Companion Plants
Strengthen and Attract Beneficial Insects

Companion plants attract butterflies

Basil, Borage, Chives, Dandelion, Dill, , Rosemary, Sage, Thyme

Companion plants help strengthen other plants around them and attract beneficial insects for pollination and keep insect damage in check. For fruit orchards dandelion is one of the best companion plants. The dandelion herb plant gives off ethylene gas at sunset. This helps the fruits to ripen early and evenly. I’ve noticed apple orchard farmers here in Vermont grow them underneath the apple trees.

This is a good indication of soil health. The benefits of dandelion indicate your soil has healthy amounts of potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium.

Although, this herb plant can grow anywhere it prefers rich, loose, well-drained soil. It has a long tape root. Even when the plant is thought to be pulled out entirely, a little of the taproot breaks off thus, ensuring the survival of this amazing herb.

An easy way to start growing dandelion is just blow the seeds in the fall or early spring.

Companion Plants for Roses

Perennials

Hollyhock, thifts, mugwort, bellflower, pink carnation, cranesbill, dwarf baby’s breath, sunflower (medium height), lily, Missouri evening primrose, dwarf scabious, dwarf thyme, speedwell, yarrow and violet

Yarrow attracts beneficial insects and strengthens other plants next to them. I planted a huge crop of white yarrow in the center of my rose herb garden. Ladybugs love the nectar and eat the aphids attracted to this herb. So it strengthen the roses making them grow larger healthy blooms

Annuals

Borage (self-sows), larkspur, Chinese pink (small dianthus), California poppy, candytuft, toadflax, lobelia, sweet alyssum, forget-me-nots, petunia, phlox, nasturtium, mignonette, Johnny-jump-up and verbena

Borage is large herb and attracts lots of honey bees and the flowers are edible too.

Herbs That Help Keep Pests Away

Basil, borage, calendula, catnip, chives, garlic, Zonal geraniums, horseradish, hyssop, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, wormwood, tansy and thyme

Pests Repelled:

Basil - aphids, asparagus beetle, mites, mosquitoes, tomato hornworm

Borage - tomato hornworm

Calendula – asparagus beetle

Catnip – aphids, asparagus beetles, Colorado potato beetles, squash bugs

Chives – Aphids, Japanese beetles and other harmful insects

Garlic – Japanese beetles and other harmful insects

Zonal geraniums – Japanese beetles

Horseradish – Colorado potato beetle (plant this herb in a bucket, prolific spreader)

Hyssop – cabbage moths

Marigolds – Mexican bean beetles, root-knot nematodes, root lesion nematodes

Mints – Aphids, cabbage moths and other harmful insects (plant this herb in a bucket or pot, prolific spreader)

Nasturtiums – Aphids, Colorado potato beetles, Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs

Parsley – Asparagus beetles

Rosemary – Cabbage moths, carrot rust flies, Mexican bean beetles

Rue – Japanese beetles (may cause skin irritation)

Sage – Cabbage moths, carrot rust flies, other harmful insects

Savory – Mexican bean beetles

Wormwood – flea beetles, mosquitoes

Tansy – Colorado potato beetles, squash bugs

Thyme – Cabbage moths

 Learn more about…  

• Planning an Herb Garden
• Herb Garden Design
• Gardening Advice
• Basic Herb Garden

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