of pure, vibrant color, you can’t beat zinnias. They are incredibly easy to grow from seed, and butterflies flock to them. They make excellent cut flowers to bring inside with your roses.

Aromatic Herbs: The Edible & Eco-Friendly Choice

Planting herbs is a fantastic way to create a multi-sensory garden that’s both beautiful and useful. This is a key part of how to what to plant next to knock out roses in a sustainable way.

1. Chives & Garlic (Allium): The oniony scent of alliums is believed to help repel common pests like aphids and Japanese beetles. Their grassy texture and pretty globe-like purple flowers are a bonus.
2. Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum): This makes a wonderful, fragrant groundcover that can handle light foot traffic. It chokes out weeds, thrives in the sun, and releases a lovely scent when you brush past it.
3. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): The needle-like texture and woody structure of rosemary provide year-round interest. It’s deer-resistant and loves the same sunny, well-drained conditions as roses.
4. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): Believe it or not, parsley is a fantastic rose companion. It’s thought to deter rose beetles, and its bright green, curly leaves provide a lovely textural contrast.

Design Tips for a Picture-Perfect Rose Garden

Now that you have a list of plants, let’s talk about arranging them. Following a few simple design principles will elevate your garden from a collection of plants to a cohesive masterpiece. These are my go-to what to plant next to knock out roses tips.

Playing with Color, Texture, and Form

A great garden engages the senses with variety. Don’t just plant one of everything; plant in drifts or groups of 3, 5, or 7 for a more natural, impactful look.

• Color: Choose a color scheme. You could go for a cool palette with blues, purples, and pinks (think Salvia and Catmint with pink Knock Outs) or a hot palette with reds, oranges, and yellows (Marigolds and red Daylilies with red Knock Outs).
• Texture: Contrast is key! Pair the bold leaves and soft petals of your roses with fine-textured plants like Lavender, airy grasses, or spiky-flowered plants like Salvia.
• Form: Use a mix of plant shapes. Combine the mounding habit of your roses with upright plants (Salvia, Coneflower), and low-growing, sprawling plants (Thyme, Alyssum) to create layers of interest.

Think About Bloom Times

For a garden that looks great from spring to fall, sequence your blooms. Plant spring-blooming bulbs like daffodils and tulips near your roses for early color. Follow up with companions like Catmint that start just as the roses are leafing out, and finish with fall bloomers like Asters or Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ to carry the show until the first frost.

How to Plant Your Rose Companions: Best Practices

Proper planting ensures your new additions and your roses live together happily. Following this simple what to plant next to knock out roses care guide will set you up for success.

1. Prepare the Bed: Before planting, enrich the soil with a few inches of compost. This improves drainage and provides nutrients for everyone.
2. Mind the Spacing: This is so important! Read the plant tags. Do not crowd your roses. Good air circulation is the number one defense against fungal diseases like black spot. Plant companions at least 12-18 inches away from the base of your rose bush.
3. Plant Gently: Dig a hole twice as wide as the companion plant’s root ball. Gently place the plant in the hole, ensuring the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill the hole, press the soil down firmly, and water deeply.
4. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of mulch (like shredded bark or pine straw) around all the plants, keeping it a few inches away from the stems. Mulch retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and keeps the soil cool.

Avoiding Common Problems with What to Plant Next to Knock Out Roses

Even with the best intentions, a few issues can pop up. Here are some common problems with what to plant next to knock out roses and how to sidestep them.

• The Problem of Overcrowding: Planting too close together is the most common mistake. It restricts airflow, which invites diseases. The Fix: Always follow the spacing recommendations on the plant tag. It may look sparse at first, but plants grow quickly!
• The Problem of Mismatched Needs: Planting a shade-loving Hosta next to a sun-worshipping Knock Out is a recipe for failure for one of them. The Fix: Stick to companions that thrive in full sun and have average water needs.
• The Problem of Aggressive Spreaders: Some plants, like bee balm (Monarda) or mint, can be garden thugs, spreading aggressively and choking out their neighbors. The Fix: If you love them, plant them in pots sunk into the ground to contain their roots, or choose well-behaved, clumping varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions About Planting Near Knock Out Roses

What is the best all-around companion for Knock Out Roses?

If you’re looking for one superstar, Catmint (Nepeta) is a fantastic choice. It’s drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, blooms for a very long time, and its soft texture beautifully hides the base of the roses while complementing any color.

Can I plant vegetables next to my Knock Out Roses?

Absolutely! Many vegetables, particularly herbs like parsley, thyme, and chives, make great companions. Leafy greens like lettuce or spinach can also work well as a temporary groundcover early in the season before the summer heat arrives.

How close should I plant companions to my roses?

A good rule of thumb is to plant perennials and shrubs at least 18 inches away from the base of your rose bush. Smaller annuals and groundcovers can be a little closer, around 12 inches. The goal is to ensure the rose has plenty of air circulation around its main canes.

Do I need to fertilize my companion plants?

Generally, your companion plants will be perfectly happy with the same fertilizer you give your roses. When you feed your roses in the spring with a well-balanced rose fertilizer, the surrounding plants will benefit from the nutrients as well.

What should I NOT plant next to roses?

Avoid planting anything that will create dense shade, as roses need at least six hours of direct sun. Also, steer clear of plants with extremely aggressive root systems (like some bamboo or large trees) that will compete too heavily for water and nutrients.

Your Beautiful Garden Awaits!

There you have it—everything you need to know to confidently choose the perfect partners for your beautiful Knock Out roses. By moving beyond a simple planting of one type of flower, you’re not just adding beauty; you’re creating a healthier, more vibrant, and more resilient garden ecosystem.

Don’t be afraid to experiment! Gardening is a journey of discovery. Start with one or two of the companions on this list, see how you like them, and build from there. You now have the knowledge and the inspiration to create a truly show-stopping garden.

Go forth and grow!

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Rimon Chowdhury

Gardener, Horticulturist and Author at GreenyGardener

Rimon Chowdhury, a gardening enthusiast with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Rajshahi. His love for gardening began at a young age and He has been honing his skills for over 15 years.He is an expert in all aspects of gardening, from planting and watering to pest control and crop rotation. He is also dedicated to sustainable gardening practices and love sharing his knowledge with others through his website "greenygardner.com" and on social media platforms such as Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, and GardenStew.

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