13 Sneaky Plants That Hate Roses – Keep Them Far Away!
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Did you know roses have existed for 35 million years, and the oldest living rose, a 1,000-year-old marvel, is still thriving on the wall of the Cathedral of Hildesheim, Germany?
Dataintelo reports that the global rose market, valued at USD 525.94 million in 2023, is projected to reach USD 1092.77 million by 2032. This growth is informed by an increased interest in home gardening and is reflected in a CAGR of 8.7% from 2024 to 2032.
However, “It’s beneficial to keep roses away from large trees and shrubs that can overshadow them and aggressively compete for water and nutrients,” says Elizabeth Daniels, floral supervisor at Blackberry Mountain.
Here are 13 plants that should never share space with roses—and why keeping them apart is essential for a flourishing garden.
Morning Glory
While their flowers are beautiful, morning glories are known climbers that can suffocate other plants, including roses. According to Kristen Smith, rose evaluation manager for Star Roses and Plants, “The climbing habit of the morning glories can also cause shading and competition for water and nutrients.”
They can quickly dominate a garden bed if left unchecked, leaving your roses struggling. To avoid this, try not to plant morning glories around your roses or regulate their growth strictly.
Mint
Mint grows very invasively due to underground runners, which will overtake an entire garden bed in the shortest time possible. Mint’s rampant growth can compete for nutrients and water, depriving roses of essential resources.
Mint also prefers wetter soils, which is not what roses prefer—well-draining soil. If you love mint, consider planting it in containers away from your rose beds to avoid an unwanted takeover.
Leopard’s Bane
Leopard’s bane prefers partial shade and cool soil. “Unfortunately, this creates the perfect breeding ground for black spot, one of the fungal diseases that roses are most susceptible to,” says Ali McEnhill.
The soil preference for Leopard’s banes is acidic, which can change the soil pH around it, affecting rose health. Plant leopards bane away from rose plants, especially in a shaded area with companions of its likeness.
Tomatoes
Both tomatoes and roses are susceptible to many fungal diseases, such as black spots and blight. Because tomatoes love high humidity levels, these problems are heightened when tomatoes are placed next to roses.
Being heavy feeders, tomato plants draw nutrients from the soil that are needed by roses to develop well. Their long, rambling vines can take over rose roots and cut sunlight down, stressing the roses.
Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny is an aggressive ground cover that can smother nearby plants, including roses, by hogging soil and water. Its rapid growth forms dense mats that block rose roots from accessing essential nutrients.
Roses need to thrive in open, aerated soil, and Creeping Jenny’s growth habits directly work against this. This plant should be used in confined areas, such as pots or contained garden areas, so it does not compete where it is not wanted.
Snapdragons
Snapdragons are one of my favorite flowers because they bloom in different colors. “Sadly, snapdragons are extremely susceptible to both powdery mildew and rust and should never be planted near roses,” Ali McEnhill advises.
Snapdragons also attract aphids, another major pest that bothers roses and may easily lead to infestation. The competition for nutrients and water further stresses the plants and reduces vigor.
Black Walnut
Black walnut trees exude a natural chemical, juglone, which is toxic to many plants, including roses. Juglone prevents nutrient uptake, making roses wilt and eventually die if planted too close.
This chemical leaches into the soil through the tree’s roots, leaves, and bark, creating an uninhabitable environment for roses. Even if roses survive, their growth and flowering will be significantly stunted.
Potatoes
Potatoes are prone to diseases like verticillium wilt, which can quickly transfer to roses through shared soil. Potato plants also extract nutrition from the soil at an aggressive rate, thus starving roses.
Their sprawling growth disrupts the rose root system and can reduce the plant’s vigor. Both plants also attract similar pests, which increase infestations; examples are aphids and beetles.
Hollyhocks
Hollyhocks have proven to be carriers of rust, a fungal disease that affects roses. Since this is also a common disease in roses, having both plants increases the risks. Hollyhocks’ height and dense growth tend to deny rose bushes direct sunlight, impeding their proper development.
The plants also fight for the same nutrients and water, increasing stress on roses. “The best way to avoid rust is to provide both plants with plenty of space and to never plant them near one another,” Ali McEnhill notes.
Peppers
Like tomatoes, peppers are susceptible to fungal diseases such as anthracnose and blight, which could transfer to roses. Peppers are also heavy feeders, competing with roses for important nutrients in the soil.
The moist conditions required by peppers increase the possibility of fungal infection in roses. Both plants attract similar pests, like spider mites and aphids.
Bee Balm
Bee balm is from the mint family and possesses all the invasive traits of its relatives. It can easily overcrowd rose beds and begin to choke out the roses while stealing nutrients and water.
Bee balm also prefers moist, humid environments that invite fungal diseases in roses. Its dense growth further reduces air circulation, creating an ideal environment for disease.
Russian Sage
Russian sage is a drought-tolerant plant that can outcompete roses for water in dry conditions. Its woody, sprawling growth habit can encroach on rose space, reducing light and airflow.
Russian sage prefers lean, well-drained soil, which can deplete the nutrients essential for roses. While both plants can add beauty to a garden, their differing care requirements make them incompatible companions.
Lilacs
“Roses are large plants with large root systems—and they should never be planted near other large woody plants, such as lilacs, which could outcompete the rose for water or nutrients,” says Ali McEnhill, owner and propagator at The Old Dairy Nursery and Gardens.
Lilacs thrive in alkaline soils, which may not align with the slightly acidic conditions roses prefer. Lilacs can attract powdery mildew, a disease that can easily spread to roses.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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