Companion Planting Herbs

Companion planting herbs roses/garlic/rue

If you've been playing around with the idea of companion planting herbs, I have a few ideas for you.

Companion Plant Herbs in Your Garden- Here's Why:

Herbs are easy to grow, and most varieties will adapt to the soil that's available. They typically do not require heavy feeding or much maintenance.  In fact, many herbs are considered weeds in their native habitats or where they've been naturalized.

Why are so many herbs good companion plant candidates? Most of the herbs used in companion planting pairs are very fragrant, have strong flavor or contain volatile compounds.  Some common herbs, like garlic, can also protect against a number of different insects.  If you can't identify the culprit eating your plants, or you're dealing with more than one variety, a well-chosen herb planted near your flower bed or vegetable patch can ward off "mystery bug" plant poachers.

Also, you may be planting some garlic (with rue) around your roses as insurance against aphids, but that garlic plant will also make a tasty ingredient in stir fry later. It's a two for one.

There's more, companion planting with herbs is beneficial when the plant is in the ground, but it can also be an effective pesticide when harvested and sprayed on your flowers and vegetables. 

Companion Planting Herb List

Here's a helpful list of herbs and the common garden pests they may help deter or repel:

• Artmesia (Artemisia vulgaris) - Codling moths 
• Basil (Ocimum basilicum) -  Flies, mosquitoes, thrips, asparagus beetles, hornworms whitefly
• Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) -  Aphids, Japanese beetles
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) - Aphids, thrips, whiteflies,  asparagus beetles (attracts beneficial insects)
• Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) - Cabbage moths, 
• Borage (Borago officinalis) -  Tomato hornworms, cabbage worms
• Catnip (Nepeta cataria) -  Ants, aphids, fleas, mosquitoes, flea beetle, termites, squash beetles
• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) - Aphids, ants, carrot flies, Japanese beetles, nematodes, mites
• *Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) -  Aphids, whiteflies moths
• *Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) - Aphids, whiteflies moths, potato beetles
• Dill (Anethum graveolens) -  Aphids, squash bugs, tomato hornworms, cabbage looper, spider mites
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) - Slugs, snails
• Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) - Ants, flies, Japanese beetles, cockroaches
• French Marigold (Tagetes patula) - Aphids, nematodes, hornworms, some beetles, whiteflies (attracts beneficial insects)
• Garlic (Allium sativum) - Aphids, Japanese beetles, rabbits, some rodents, black flies, borers, spider mites, cabbage looper
• Geranium (Pelargonium spp.) - Mosquitoes, whiteflies corn earworms, Japanese beetles, mosquitoes
• Hyssop   (Hyssop officinalis ) cabbage looper, flea beetle
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) -  Flies, mosquitoes, moths, fleas
• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) -  Flies, gnats, mosquitoes
• Mint (Mentha spp.) -  Ants, aphids, cabbage moths, flies, fleas, whiteflies, flea beetle, mice
• Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) -  Flea beetles, Japanese beetles, moths  (invasive, check local regulations)
• Mustard (Brassica juncea) - Flea beetles, some flying insects, aphids
• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) - Aphids, squash bugs, whiteflies, pumpkin beetles
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare) -  Cabbage butterflies, cabbage moth, cabbage worm cucumber beetles, mosquitoes
• Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)  - Asparagus beetle
• Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) -  Ants, flies, fleas, ticks, gnats, mosquitoes  (Caution: toxic, handle with care)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) - Cabbage moths, carrot flies, cucumber beetles, bean beetles, mosquitoes, slugs, snails
• Rue (Ruta graveolens) - Aphids, fleas, flies, beetles, Japanese beetles (Caution: Toxic, handle with care)
• Sage (Salvia officinalis) - Cabbage moths, whiteflies, carrot fly, flea beetle, slugs, sticks, fleas
• Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus) - Whiteflies, bean beetles, moths
• Spearmint (Mentha spicata) - Aphids, cabbage moths
• Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) - Moths, Repels some rodents (invasive)
• Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) - Ants, flies, moths, cockroaches, mice, squash bugs (Caution: Toxic, handle with care)
• Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) - Aphids, tomato hornworms, whiteflies
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) - Cabbage moths, cabbage worm, whiteflies, corn earworms
• Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) - Whiteflies, flies, moths, mice, slugs, snails (Caution: Toxic, handle with care)
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - Mosquitoes, fleas

Companion Planting With Herbs Pest lookup

Here's another way to look at this information. What follows is a list of common pets and the companion herbs that can help deter them:

