Geraniums (Pelargonium) are arguably some of the most popular plants in U.S. gardens. Not only do they show off a range of colorful flowers, but gardeners also appreciate the fresh scents these plants offer. It turns out that these colorful flowering plants are also extremely beneficial as companion plants to roses (Rosa sp.). When both are planted together in your garden, geraniums offer roses a number of benefits, including natural pest control and the potential to attract more pollinators to your garden.

While you might have learned everything you need to know about geraniums before planting, growing the right companions with these flowering plants is often an afterthought. Whether you already have geraniums in your flower beds or are thinking about incorporating these beautiful plants as a way to landscape your yard with flowers, it’s worth considering planting roses here, too. Not only do roses complement geraniums from an aesthetic perspective, but your roses will reap the natural pest-controlling qualities of the geraniums as well. 

In particular, geraniums can help deter rose beetles, Japanese beetles, and other types of pests typically attracted to roses. Geraniums can even improve air flow around roses and prevent the latter from developing common fungal diseases. On top of this, having geraniums and certain roses can help attract and benefit pollinating species that come into your garden. Among some of the best rose varieties for pollinators are Nearly Wild, Carefree Delight, Winnipeg Parks, and Purple Pavement roses. As a rule of thumb, choose cultivars that have open flowers to encourage pollinator access.

Geraniums and roses are considered good companion plants due to both visual and practical aspects. Before planting these two flowering plants together, it’s important to provide them with the best conditions possible so they can continue to benefit one another. Overall, geraniums need to be planted in conditions with full sun, where they receive at least six hours’ worth per day. This also happens to be the best place to plant roses, too. Roses also require well-draining, yet moist soil to thrive and also prevent rot. Another consideration is the toxicity factor with geraniums. These plants can cause dermatitis in humans, and they may be poisonous to cats, dogs, and horses, so they should not be planted anywhere near animals you might have.

Overall, roses do best in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 7. Since there are at least 280 known varieties of geraniums, there are also some variations in USDA hardiness zones. It’s important to check with a nursery to see if the species complements the hardiness zone of the roses you wish to plant. Also, knowing the right spacing is important before you plant roses and geraniums directly next to each other. As a rule of thumb, you should plant these companion plants at least 1 foot apart from one another to allow for proper root growth. One final tip is to play with color. Depending on the variety, roses and geraniums are ,available in numerous colors ranging from red, yellow, and orange to white, pink, purple, and salmon.