Roses are the divas of the garden, aren’t they? They want the spotlight, the space, and a little extra effort to strut their stuff. But even the most glamorous blooms can’t do it all on their own.
I learned this the hard way when I planted a few ‘wildcards’ next to my roses, and let’s just say, the results weren’t pretty.
So, before you start mixing up your garden guests, let’s take a look at the top 20 plants that could really ruin your rose garden’s vibe. Trust me, your roses will thank you!
1. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are the giants of the garden, growing tall and casting shade on your sun-loving roses. Roses crave sunlight, and being overshadowed by towering sunflowers can stunt their growth.
In my early gardening days, I planted sunflowers beside my roses. The resulting uneven growth was a lesson in garden planning.
Have these towering beauties in a separate area to let your roses bask in the sun they adore.
2. Foxglove
Foxglove’s tall spires can overshadow roses, stealing sunlight and space. Additionally, foxgloves can be toxic, which is something to be wary of if you have curious pets.
I admired foxgloves’ beauty and paired them with roses. The result was a towering shadow over my rose bed. Securing foxgloves their own spotlight, allows roses to shine in their sunlit glory.
3. Mint
Mint might seem like an innocent herb, but it’s a notorious garden bully. With its aggressive growth, it spreads quickly, hogging nutrients and space.
You might find its roots invading the rose’s territory, leaving your roses struggling to thrive.
Remember my garden horror story? A mint plant took over, and my roses appeared utterly miserable. Place mint in a container, far away from your roses’ delicate roots.
Trust me; you’ll thank yourself for this precaution.
4. Fennel
Fennel has a reputation for being a ‘bad neighbor.’ It releases chemicals into the soil that can inhibit the growth of surrounding plants, roses included.
In my garden, I placed fennel near my roses, thinking the feathery foliage would complement the blooms. Instead, the roses struggled, their growth noticeably stunted.
It’s wise to put fennel at a safe distance, allowing your roses to flourish without competition.
5. Bamboo
Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can quickly become invasive, competing with roses for nutrients and water. Its root system is aggressive, often overtaking the garden space.
I once underestimated bamboo’s growth, and it took over, leaving my roses looking forlorn.
If you love both bamboo and roses, consider a well-contained area for bamboo, far from your rose beds, to remain harmony in the garden.
6. Lavender
Lavender loves dry, well-drained soil, which doesn’t always mix well with the watering needs of roses. These two beauties might clash when it comes to soil conditions.
I had the idea of pairing lavender with roses for the perfect scent combination. However, their differing soil preferences led to unhappy plants.
Ensure each has its desired conditions met, perhaps by keeping them in separate garden sections.
7. Ivy
Ivy is attractive but notoriously invasive. It can climb and choke out other plants, leaving roses with little room to breathe or grow.
In my garden, ivy seemed like a charming addition until it began to overtake everything, including my precious roses.
Hide ivy well away from your roses, perhaps on a distant wall, to prevent it from becoming a garden tyrant.
8. Cabbage
Cabbage and roses might seem like an odd pairing, but it’s a common garden mistake. Cabbage can attract pests like cabbage worms, which may then move onto your roses.
I once planted cabbage near my rose bed, thinking of companion planting benefits. Alas, the increased pest activity was a nightmare.
It’s best if your cabbage is in the veggie patch, away from roses, to avoid unwelcome visitors.
9. Black Walnut
Black Walnut trees produce juglone, a chemical harmful to many plants, including roses. This natural toxin can stifle the growth of roses, leading to a sad, wilted appearance.
A neighbor’s walnut tree once affected my roses, teaching me a valuable lesson in plant chemistry. Keep roses clear of walnut trees to ensure they thrive without toxic interference.
10. Potatoes
Keep roses and potatoes at a safe distance in your garden—trust me, they’re not the best neighbors!
Potatoes might look innocent, but they’re prone to blight, which can sneak over to your roses faster than you can say “garden drama.”
The result? Stunted growth, sickly plants, and your beautiful blooms turning into a sad, wilted mess.
