Most gardeners understand the importance of creating a healthy relationship between plants and the soil they grow in. However, many do not give the same care and consideration to creating a healthy relationship among the varieties of plants that grow in close proximity to one another.
When starting out, most novice gardeners will plant different varieties together at random, which oftentimes leads to poor results when you accidentally place incompatible plants near one another. Understanding and practicing companion planting allows gardeners to harness the power of positive natural relationships and can make your life easier as a gardener letting the plants naturally do the work for you.
Companion planting — also known as intercropping, mixed cropping, or compatible planting — is a type of polyculture that involves selecting specific varieties with compatible growing environments or complementary traits of some type and planting them together on the same plot. For example, marigolds repel root-knot nematodes that are harmful to tomatoes; flowers can attract beneficial insects for cucumbers; corn can provide physical support for pole beans while the beans fix nitrogen into the soil.
We’ve put together a list of some common companion plants below. Keep in mind that we aim to grow this list over time and it is intended to serve as a vital organic gardening resource for all, so check back for updates as this knowledge base grows.
List of Companion Plants
| Plant | Companions |
|---|---|
| Almond | peaches, subterranean clover |
| Anise | cilantro (coriander) |
| Apple | borage, chives, garlic, horseradish, shallots, onions, marigolds, nasturtium, yarrow |
| Apricot | borage, chives, garlic, shallots, onions, marigolds, nasturtium, yarrow |
| Aprium | borage, chives, garlic, shallots, onions, marigolds, nasturtium, yarrow |
| Asparagus | parsley, basil, tomatoes |
| Asian Pear | clover, borage, garlic |
| Avocado | avocado, comfrey, taro, lemongrass, sweet potatoes |
| Banana | avocado, comfrey, taro, lemongrass, sweet potatoes |
| Basil | tomatoes, peppers |
| Bay Leaf | beans, corn, oats, rice, rye, wheat |
| Bean | cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, cabbages, marigolds, savory, corn |
| Borage | apples, apricots, apriums, cherries, peaches, pears, plums, strawberries |
| Broccoli | celery, chamomile, chives, dill, garlic, hyssop, onions, oregano, peppermint, potatoes, rosemary, sage, shallots, southernwood, thyme, wormwood |
| Brussel Sprouts | celery, chamomile, chives, dill, garlic, hyssop, onions, peppermint, potatoes, rosemary, sage, shallots, southernwood, thyme, wormwood |
| Carrot | lettuce, onions, rosemary, sage, wormwood |
| Cherry | borage, chives, garlic, shallots, onions, marigolds, nasturtium, yarrow |
| Cilantro (Coriander) | anise |
| Cabbage | celery, chamomile, chives, dill, garlic, hyssop, onions, peppermint, potatoes, rosemary, sage, shallots, southernwood, thyme, wormwood |
| Carob | needs male and female trees, blackberries, raspberries, boysenberries |
| Cauliflower | celery, chamomile, chives, dill, garlic, hyssop, onions, peppermint, potatoes, rosemary, sage, shallots, southernwood, thyme, wormwood |
| Celery | beans, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes |
| Chamomile | cabbages, collards, garlic, kale, onions, shallots |
| Chives | apple trees, carrots, cucumbers, gooseberries |
| Collards | celery, chamomile, chives, dill, garlic, hyssop, onions, peppermint, potatoes, rosemary, sage, shallots, southernwood, thyme, wormwood |
| Comfrey | apples, fruit trees, nectarines, pears |
| Corn | beans, cucumbers, marigolds, melons, peas, pumpkin potatoes, squash |
| Cucumber | beans, corn, kohlrabi, peas, radishes |
| Dill | cabbages, collards, kale |
| Garlic | brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, roses |
| Grape | clover, peas, blackberries, hyssop, basil, beans, geraniums, oregano, mulberry, sweet alyssum |
| Grapefruit | guava trees, comfrey, rosemary |
| Ice Cream Bean | bananas, coffee |
| Kale | cabbage, celery, chamomile, dill, hyssop, onions, peppermint, potatoes, rosemary, sage, southernwood, thyme, wormwood |
| Kumquat | guava trees, comfrey |
| Lavender | echinacea, roses, yarrow |
| Lemon | guava trees, comfrey, rosemary |
| Lettuce | carrots, cucumbers, onions, radishes, strawberries |
| Lime | guava trees, comfrey, rosemary |
| Macadamia | peanuts |
| Mandarin | guava trees, comfrey, rosemary |
| Mango | comfrey, pigeon peas, ginger, turmeric, nasturtium, banana tree |
| Melon | corn, morning glory, sunflowers |
| Mesquite | prickly pear, aloe vera |
| Mint | cabbage, collards, kale |
| Mulberry | grapes, chives, nasturtium TIP: For small yards try the dwarf ever-bearing mulberry. This type produces tasty small berries good to eat. Chickens love it too, if you have them plant it by the coop. |
| Nectarine | peach trees, borage, chives, garlic, shallots, onions, marigolds, nasturtium, yarrow |
| Oats | clover, corn |
