Rose Gardens will be more inviting with perennials scattered throughout the garden area. This is more true with tea roses which are not as full as other rose varieties and are often cut as cutting flowers which leave the bushes with a more scraggly look.
photo credit: DubyDub2009
Perennials also add texture through flowers and foliage. And one other benefit is that they are layers of height to a garden, which in turn leads the eye and creates flow and pattern in your rose garden design.
Perennials will also give a garden color throughout the entire season if chosen properly.
Hint: one way to assure you have perennials in blossom all season long is to visit a nursery or garden center every few weeks to see what is in bloom. And take notes – or buy plants 
.
There are certain perennials that help control insects. Herbs are a good example of this so keep insect control in mind too when selecting plants. I have noticed plants with fragrance or a strong aroma seem to ward off insects and many small animals such as rabbits.
Most roses are grown in as much sun as possible so you will most likely be looking for sun loving perennials. But you may have an area in the garden by a wall or fence where shade-loving perennials will grow.
Here is a list of a few perennials. The perennial flowers in green tend to spread easily so use care in their placement. Tips I use for spreading plants is to either plant them in containers or enclose them in a raised bed area and pick off any seed that the wind may carry elsewhere at the end of the growing season.
Achillea – comes in different colors and likes to spread. Great for cut flowers and crafting
Astilbe – prefers slight shade and/or moist soil.
Campanula – tall or short, blue or white
Cimicifuga – late blooming.
Coreopsis – reliable ever bloomer that is durable and seems to like any weather conditions.
Daylilies – Wide variety of colors and sizes. Some can spread a bit too much so do research and divide them regularly.
Delphinium – Wonderful addition to a rose garden but be sure to give them support.
Dianthus – lots of size and colors. True cottage garden plants that add color and interest.
Echinacea – reliable plant that self-seeds. Certain growing conditions will lead to this plant spreading.
Foxglove – another traditional rose companion. Likes to self-seed.
Gypsophilia white and airy with a delicate look. A good filler plant that accents all perennials and roses.
Helichrysum – reliable bloomer.
Herbs - lots of colors, fragrance and textures. Herbs take less care than most plants and are very hardy.
Hostas. This is a wonderful addition with its color and textures but they do prefer shade. Plant near any walls, fences or shrub bases where some shade would be available
Lavender - check the variety for climate preferences. Many do not handle extreme frosts in the winter
Lilies – add a delicate statement to the garden area
Lupine – old fashioned, elegant early bloomers that like to self-seed.
Monarda is a very invasive plant. Put in a spot where it can spread or plant in containers or raised bed areas.
Nepeta (catmints)
Perovskia – tall late blooming interesting plant.
Platycodon - source of tall blues and whites.
Scabiosa – this plant makes a great edging plant.
Stachys (Lamb’s Ears) another good edging plant and the color adds to the entire garden. This plant can but can be very invasive.
Veronica - blues and whites on spiky flowers. Reliable.
If you purchase a perennial that you don’t like for your garden area just dig it up and see if one of your friends have a garden area that it would suit better.
At this time for my new rose garden I have 15 perennials selected and a few vining plants to add to the fence and trellis. I will probably add a few annual flowers too for more color.
Since the weather is better in my zone 5 climate I will probably place the rose bushes in the ground this week and add the perennails and ground cover to get the shape of the garden set.
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