Companion Planting Guide

By using a companion planting guide, many gardeners find that they can discourage harmful pests without losing the beneficial allies. There are many varieties of herbs, flowers and vegetables that can be used for companion plants. Be open to experimenting and find what works for you. Some possibilities would be using certain plants as a border, backdrop or interplanting in your flower or vegetable beds where you have specific needs. Use plants that are native to your area so the insects you want to attract already know what to look for! Plants with open cup-shaped flowers are the most popular with beneficial insects.

Companion planting can combine beauty and purpose to give you an enjoyable, healthy environment. Have fun and let your imagination soar. There are many ways you can find to incorporate these useful plants in your garden, orchard and flower beds.

Use our guide below to help you choose companion plants for your garden!

Companion Plants

Amaranth: Corn, Onion, Potato

Angelica: (Incompatible with Dill)

Anise: Beans, Coriander (Incompatible with Basil, Rue)

Apple: Chives (Incompatible with Potato)

Asparagus: Basil, Marigold, Nasturtium, Parsley, Tomato (Incompatible with Mint, Onion)

Basil: Beans, Cabbage, Marigold, Pepper, Tomato (Incompatible with Rue)

Beans: Beets, Borage, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Collards, Corn, Cucumber, Nasturtium, Petunia, Potato, Squash, Strawberry, Summer Savory, Sunflower, Tomato (Incompatible with Chives, Onion, Garlic, Fennel, Gladiolus, Leek)

Bee Balm: Tomato (Incompatible with Field Mustard)

Beets: Basil, Bush beans, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Onion, Sage, Tomato (Incompatible with Pole beans, Mustard)

Borage: Squash, Strawberry, Tomato

Broad Beans: Corn (Incompatible with Kohlrabi)

Broccoli: Beans, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Mints, Nasturtium, Onion, Oregano, Potato, Rosemary, Sage (Incompatible with Lettuce, Strawberry, Tomato)

Brussel Sprouts: Beans, Celery, Dill, Hyssop, Mints, Nasturtium, Potato, Rosemary, Sage (Incompatible with Strawberry)

Cabbage: Aromatic herbs (repel Cabbage Worms), Bush Beans, Beets, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Geranium, Hyssop, Lavender, Marigold, Mint, Nasturtium, Onions, Oregano, Potato, Rosemary, Sage, Tansy, Thyme, Tomato (Incompatible with Dill, Grapes, Mustard’s, Rue, Strawberries, Tomatoes)

Calendula: Tomato (Repels tomato worms, asparagus beetles)

Caraway: Peas (Incompatible with Fennel)

Carrots: Chervil, Chives, Leaf lettuce, Leeks, Onion, Peas, Radish, Rosemary, Sage, Tomato, Wormwood (Incompatible with Anise, Dill)

Cauliflower: Beans, Beet, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Hyssop, Lavender, Mints, Nasturtium, Onion, Oregano, Radish (Incompatible with Dill, Strawberries, Tomatoes)

Celery: Beans, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Leek, Onion, Spinach, Tomato (Incompatible with Corn)

Chamomile: Cabbage, Mint, Onion, Squash

Chervil: Carrots, Radish

Chives: Carrots, Grapes, Parsley, Tomato (Incompatible with Peas, Beans)

Collard Greens: Tomatoes

Coriander: Anise, Potato (Incompatible with Fennel)

Corn: Amaranth, Beans, Cucumber, Geranium, Lamb’s Quarters, Melons, Morning Glory, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Sow Thistle, Squash, Sunflower (Incompatible with Celery, Tomato)

Cucumbers: Beans, Broccoli, Celery, Corn, Lettuce, Marigold, Nasturtium, Onion, Peas, Radish, Savory, Sunflower, Tomato (Incompatible with Potato, Rue, Sage)

Dill: Cabbage, Lettuce, Onion (Incompatible with Carrot, Tomato)

Eggplant: Amaranth, Beans, Peas, Spinach, Tarragon, Thyme

Fennel: (Incompatible with Beans, Caraway, Dill, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Tomato, Wormwood)

