Companion Planting for Knock Out Roses
Knock Out roses, botanical name Rosa 'Radrazz,' bear small clusters of cherry red, seven-petaled blooms. The roses have a fairly long growing season, often bearing blooms throughout the summer and into the fall. Many different annual and perennial plants can make excellent companion plants for Knock Out roses. Does this Spark an idea?
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Wave Petunias
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Wave Petunias, a member of the Ride The Wave family of trademarked petunia plants, are potential companion plants for Knock Out roses, according to the "Companion Plants Add Beauty To Rose Beds" article in the "San Diego Union-Tribune." Wave Petunias can function as a ground cover, spreading up to 4 feet per plant. These petunias require full sunlight and moderate water. Wave Petunias bloom during the early spring through late summer months.
Chives
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Chive plants may be a good companion for roses, according to a Cornell University. Chives can be planted at the base of rose bushes for a dual purpose: repel aphids (a common pest in rose gardens) and to produce pale lavender flowers that can offset the pink tones of Knock Out roses. Chives, which bloom throughout the summer, are edible and often used in dips and seasonings. The Chive plant has a clumping habit and generally will do best in full sunlight, although it can tolerate partial shade.
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Evergreens
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Evergreen hedges provide a good backdrop for Knock Out roses, according to the AgriLife Extension at Texas A&M University. Because evergreen plants such as juniper and boxwood keep their green foliage virtually year-round, even during winter months, they can be attractive and low-maintenance companion plants for roses. Evergreen plants generally are very hardy and need only minimal water. Some evergreens thrive even through winter frosts.
Ornamental Grass
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An ornamental grass such as Miscanthus sinensis, commonly known as Cosmopolitan, is a Knock Out rose companion plant suggested by Kansas State University. Because this ornamental grass is low maintenance and can grow in a variety of soils, it can mix well with Knock Out roses. Cosmopolitan grass initially grows in a reddish color in September, then generally turns to green stems bordered in white.
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References
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- Photo Credit roses rose, rose.. image by Christophe Hamerlik from Fotolia.com
