Herbs Companion Guide: What Herbs Can Be Planted Together

Companion planting involves growing herbs in close proximity to others that either benefit from or complement each other’s growth.

This technique can help repel pests, attract pollinators, and improve soil health. Understanding which plants naturally work well together helps the gardener create a more productive and resilient garden.

Published: September 26, 2024.

Common Herbs and Their Ideal Companions

Here’s a list of popular herbs, along with their companion and antagonist plants:

Basil

• Companion Plants: Tomatoes, oregano, parsley, chives, peppers
• Benefits: Basil repels pests like aphids and can enhance the flavor of neighboring plants.
• Antagonistic Plants: Rue, sage, fennel. Basil and rue are especially incompatible.

Borage

• Companion Plants: Strawberries, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, cabbage
• Benefits: Borage attracts beneficial insects like bees and predatory wasps, repels tomato hornworms, and helps improve soil quality.
• Antagonistic Plants: None. Borage is generally considered a great companion plant for most vegetables and herbs.

Catnip

• Companion Plants: Broccoli, cabbage, pumpkins, squash, beets
• Benefits: Catnip repels aphids, flea beetles, and squash bugs while attracting pollinators.
• Antagonistic Plants: None. Catnip is compatible with most garden plants but can be invasive, so it should be monitored in smaller gardens.

Chamomile

• Companion Plants: Basil, onions, mint, cabbage, lettuce
• Benefits: Chamomile attracts beneficial insects, helps improve plant resilience, and enhances the flavor and health of neighboring herbs.
• Antagonistic Plants: None specific. Chamomile is generally a good companion plant.

Chives

• Companion Plants: Carrots, tomatoes, parsley, rosemary, chamomile, grapes, lettuce
• Benefits: Chives repel aphids and carrot flies and enhance the flavor of nearby herbs and vegetables like carrots.
• Antagonistic Plants: Beans, peas. Chives may inhibit the growth of legumes like beans and peas.

Cilantro (Coriander)

• Companion Plants: Dill, anise, spinach, carrots, tomatoes
• Benefits: Attracts beneficial insects such as hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which help control aphids.
• Antagonistic Plants: Fennel. Fennel’s growth can be stunted by being near cilantro.

Dill

• Companion Plants: Lettuce, onions, cucumbers, basil, cilantro
• Benefits: Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and pollinators while repelling pests.
• Antagonistic Plants: Carrots. Dill and carrots do not grow well together due to competing root systems.

Fennel

• Companion Plants: Dill, basil, coriander (but in separate beds)
• Benefits: Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and predatory wasps, but can also stunt the growth of nearby plants if not kept separate.
• Antagonistic Plants: Almost all plants. Fennel is allelopathic and can inhibit the growth of many plants, especially carrots and tomatoes. It’s best to grow fennel in its own area away from most herbs and vegetables.

Lavender

• Companion Plants: Rosemary, thyme, cabbage, marjoram
• Benefits: Lavender repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.
• Antagonistic Plants: Mint. Lavender prefers drier soil, while mint requires moist conditions, making them incompatible in the same space.

Lemongrass

• Companion Plants: Basil, cilantro, mint, tomatoes, peppers
• Benefits: Lemongrass repels mosquitoes and other pests, while also creating a natural border in the garden.
• Antagonistic Plants: None specific. Lemongrass tends to work well with most plants but prefers plenty of space due to its growth size.

Marjoram

• Companion Plants: Basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, cabbage, eggplant, carrots
• Benefits: Marjoram improves the flavor and growth of nearby plants and helps deter pests like aphids.
• Antagonistic Plants: None. Marjoram works well in most herb or vegetable gardens.

Mint

• Companion Plants: Cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, kale
• Benefits: Mint helps deter aphids, cabbage moths, and flea beetles.
• Antagonistic Plants: Parsley. Mint is very invasive and can overpower delicate herbs like parsley.

Oregano

• Companion Plants: Basil, thyme, tomatoes, peppers, onions
• Benefits: Oregano’s strong scent deters pests, and it works well as a ground cover to protect nearby plants.
• Antagonistic Plants: None specific, but it can spread aggressively and may need to be managed.