• Ants - catnip, mint (peppermint), tansy, feverfew, chives, pennyroyal
• Aphids - chives, rue, pyrethum, mustard, dill, mint, nasturtium, coriander (cilantro), garlic
• Asparagus beetles - calendula (pot marigold), basil, tomato plant, petunia, parsley
• Bean beetles - santolina (a particularly effective artemisia), nasturtium, summer savory, rosemary, marigold
• Black flies - garlic
• Borers - garlic, onion
• Cabbage looper - artemisias, eucalyptus, dill, hyssop, garlic
• Cabbage moths - mint, celery, nasturtium, chamomile, sage, hyssop, artemisias (like wormwood), thyme, oregano
• Cabbage worms - thyme, borage, oregano
• Carrot fly - sage, rosemary, onion, leek, chives
• Caterpillars (various) - garlic, bay laurel
• Cockroaches - feverfew, tansy
• Codling moths - artemisias
• Corn earworms - thyme, geranium, cosmos
• Cucumber beetles - marigold, oregano, rue
• Cutworms - onion
• Earwigs - wormwood
• Flea beetles - catnip, catmint (different but related to catnip), mint, rue, artemisias, sage, mugwort, mustard hyssop
• Fleas - pennyroyal, yarrow, rue, lavender, sage
• Flies - basil, pennyroyal, mint, tansy, rue, wormwood, lavender
• Gnats - pennyroyal, lemon balm
• Hornworms (Tomato hornworms) - basil, petunia, marigold, dill, borage tarragon
• Japanese beetles - Rue, garlic, geranium, feverfew, mugwort chives
• Leaf hoppers - pyrethum (chrysanthemum cinerariifolium)
• Mice - mint, wormwood, tansy
• Mites - dill, chives, pyrethum, onion
• Mosquitoes (or their larvae) - basil, pennyroyal, yarrow, lemongrass, geranium, tansy, lavender, lemon balm, rosemary
• Moths (various) - lavender, mugwort, rosemary, santolina, coriander (cilantro), wormwood, sweet woodruff, tansy, rosemary
• Nematodes - chives, dahlias, French marigold (There are destructive nematodes around and chives repels the good with the bad.)
• Potato beetles (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) - nasturtiums, coriander (cilantro)
• Potato bugs (Stenopelmatus spp.) - horseradish
• Pumpkin beetles (various) - nasturtiums
• Slugs - sage, onions, fennel, rosemary, wormwood
• Snails - sage, onions, fennel, wormwood, rosemary
• Spider mites - coriander (cilantro), garlic, dill
• Squash beetles - nasturtium, catnip,
• Squash bugs - peppermint, dill, tansy, nasturtium
• Sticks (Phasmatodea) - sage
• Termites - catnip
• Whitefly - nasturtiums, French marigold, basil, wormwood, mint, geranium, calendula, cilantro, coriander, thyme

Important Notes: While herbs can be a helpful tool, their effectiveness in repelling pests can vary depending on the specific variety, growing conditions and pest concentrations.  For the best results, use a combination of sustainable pest control methods in your garden.

Some herbs on this list can be toxic to humans and pets if ingested, or invasive and restricted (or discouraged) in some areas of the country.

Companion planting tomato/tarragon

Best Companion Planting Herbs for Beginners and for Small Gardens

Here are a few of my favorites. They repel more than one type of pest, which makes installing even one or two plants useful in a small garden. With the possible exception of lavender (depending on your climate), all are very easy to grow and maintain. 

If you're a beginning gardener, or just starting a companion planting program, the good news is that there is a lot of anecdotal information that supports the ability of these and other plants to help deal with pest problems -- at least to some extent. There is no single solution to the challenges presented by garden plant pests, but companion planting with herbs can be a successful part of a larger pest control gardening strategy.

• Catnip - Hey, even I think this one is stinky. If you're having problems with: flea beetles, squash bugs (I hate these), aphids, mosquitos or ants, catnip will smell like sweet salvation. It can also be an effective Japanese beetle and mouse deterrent. Keep it in your vegetable garden.

• Lavender - Attractive and fragrant, lavender repels whitefly and a variety of moth species.  It also invites beneficial insects to your garden that'll be a second line of defense against destructive bugs.  If you want to encourage praying mantis and ladybugs to hang around for lunch, plant lavender.

• Chives - One of my favorite culinary herbs, chives is also kryptonite to aphids. It also deters Japanese beetles. Chive tea can  inhibit the growth of powdery mildew too -- if you catch it early. Keep it by your roses.

• Garlic - I've already mentioned the benefits of garlic, but it can also repel snails. Garlic juice discourages aphids and whitefly.  A spray made from garlic makes a fast and easy mosquito repellent too.

• French marigold - This cheerful and easy to grow flower (and herb) can repel whitefly, asparagus beetle and tomato hornworms. Spider mites like it, though, so make sure to plant it with cilantro or dill (both of which spider mites hate). Just remember to choose the French marigold varieties as they're scented. (The most Used Medicinal marigold is not French marigold.

If you keep these five or six friends in your veggie or flower garden, you'll have fewer pests to worry about.  Companion planting herbs with your other garden plants is a successful way to limit or eliminate the amount of insecticide you use in the garden. Give it a try.

Happy  Gardening!

*Cilantro and coriander are different phases of the same plant. Cilantro is the plant in leaf and coriander is the seed.