Companion plants for roses

[astersugar]

I'm planting a rose hedge. I've got 9.5m to cover and I've ordered ten roses. I should order more for a fuller impact immediately but I can't justify spending more at the moment. What companion plants would you recommend? I've read about salvias, catmint, geraniums, lavender... Is there anything else a bit more unusual I could consider? The rose is called Olivia Rose Austin. It's a west facing area with lots of sun.

We have hellebores under ours (partial shade). They both appreciate a moist, fertile soil and have very different seasons of interest - so both grow very well together.

Alchemilla mollis goes really well with our David Austin roses.
We also have Hardy geraniums and other perennials that I can't remember now.
But the alchemilla mollis is particularly nice.

We always plant some of our roses with winter heathers and I like some of the alliums with roses. Spring bulbs work too, I have hyacinths coming up in one rose bed at the moment and tulips in another.

l have lots of Salvias and Penstomens around my roses, they flower for months and also very good ground cover.
I love DA roses, l think his daughter has her own plant nursery , mostly flowers, also.

Garlic.

Invaluable for driving away pests. (I forget which.)

Alliums tucked away behind the roses are supposed to be good for pests.

I have planted clematis alongside roses with some success. I cannot remember the variety but the vines were not huge and the flowers were very large and creamy white. It looked lovely.

Salvias protect them against diseases. There’s been studies. And look fantastic. Alchella mollis and nepetea. It will look bare in spring so a spring flowering clematis and hellebores and spring bulbs all a good shout,

Rose cuttings are really easy. You can just stick prunings in the ground. I took some beginning of last year and they’ll be ready to plant out soon. Money saving tip.

One of the rose growers at the Chelsea flower show grows clematis with her roses.

Thank you for all of your suggestions!