Companion Planting In Your Herb Garden

We all know the benefits of vegetable companion planting, but what about growing herbs as companion plants? Creating a companion herb garden is no different and allows you to take advantage of their beneficial relationships with other plants.

Reasons for Companion Planting an Herb Garden

Companion planting with herbs offers numerous benefits. For example, companion planting with herbs can discourage pests, which often occurs when you plant companion herbs that exude an aroma that pests find unpleasant. On the other hand, some herbs that grow well together can actually attract beneficial insects or draw unwanted pests away from more susceptible herbs.

Some herbs can even increase the essential oils in companion herbs. However, some herbs that don’t grow well together can draw nutrients and moisture from their companion plants. When choosing companion plants for your herb garden, consider these factors:

Heavy feeders planted next to each other will compete for nutrients in the soil.

Strong smelling/tasting plants planted next to one another may change the flavors and scents of other herbs or vegetables.

Interested in growing herbs as companion plants? This herb companion planting list will get you started.

Basil

Benefits - Improves the flavor of neighboring herbs. Repels flies and mosquitoes.

Companions - Tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, oregano (Not sage or common rue)

Chamomile

Benefits - Improves the flavor of any neighboring herb. Attracts beneficial insects and pollinators.

Companions - Cabbage, onion, cucumber

Garlic

Benefits - Repels aphids, loopers, snails, Japanese beetles.

Companions - Most plants

Mint

Benefits - Repels aphids, mosquitoes, ants, attracts bees.

Companions - Tomatoes, most plants (avoid combining mint varieties)

Chives

Benefits - Repels aphids.

Companions - Carrots, tomatoes, dill and most herbs

Tarragon

Benefits - Improves flavor of any neighbor.

Companions - Great companion to eggplant

Cilantro

Benefits - Deters spider mites, aphids.

Companions - Spinach, caraway, anise, dill

Sage

Benefits - Repels some beetles and flies.

Companions - Rosemary (not Rue)

Dill

Benefits - Discourages spider mites, aphids.

Companions - Onions, corn, lettuce, cucumbers, (not carrots, tomatoes, fennel, lavender, or caraway)

Rosemary

Benefits - Deters a variety of pests.

Companions - Beans, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, sage (Not carrots or pumpkins)

Catnip

Benefits - Repels harmful pests, attracts bees.

Companions - Pumpkins, beets, squash, hyssop

Lavender

Benefits - Repels harmful pests, attracts butterflies.

Companions - Cauliflower

Note: Keep in mind that some herbs just don’t grow well together. For example, fennel doesn’t get along with most other plants and is best planted in an area all by itself, mostly because of the strong aroma. However, from its solitary location, fennel repels fleas and aphids and attracts beneficial pollinators.