Roses are timelessly elegant flowers that bring romance, beauty, and color to any bouquet.
But pairing roses with complementary flowers and foliage can elevate your arrangement, adding texture, depth, and personality.
Whether you’re crafting a bouquet for a wedding, special occasion, or just to brighten someone’s day, here’s a guide to some of the best flowers and greenery to include with roses.
Baby’s breath is a classic choice that perfectly complements roses. Its delicate, airy clusters of tiny white flowers add a soft, cloud-like effect to any bouquet. Baby’s breath is an especially popular choice for wedding bouquets and romantic arrangements, as it creates a dreamy look that enhances the beauty of roses without overpowering them.
Pairing baby’s breath with roses in light shades, such as pink, white, or peach, enhances the bouquet’s delicate feel. The contrast between the full blooms of roses and the tiny clusters of baby’s breath creates a balanced and harmonious look.
Eucalyptus is a versatile greenery that adds a touch of sophistication and freshness to rose bouquets. Its soft, muted green color and unique leaf shape give any arrangement a modern and elegant vibe. Eucalyptus comes in various types, including silver dollar eucalyptus with its round leaves and seeded eucalyptus, which features small seeds that add interesting texture.
The subtle, refreshing scent of eucalyptus also complements the natural fragrance of roses. Eucalyptus works well in bouquets of any rose color, and its slightly cascading shape adds a flowing quality that can make a bouquet appear fuller and more dynamic.
For a lush, romantic bouquet, lisianthus is an excellent choice to pair with roses. These delicate flowers have soft, ruffled petals that resemble small roses, making them a lovely match. Lisianthus comes in soft shades like lavender, white, pink, and purple, which harmonize beautifully with roses of any hue.
Lisianthus flowers help create a fuller, more luxurious bouquet, while their refined, vintage look adds an old-fashioned charm. Try pairing white or light pink roses with lavender or blush-colored lisianthus for a soft, romantic arrangement perfect for weddings or special occasions.
Hypericum berries bring a splash of color and a unique texture to rose bouquets. Available in colors like red, green, pink, and white, these small, rounded berries add a playful yet sophisticated touch. Hypericum berries are especially popular in autumn bouquets, where they can bring warmth and seasonal flair.
These berries work well with roses in warm shades, such as red, orange, or peach, adding depth to the color palette. Hypericum berries are also a long-lasting choice, making them perfect for bouquets meant to stay fresh for longer periods.
Hydrangeas are large, showy flowers that can add fullness and volume to rose bouquets. Their rounded clusters of small flowers create a lush, garden-like feel that pairs beautifully with roses. Available in colors like white, blue, green, pink, and purple, hydrangeas provide a stunning background that makes roses stand out.
Use hydrangeas in colors that complement your roses. For example, white hydrangeas with red roses create a striking contrast, while soft blue hydrangeas paired with blush roses produce a gentle, romantic look. Hydrangeas are ideal for larger bouquets or arrangements where you want a grand, luxurious feel.
Dusty miller is a type of foliage with silvery, velvety leaves that add a cool, sophisticated touch to any bouquet. Its soft, muted tone complements almost any color of rose, from deep red to soft pink to white. Dusty miller’s unique leaf texture and pale color give rose arrangements a vintage or rustic appeal.
This foliage pairs beautifully with pale-colored roses, creating an elegant contrast without stealing attention from the flowers. It’s especially popular in winter bouquets, where its frosty look adds a seasonal charm.
Freesia is a fragrant flower that adds charm and a burst of color to rose bouquets. With its trumpet-shaped blooms, freesia brings a light, whimsical feel and pairs well with the structured look of roses. Freesia is available in a wide range of colors, from white and yellow to purple and pink.
When paired with roses, freesia can add a pop of complementary color or a soft contrast. For a vibrant bouquet, combine red or yellow roses with freesia in contrasting shades. The fragrance of freesia also enhances the natural scent of roses, creating a bouquet that’s as delightful to smell as it is to see.
For a rustic or countryside-inspired bouquet, add sprigs of lavender to your roses. The slender, purple flowers and aromatic scent of lavender create a calming and visually appealing contrast to the classic rose. Lavender pairs beautifully with light pink, white, or soft peach roses, creating a bouquet that’s both romantic and charming.
Lavender’s texture and unique fragrance add a fresh, relaxing feel to any arrangement. It works especially well for rustic-themed bouquets, adding a touch of nature and nostalgia.
Ferns are an excellent choice for adding greenery to a rose bouquet without overwhelming the arrangement. Their light, feathery leaves bring movement and texture, helping create a bouquet that feels both full and graceful. Ferns add a natural, organic look that works well with roses of all colors.
Whether you use ferns to create a natural, garden-inspired bouquet or to add subtle greenery to a formal arrangement, they help balance out the boldness of roses, giving your bouquet a more relaxed, harmonious feel.
Creating a rose bouquet that stands out involves pairing roses with the right complementary flowers and greenery. Baby’s breath, eucalyptus, lisianthus, and other selections add color, texture, and scent, transforming a simple bouquet into a memorable display. By experimenting with these combinations, you can create rose bouquets that capture any mood or occasion with style and elegance. Whether you’re going for a classic or contemporary look, the right pairings will make your roses truly shine.