| Onion | brassicas, brussel sprouts, beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chamomile, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, strawberries, summer savory, tomatoes, roses, parsnips, marjoram, rosemary, chard, peppers, pigweed, thistle, rose family TIP: Try edible perennial types like Egyptian walking onions for easy care. |
| Orange | guava, comfrey, rosemary |
| Oregano | broccoli |
| Parsley | asparagus, carrots, roses, tomatoes |
| Passionfruit | pigeon peas as a living trellis and nitrogen feeder + both die after 6 years |
| Peach | almond, garlic, nectarines, borage, chives, shallots, onions, marigolds, nasturtium, yarrow |
| Peanut | nut trees, macadamia trees, pecan trees, almond trees |
| Pear | borage, chives, garlic, shallots, onions, marigolds, nasturtium, yarrow |
| Pecan | clover |
| Peas | beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, potatoes, radishes, turnips |
| Peppermint | cabbage, collards, kale |
| Plum | borage, chives, garlic, shallots, onions, marigolds, nasturtium |
| Pomelo | guava, comfrey, rosemary |
| Pumpkin | corn |
| Radish | beans, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, melons, mustard, nasturtiums, parsnips, spinach, squash, tomatoes |
| Sage | cabbage, carrots, collards, kale, rosemary |
| Savory | beans, onions |
| Shallot | brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, roses |
| Spinach | strawberries, cabbages |
| Strawberry | beans, borage, lettuce, marigolds, spinach |
| Squash | brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, roses |
| Thyme | cabbage, collards, kale |
| Tomato | asparagus, basil, borage, carrots, chives, garlic, gooseberries, marigolds, mint, nasturtium, onions, parsley, roses |
| Truffles | chestnut, oak |
| Turnip | clover, peas, radishes |
| Watermelon | chives, garlic, marigolds, nasturtium, onions, potatoes, shallots |
Companion Planting General Rules
- As a general rule, flowers and other plants that are known to attract beneficial insects and pollinators can be used as companions to almost all other plants in the garden.
- If you have a plant that requires sturdy support for vertical growth or partial shade, consider using another plant to help serve that purpose, rather than an artificial structure.
- Growing many varieties in a polyculture and increasing plant diversity in your garden typically leads to more and more positive relationships and outcomes over time.
Monoculture vs. Polyculture: What’s the Difference?
Monoculture is the practice of growing one single crop in a given space, while a polyculture involves growing multiple species together on a single plot or space. Monoculture is more labor and input-intensive, and can quickly fall prey to pests or disease. Polyculture may require more work to establish, but the inputs required can lessen drastically with time while the system also becomes more resilient. With monoculture, you are missing out on the benefits of companion planting, and instead have to perform all of the inputs and disease/pest control work, instead of allowing nature to self-regulate as it can with polyculture. Lots of chemicals are needed in monocultures that are toxic and cancer-causing to prevent pests, ward off diseases, and fertilize.
Diversity in Flora & Fauna is Important
Think if you were a bug or animal and you had fields of your favorite fruit or veggie? You would chow down and this is why it is better to mix them with other plants that bring diversity to the garden for all the companion planting benefits like pollinators, pest-eating beneficial insects, providing nutrients, sun protection, a trellis to lean on and so much more.
Companion Planting FAQs
Gardeners need to be aware of varieties that are the opposite of companions — which we call enemy plants. Enemy plants are those that should not be planted near each other.
The three sisters companion plants refer to a traditional Native American agricultural practice where three main crops are grown together in harmony: corn, beans, and squash.
1. Corn provides a structure for the beans to climb, and its tall stalks also offer shade for the other plants.
2. Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting both corn and squash with essential nutrients.
3. Squash spreads along the ground, acting as a living mulch to suppress weeds and conserve soil moisture.
This ancient intercropping technique creates a mutually beneficial relationship among the three crops, resulting in a sustainable and productive garden.
Sources
Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual by Bill Mollison – The Legend, Bill Mollison co-developed Permaculture with David Holmgren. This gardening bible is large but full of amazing advice and garden designs and ideas to thrive in any landscape.
Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway – My favorite overall book for gardening at home and utilizing permaculture design. Easy to read, concise, and full of amazing information, a must-have book for me.
Carrots Love Tomatoes & Roses Love Garlic by Louise Riotte – A wonderful book and the most in-depth I’ve found about companion planting.
Plant Partners by Jessica Walliser – A great colorful book on science-based companion planting strategies.
Leave a Reply