Give your roses the space they deserve to shine without the risk of catching any unwanted potato diseases. After all, they’re royalty in your garden—no need for any potato parties crashing their vibe!
11. Rue
Rue may look charming with its feathery leaves, but it can be a real troublemaker for roses. Known to cause toxicity, rue can stunt rose growth and even lead to yellowing leaves.
So, unless you want your roses to be sulking in the corner, it’s best to give them some space from this feisty herb. Think of it as giving your roses some “me-time” without any rue-ful interruptions!
12. Hazelnut
Hazelnuts and roses must apart—they’re not the perfect match! While hazelnut trees may seem like a lovely addition to your garden, their roots can be a bit too aggressive for roses.
They compete for nutrients and water, leaving your roses stressed and struggling to thrive. Plus, hazelnut trees can cast a lot of shade, which roses don’t exactly love.
Give your roses the spotlight they deserve by keeping them a safe distance away from hazelnuts. After all, even roses need their personal space!
13. Chives
Chives and roses might seem like an unexpected pairing, but trust me—they don’t get along!
While chives are great in the kitchen, their strong scent can actually interfere with a rose’s growth and ability to thrive.
Plus, chives tend to spread quickly and can crowd out your roses, leaving them battling for space and nutrients. Have these two at arm’s length in the garden to avoid any turf wars.
14. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera can be a garden star with its healing properties, but its need for dry soil often conflicts with the moist conditions roses prefer.
I once placed aloe near roses, aiming for a medicinal garden theme. They couldn’t agree on watering needs, leaving both unhappy.
Place aloe in a well-drained container, far from roses, to ensure each thrives in its ideal environment.
15. Garlic
Roses and garlic sounds like an unlikely duo, right? While garlic might keep pests away in the garden, it’s not the best buddy for your roses.
Garlic’s strong scent can actually interfere with your roses’ ability to attract the pollinators they need to thrive.
Plus, garlic’s roots tend to compete with roses for nutrients, leaving your blooms a little… well, lackluster.
So, unless you want your roses to be stuck in a garlic cloud, it’s best to separate these two. Your roses will thank you with more vibrant blooms and fewer “stinky” setbacks!
16. Daffodils
Daffodils are spring delights, but they can outcompete roses for nutrients, especially if planted too closely. Roses need their space and resources to bloom beautifully.
If you plant daffodils near roses for an early spring show, you might get the nutrient competition which might be too much for the roses. Ensuring these beauties apart ensures both can thrive without rivalry.
17. Tomatoes
Roses and tomatoes might both love the sun, but they’re not exactly the dream team in the garden!
While tomatoes are busy soaking up nutrients from the soil, they tend to compete with roses for space and resources, leaving your blooms a little worse for wear.
Tomatoes can attract pests that love to feast on roses too. If you want your roses to shine in all their glory, it’s best to give them some space from the tomato patch.
18. Peppers
Roses and pepper plants might seem like they could get along, but they’re more like rival rockstars than garden companions.
Peppers can be a bit demanding, soaking up nutrients and space that roses crave for their elegant blooms.
The hot, dry conditions peppers love can also stress out your roses, which prefer a more temperate environment.
The bold pepper plants might just steal the show, casting shadows over your roses and making them feel like wallflowers.
For a harmonious garden, give them some space to shine separately—you’ll have both spicy peppers and stunning roses.
19. Raspberries
Roses and raspberries may both have their charm, but when it comes to sharing garden space, they’re more like frenemies than friends.
Spreading their canes and creeping into rose territory, competing for nutrients, water, and sunlight, you might find raspberries a bit pushy.
Plus, their tendency to attract pests could put your roses at risk. For a peaceful garden, it’s best to give these two some distance.
Your roses will be able to stand tall and proud, while your raspberries can happily spread out on their own!
20. Zucchini
Planting zucchini’s next to roses is definitely not the move, as its sprawling nature can overshadow roses, hogging sunlight and space.
The massive leaves can crowd out roses, leaving them struggling for light and air.
In my garden, zucchini seemed like a harmless addition until it took over, casting shadows across the rose bed. Plant zucchini in a separate area to give your roses the spotlight they deserve.