Hey there fellow gardeners! I’ve been growing Rose of Sharon in my garden for years, and I gotta tell you – finding the right companion plants can really make these beautiful shrubs shine! Today, I’m gonna share everything I’ve learned about the best plants to grow alongside your Rose of Sharon.
Why Companion Planting Matters for Rose of Sharon
Let’s be real – Rose of Sharon is gorgeous when it’s blooming, but it can look kinda boring for part of the season Plus, it sometimes gets a bit bare at the bottom That’s why picking the right companion plants is super important! The right companions will
- Fill in empty spaces throughout the growing season
- Provide contrasting colors and textures
- Cover up those bare lower stems
- Create interest even when Rose of Sharon isn’t blooming
Best Shrub Companions
When I’m designing a mixed border or hedge with Rose of Sharon. these are my go-to shrub companions
Flowering Shrubs
- Hydrangeas
- Viburnums
- Lilacs
- Forsythia
- Butterfly Bush
- Spirea
- Smokebush
Evergreen Shrubs
- Juniper
- Holly
- Boxwood
- Euonymus
- Arborvitae
- Barberry
- Clipped Yew
Tip: Plant shrubs that bloom at different times so that your garden always has something flowering.
Perfect Perennial Partners
I love using perennials to create layers of interest around Rose of Sharon. Here are some awesome options:
Early Season Bloomers
- Foxglove
- Shasta Daisy
- Tall Phlox
- Daylilies
- Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Late Season Bloomers
- Chrysanthemums
- Asters
- Coreopsis
- Oriental Lilies
- Coneflowers
Foliage Interest
- Ornamental Grasses
- Lamb’s Ear
- Hostas
- Heuchera
- Creeping Jenny
Ground Cover Companions
To cover those bare spots at the base, try these low-growing plants:
- Creeping Thyme
- Ornamental Oregano
- Sweet Alyssum
- Verbena
- Basket of Gold
Container Companions
If you’re growing Rose of Sharon in a pot, here’s what works best:
Trailing Plants
- Sweet Potato Vine
- Bacopa
- Calibrachoa
- Alyssum
Note: Rose of Sharon needs lots of root space, so don’t overcrowd the container!
What Not to Plant with Rose of Sharon
Y’all, I learned this the hard way – some plants just don’t play nice with Rose of Sharon. Avoid:
- Super thirsty plants like marsh marigold
- Desert plants like cacti and succulents
- Aggressive spreaders like mint
- Heavy feeders that’ll steal all the nutrients
Growing Tips for Success
Here’s what I’ve found works best when companion planting with Rose of Sharon:
Soil & Sun Requirements
- Well-draining soil
- Consistently moist (but not wet!) conditions
- At least 6 hours of sun daily
- Light fertilizing once yearly in spring
Design Tips
- Layer plants by height (tall in back, short in front)
- Mix different bloom times for continuous color
- Include various foliage textures
- Consider flower colors that complement Rose of Sharon’s blooms
Seasonal Planning Guide
To keep your garden looking amazing all year, here’s my suggested planting timeline:
Spring
- Plant early-blooming companions like forsythia and phlox
- Add slow-release fertilizer
- Clean up winter debris
Summer
- Enjoy Rose of Sharon’s blooms!
- Deadhead spent flowers
- Keep soil consistently moist
Fall
- Plant late-season companions like mums and asters
- Add spring-blooming bulbs
- Clean up fallen leaves
Winter
- Leave ornamental grasses for winter interest
- Enjoy evergreen companions
- Plan next year’s additions
Final Thoughts
It’s not hard to make a beautiful garden with Rose of Sharon; you just need to plan ahead and pick the right plants to go with it. Remember that the key is to pick plants that do well together in different seasons and have similar growing needs.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with Rose of Sharon companion planting! What combinations have worked best in your garden? Drop a comment below and let’s chat about it!
Happy gardening, y’all!
Would you like me to explain or break down any part of this article in more detail?
Rose Companion Planting Guide
- For a happy marriage, pick plants that are well-behaved and have the same growth needs as your rose.
- Place companion plants 12 to 18 inches away from roses so that the roots don’t get disturbed.
- Avoid plants that crowd or provide too much shade. Roses don’t like having to fight for sunlight, water, or nutrients.
- Select grasses or perennials that form clumps and stay together instead of spreading out.
At Heirloom Roses, we are often asked about groundcovers and which, if any, are suitable for planting around roses. Groundcovers look nice on their own and can be used to hide the bare lower stems of roses, especially hybrid teas that lose their lower leaves. However, many groundcovers are simply too aggressive to be compatible. Ground covers may also be in direct conflict with some of our most basic rose care, such as raking up leaves or deadheading, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use them if you pick the right ones. Consider your rose maintenance practices to ensure a good match. Do you regularly remove spent blooms during the summer? Some groundcovers resent being trampled on while others are tolerant.
Ground Covers We Love
- Those that don’t mind being walked on too much, like the Steppables collection’s strawberries, violets, and sedums
- Plants that grow low to the ground, like blue star creeper, woolly thyme, or Corsican mint
- Tough growers such as dwarf mondo grass withstand some raking.
- Summer annuals that add color during the season without getting in the way of mulching or cleaning up in the fall Alyssum, lobelia, lantana, petunias, summer snapdragon (Angelonia), million bells (Calibrachoa), verbena, and pinks (Dianthus) are some flowers that you could try.
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If you thought roses had to be relegated to a bed by themselves, think again. These flowering shrubs make great companion plants. By adopting an informal approach to design, you open the door to limitless creative options. There are benefits to playing garden matchmaker. Here are eight great reasons to find your perfect pairing.
- By mixing annuals, perennials, grasses, and even other shrubs, you can extend the season and have color all the time.
- Change the look of a dull border by adding contrast and texture with foxglove or grass flowers with spikes, brunnera leaves that are big and rough, or baby’s breath flowers with foamy heads.
- Attract beneficial insects, birds and bees with a diverse palette. Did you know that hummingbirds will gladly eat the aphids off of your rosebushes on their way to the nectar?
- Create the ultimate cutting garden in your own backyard. Opt for long-lived, bouquet must-haves.
- Give your garden shape with evergreen shrubs like holly, boxwood, senecio, or sweet box. Sage, artemisia, rosemary, and lavender are just a few of the herbs that can help shape a space.
- Add romance and charm to your garden by planting clematis or your favorite rambling rose under plants or letting it climb a tree.
- Plant beautiful sky-colored plants like delphinium, veronica, iris, and bluebeard (Caryopteris) to get the blues, which roses don’t have.
- Go organic with help from popular herbs. Garlic, geranium, and mint are strong smells that keep pests away.
Planting Rose of Sharon, Clematis & Roses! // Garden Answer
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