The Perfect Companion Plants For Roses

West Grove, PA — Gardeners and landscapers continue to discover the versatility, range of color and season-long blooming of The Knock Out® Family of Roses and Drift® Roses. But, what should stand next to these easy-to-grow beauties that complements and enhances their habit?

“When choosing plants, it’s best to create a garden with layers of texture and a range of seasonality so you have blooms and color continuously,” says Steve Hutton, president and CEO of Star Roses® and Plants/Conard-Pyle. “Perennials and shrub roses are natural friends and help make gardens colorful throughout the year.”

Here are some companion plants—coming to garden retailers in 2014—to plant with The Knock Out® Roses and Drift® Roses:

Clematis

When you think of Clematis, you most likely imagine flowering vines that are easily trained to climb up structures, trellises and fences. But what if you don’t have a structure, trellis, or fence for it to climb? Available in 2014, Clematis Sapphire Indigo™ is a unique groundcover-like, shrubby clematis that works in any garden. The indigo colored flowers create a mound of weed-smothering beauty, or if grown near the base of other plants, will peek through to add a nice surprise.

Nepeta

Nepeta is a tried and true landscape staple that works in any garden especially those Knock Out® or Drift® Roses. The compact, tidy habit of Nepeta Junior Walker™ is 1/3 the size of Walker’s Low and with blooms well through the season; it’s a good choice for season-long interest. Mixed with The Pink Double Knock Out® Rose or new Popcorn Drift® it will be a great color match.

Perovskia Little Lace

With its tight habit and low maintenance, Perovskia Little Lace will be a good companion plant to any roses. Finely textured foliage and delicate lavender flowers will pair beautifully with the super blooming powers of The Knock Out® Roses. Perovskia Little Lace also looks great in a container.

Moody Blues Veronica

The colors, habits and extreme flowering of the Veronica Moody Blues series are spectacular! These compact companions are perfect for planting with any shrub roses as they will bloom in zones 6–9 until fall, just like The Knock Out® and Drift® roses. They range in color from dark blue to pink. Look for the whole series to debut in 2014.

For more information about Knock Out® and Drift® roses, and new introductions from Star® Roses and Plants, visit our website.

About Star® Roses and Plants/Conard-Pyle
From the Peace rose to the revolutionary  and  roses, Star® Roses and Plants/Conard-Pyle has been a pioneer in the field of plant development and introduction for more than 100 years. Founded in 1897 as a retail mail order firm specializing in roses, the company has evolved from a wholesale container nursery to a leading genetics company involved directly in breeding roses, perennials and woody plants, and introducing plants from other breeders around the world. To learn more about Star® Roses and Plants/Conard-Pyle, please visit http://www.starrosesandplants.com.

Source: Star® Roses and Plants/Conard-Pyle