Parsley

• Companion Plants: Tomatoes, chives, carrots, basil, mint (with caution)
• Benefits: Parsley attracts predatory insects that help control aphid populations.
• Antagonistic Plants: Lettuce. Parsley can stunt the growth of lettuce when planted nearby.

Rosemary

• Companion Plants: Sage, thyme, lavender, beans, carrots
• Benefits: Rosemary repels cabbage moths, carrot flies, and bean beetles.
• Antagonistic Plants: Basil. Rosemary and basil should be kept separate due to their differing moisture needs.

Sage

• Companion Plants: Rosemary, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, beans
• Benefits: Sage repels carrot flies, cabbage moths, and other garden pests.
• Antagonistic Plants: Cucumbers. Sage can negatively affect cucumber growth, leading to stunted development.

Tarragon

• Companion Plants: Eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, basil
• Benefits: Tarragon acts as a general pest repellent and is known to improve the growth and flavor of nearby plants.
• Antagonistic Plants: None. Tarragon is generally a good companion to most plants.

Thyme

• Companion Plants: Rosemary, lavender, oregano, cabbage, tomatoes
• Benefits: Thyme acts as a deterrent to cabbage worms and flies, helping protect vulnerable crops.
• Antagonistic Plants: None specific, though it prefers drier soil compared to moisture-loving herbs.

Antagonistic Plants: What Herbs Shouldn’t Be Planted Together

While many herbs thrive in the company of others, some combinations should be avoided. Here is the list of a few common antagonistic pairings:

• Basil and Rue: These plants do not grow well together, with basil likely suffering from poor growth.
• Sage and Cucumbers: Cucumbers and sage are best kept apart due to sage’s tendency to inhibit cucumber development.
• Mint and Parsley: Mint’s invasive nature makes it a poor companion for parsley, as it can overtake the garden space and nutrients.
• Fennel and Almost Anything: Fennel is often seen as a “lone wolf” in the garden and can inhibit the growth of many other plants, including coriander and dill.

Benefits of Companion Planting

Companion planting is more than just placing plants next to each other - it’s about creating a symbiotic relationship where plants mutually benefit from their proximity.

This gardening technique, which has been used for centuries, can significantly improve plant health, yield, and resilience. The practice leverages natural plant relationships to boost productivity and protect against pests and diseases without relying on chemical interventions.

While the idea of companion planting might seem simple, its benefits are multi-faceted and extend beyond basic plant pairing.

Pest Control and Deterrence

One of the most well-known benefits of companion planting is its ability to naturally repel pests. Certain plants produce chemicals, oils, or scents that deter harmful insects, reducing the need for pesticides.

• Aromatic herbs like basil and lavender produce strong scents that confuse or repel pests such as mosquitoes, aphids, and cabbage moths.
• Marigolds, when planted with tomatoes or beans, emit a strong odor that deters nematodes and aphids.
• Companion plants like chives help ward off carrot flies and aphids by releasing sulfurous compounds.
• Catnip is particularly effective at repelling flea beetles, aphids, and squash bugs.

This natural pest control creates a more balanced garden ecosystem by allowing beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps to thrive without being outnumbered by pests.

Attracting Pollinators and Beneficial Insects

In addition to repelling harmful pests, companion plants can attract beneficial insects that help with pollination or prey on common garden pests.

• Borage and chamomile attract bees and other pollinators, improving the pollination of plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash.
• Fennel and dill are magnets for beneficial insects such as predatory wasps and hoverflies, which help control aphid populations.
• Lavender, thyme, and marjoram not only attract bees but also bring in butterflies, adding both beauty and pollination benefits to your garden.

Encouraging these beneficial insects creates a natural defense system and increases the likelihood of successful pollination, which in turn leads to healthier plants and higher yields.

Improved Growth and Flavor

Some plants can positively influence the growth or flavor of nearby herbs and vegetables. This can occur through various mechanisms, including improving soil health or through natural root interactions.

• Basil is known to enhance the flavor of tomatoes, making them tastier and more aromatic. This occurs through the complementary natural oils released by the two plants.
• Marjoram and chamomile can improve the health and vitality of plants they grow near, likely by promoting root health and increasing the bioavailability of nutrients.
• Herbs like oregano and thyme make excellent ground covers, which help retain moisture, reduce weed growth, and protect nearby plants from heat stress.