Fig: (Incompatible with Rue)

Flax: Carrot, Potatoes

Garlic: Beets, Carrots, Chamomile, Lettuce, Raspberry, Roses, Tomato, Summer Savory (Incompatible with Beans, Cabbage, Peas, Strawberries)

Grapes: Clover, Geranium, Hyssop, Oregano (Incompatible with Cabbage, Radish)

Hyssop: Cabbage, Grape

Kohlrabi: Beets, Cucumber, Onion (Incompatible with Pole Beans, Pepper, Strawberry, Tomato)

Leek: Carrots, Celery, Onions (Incompatible with Beans, Broccoli)

Lettuce: Beet, Cabbage, Carrot, Clover, Corn, Cucumber, Melon, Onion, Peanuts, Peas, Radish, Strawberry, Sunflower

Lovage: Beans

Melons: Corn, Nasturtium, Radish

Mint: Cabbage, Tomatoes (Incompatible with Chamomile, Parsley)

Nettle: Increases the oil production of herbs

Onions: Amaranth, Beets, Cabbage, Carrot, Celery, Chamomile, Leeks, Lettuce, Pepper, Potato, Roses, Sow Thistle, Strawberry, Summer Savory, Tomato (Incompatible with Beans, Peas)

Oregano: Cabbage, Cucumber

Parsley: Asparagus, Carrot, Chives, Onions, Roses, Tomato (Incompatible with Mint)

Petunia: Beans

Peanuts: Squash, Corn

Peas: Aromatic herbs, Beans, Carrots, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Potato, Radish, Spinach, Turnips (Incompatible with Garlic, Gladiolus, Leek, Onion, Potato, Shallots)

Peppers: Basil, Carrot, Lovage, Marjoram, Onion, Oregano (Incompatible with Fennel, Kohlrabi)

Plum: Horseradish

Pole Beans: Radish (Incompatible with Beets, Sunflower)

Potatoes: Amaranth, Beans, Corn, Cabbage, Eggplant, Flax, Horseradish, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Marigold, Onion, Petunia (Incompatible with Cucumber, Pumpkin, Radish, Raspberry, Sunflower, Squash, Tomato)

Pumpkin: Corn, Dastura (Incompatible with Apple, Potato, Raspberry, Rosemary, Tomato)

Radishes: Beans, Beets, Carrots, Chervil, Cucumber, Lettuce, Melons, Nasturtium, Parsnips, Peas, Spinach, Squash (Incompatible with Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Grape, Hyssop, Kohlrabi, Potato, Turnips)

Raspberry: Tansy (Incompatible with Potato)

Rhubarb: Columbine, Garlic, Onion, Roses

Rose: Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Sage (Incompatible with Potato)

Rosemary: Beans, Cabbage, Carrots, Sage (Incompatible with Potatoes)

Rue: Figs, Raspberry, Rose, Strawberry (Incompatible with Basil, Cabbage, Sage)

Sage: Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Marjoram, Peas, Rosemary, Strawberry, Tomato (Incompatible with Cucumber, Rue)

Savory: Beans, Onions

Southernwood: Cabbage

Sowthistle: Corn, Onions, Tomato

Soybeans: Everything

Spinach: Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Eggplant, Onion, Peas, Strawberry

Squash: Beans, Corn, Cucumbers, Icicle radishes, Mint, Nasturtium, Onion (Incompatible with Potatoes)

Strawberries: Beans, Borage, Comfrey, Lettuce, Onion, Spinach (Incompatible with Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi)

Sunflower: Cucumber (Incompatible with Cabbage)

Tansy: Fruits, Peppers, Potato, Rose, Raspberry

Thyme: Cabbage

Tomatoes: Asparagus, Basil, Bee Balm, Carrot, Celery, Chives, Garlic, Lemon Balm, Onions, Marigold, Mint, Nasturtium, Parsley, Peas, Sage (Incompatible with Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn, Dill, Fennel, Kohlrabi, Potato)

