Salvias and spiraeas are the very things I removed from my garden in the last few years because they overwhelm the roses, blocking sunlight and water, and because they take too much work to keep them neat-looking.
Delphinums usually refuse to grow here, agastaches are too big and spiky (I don't like the look of spiky plants), and plumbagos want more shade than the roses can take. Daylilies and sedums are good ideas, though. Thanks, Toni.
I have several types of silenes that reseed like crazy and let sunlight and water through, even when they surround roses, so I'll probably be throwing those seeds all over the garden this year.