This enhancement of growth and flavor adds to the overall productivity of your garden while also producing higher-quality vegetables and herbs.

Soil Enrichment

Some plants, particularly legumes and certain herbs, can naturally improve soil conditions, benefiting nearby plants. Fixing nitrogen into the soil or providing organic matter creates a healthier and more nutrient-rich growing environment.

• Legumes such as beans and peas have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root systems that convert nitrogen from the air into a usable form in the soil, which can improve the growth of neighboring plants like leafy greens and herbs.
• Borage and comfrey are known as dynamic accumulators, drawing up nutrients from deep within the soil and making them available to surface plants once the leaves die and decompose.
• Thyme and oregano serve as effective ground cover herbs, preventing soil erosion and maintaining moisture levels, which is especially helpful in dry regions.

This natural soil improvement leads to more fertile soil over time, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Microclimate Creation and Physical Protection

In some cases, companion planting can help create a beneficial microclimate for your plants by offering shade, wind protection, or moisture retention.

Tall or bushy plants can protect more delicate species from harsh conditions, allowing you to grow plants that might otherwise struggle in your local environment.

• Tall plants like corn or sunflowers can provide shade for smaller, sun-sensitive herbs such as parsley or cilantro.
• Lemongrass or borage can act as windbreaks in areas with strong winds, sheltering more delicate herbs like basil.
• Ground cover plants like marjoram or oregano help retain soil moisture for nearby plants by shading the soil and reducing evaporation.

Using plants to moderate the conditions of your garden can create an ideal environment for a wide variety of crops, increasing both yield and diversity.

Weed Suppression

Companion planting can also help reduce the need for manual weeding by covering bare soil and outcompeting weeds. Dense, low-growing herbs and ground covers are particularly effective at suppressing unwanted plants.

• Thyme, marjoram, and oregano create dense mats that crowd out weeds, preventing them from competing for nutrients, sunlight, and water.
• Borage’s large leaves shade the soil, reducing the chance for weed seeds to germinate.
• Chamomile’s rapid growth helps fill gaps in the garden, reducing open spaces where weeds could thrive.

This reduces the time and effort required for garden maintenance, allowing your plants to benefit from healthier, competition-free environments.

Thorough List of Companion Planting Benefits

Here is a concise breakdown of the major benefits of companion planting:

• Pest Control: Natural repellents (e.g., basil deterring aphids, marigolds repelling nematodes).
• Pollinator Attraction: Attracting bees and butterflies (e.g., lavender and borage).
• Beneficial Insects: Encouraging predatory insects (e.g., fennel attracting ladybugs).
• Improved Growth: Boosting plant health and productivity (e.g., basil enhancing tomato flavor).
• Enhanced Flavor: Intensifying the taste of herbs and vegetables (e.g., marjoram and chamomile improving flavors).
• Soil Enrichment: Nitrogen fixation and nutrient cycling (e.g., legumes fixing nitrogen, borage enriching soil).
• Microclimate Creation: Providing shade and wind protection (e.g., sunflowers shading parsley).
• Moisture Retention: Reducing water loss with ground cover (e.g., thyme and oregano).
• Weed Suppression: Outcompeting weeds for resources (e.g., thyme, marjoram, and borage shading the ground).
• Increased Garden Productivity: Maximizing the efficiency of garden space through strategic planting.

Carefully selecting companion plants can take advantage of these benefits to create a healthier, more productive, and more resilient garden, reducing the need for artificial interventions.

Practical Tips for Companion Planting in Small Gardens

• Use Containers: Herbs like mint and oregano can be aggressive spreaders. Consider planting them in pots to control their growth while still reaping the benefits of their companionship with other plants.
• Create Microclimates: By pairing moisture-loving herbs like basil with shade-tolerant companions like parsley, you can create ideal growing conditions even in small spaces.
• Stagger Growth Heights: Tall herbs such as dill can provide shade for shorter herbs like cilantro, allowing you to make the most of your garden’s vertical space.

Companion planting with herbs can transform a simple garden into a thriving ecosystem where plants work together to promote healthier, more productive growth.

Knowing which herbs make good neighbors and which should be kept apart helps the gardener cultivate a more bountiful herb garden.