Turnip: Peas

Insect-Repellent Plants

Basil: Flies, Mosquitoes, Asparagus Beetle

Borage: Tomato Worm

Calendula: Asparagus Beetles, Tomato Worms

Catnip: Ants, Aphids, Cockroaches, Flea Beetle, Japanese Beetles

Chrysanthemum: Mexican Bean Beetle

Cosmos: Mexican Bean Beetle

Coriander: Aphids

Dandelion: Colorado Potato Beetle

Dead Nettle: Potato Beetle

Fennel: Fleas

Flax: Potato Beetle

Garlic: Aphids, Apple Scab, Borers, Japanese Beetles, Peach Leaf Curl Disease, Spider Mites

Geranium: Cabbage Worm, Red Spider Mite

Henbit: General insect repellent

Horseradish: Potato Beetle

Hyssop: Cabbage Moth

Lavender: Mice, Ticks, Moths

Marigold: Mexican Bean Beetle, Nematodes

Mint: Ants, Aphids, Cabbage Moth, Fleas, Mice

Mole Plant: Mice, Moles

Nasturtium: White Flies, Squash Bugs, Striped Pumpkin Beetle, Wooly Aphid (apple)

Oregano: Cabbage Butterfly, Cucumber Beetle

Parsley: Beetles

Pennyroyal: Fleas, Flies, Mosquitoes

Pot Marigold: Asparagus Beetle, Tomato Worm

Radish: Cucumber Beetle

Rosemary: Bean Beetles, Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly

Rue: Flies, Japanese Beetle, Cats, Dogs

Sage: Bean beetle, Cabbage Moth, Carrot Fly, Slugs

Southernwood: Cabbage Moth

Sunflower: Armyworm

Tansy: Ants, Fleas, Flies, Japanese Beetle, Moths, Striped Cucumber Beetles, Squash Bugs

Thyme: Cabbage Worm

Wormwood: Animals

Beneficial Parasitoid Wasps and Hoverflies are attracted to: Alyssum, Buckwheat, Cilantro, Parsley, Fennel, Mustard, Phacelia, and Yarrow (J. Luna, et al., Organic Farming Research 6:7-9)

“Pollen and Nectar plants” that attract beneficial predator insects: Carrot, Catnip, Coneflowers, Daisy, Dill, Fennel, Goldenrod, Lemon Balm, Mint, Parsley, Peppermint, Spearmint, Thyme, Yarrow.

Beneficial Insects

Assassin Bug: Caterpillars, Flies

Big-Eyed Bug: Aphids, Caterpillars, Leafhoppers, Mites; attracted by Clover, Goldenrod, Soybeans.

Braconid Wasp: Aphids, Armyworm, Cabbageworm, Cornborer, Codling Moth, Elm Bark Beetle, Horn Worm; Attracted by Dill, Parsley, Yarrow.

Damselbug: Aphids, Caterpillars, Leafhoppers, Thrips; Attracted by Alfalfa.

Ground Beetle: Caterpillars, Cabbage Maggot, Colorado Potato Beetle Larvae, Cutworms, Slugs, Snails; Attracted by Clover.

Honeybee: Pollinator

Hover Fly (Syrphid Fly): Aphids

Ichneumon Wasp: Beetle larvae, Caterpillars, Sawfly,

Lacewing: Aphids, Corn Earworms, Mites, Thrips

Lady Beetle: Aphids

Minute Pirate Bug: Leafhopper nymphs, Spider mites, Thrips

Predatory Mite: European Red Mites, Spider Mites

Praying Mantis: Also predates beneficials

Rove Beetle: Aphids, Cabbage Maggot, Flies, Mites, Springtails

Soldier Beetle: Aphids, Beetle larvae, Caterpillars, Corn Rootworm, Cucumber Beetle, Grasshopper eggs ; Attracted by Goldenrod, Milkweed, Hydrangea

Spined Soldier Bug: Caterpillars, Sawfly larvae

Tachinid Fly: Caterpillars

Tiger Beetle: General predator

Yellowjacket: Flies, caterpillars