Companion Herbs: Types of Herbs That Grow Well Together
In the wild, many plants grow together because of the climate they need due to a symbiotic relationship with other plants. Companion planting with herbs that grow well together has now become more popular in curated gardens as people are recognizing why they grow together in the wild. Learning from nature to provide the same benefits of companion planting at home can improve your garden and ensure all your plants thrive.
If you’re interested in learning more about plant matching and ensuring that your garden is full of herbs that grow well together and require similar care, read on for our companion herb overview.
Companion Planting: The Benefits
You can use companion planting for your entire garden, including vegetables and flowers. Some of the benefits of this gardening style include:
- Improving soil quality by adding important nutrients back to the soil, like nitrogen
- Encouraging quick growth by releasing unique chemicals
- Repelling pests, insects, and diseases by releasing specific scents or oils
- Providing shade to shorter plants who prefer partial sun
- Improving flavor through chemical release and faster growth
- Attracting beneficial insects to cross-pollinate and protect your garden
If you’re convinced that companion planting is for you, it’s time to take a look at some of our favorite blends for any balcony or patio herb garden.
Mediterranean Herbs
If you live in a climate that’s heavy on the sunshine but light on the rain, Mediterranean herbs could be the right choice for you. With some well-draining soil or potting mix, you can mimic their native environment and enjoy using them in foods that originate in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Turkey. From pizza and pasta to paella and dolma, these are the herbs that grow well together and elevate your eating experience:
The reason we recommend these companion herbs is due to the tarragon. It enhances the flavor of anything growing near it! You can also grow tarragon with other herbs to achieve the same effects.
Plants Who Love Water
There are a number of moisture-loving companion herbs that wouldn’t do as well with those that prefer arid environments. If you have a section of your garden that requires more frequent watering, these are the herbs that grow well together:
With these herbs, in particular, we recommend providing deeper pots or containers to ensure they have enough room for their roots.
Similar Scents
Not every herb needs to be used in the kitchen! You can enjoy herbs for their beauty and scent, as well as their flavor. One of our favorites to grow together are the varietals of lemon-scented herbs, as they release a refreshing fragrance and keep mosquitos away! Try these herbs that grow well together:
- Lemongrass
- Lemon Thyme
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Basil
- Lemon Verbena
While you might assume that mint varieties will have the same scented effects as these lemon companion herbs, we don’t recommend planting those together, as they’re aggressive plants that spread fast. And if you plan on eating mint from your garden, varieties that grow together will lose their distinct flavors. However, a single mint plant is a great herb to plant near other plants that attract pests, as its scent keeps birds and bugs away.
A Few Other Options
If you have a small container garden and limited space, you may have to be a bit more selective with your plants. Here are a few three to four sets of herbs that grow well together in tighter spaces:
- Dill, Chives, Lemon Thyme, Lovage
- Marjoram, Tarragon, Parsley
- Basil, Parsley, Oregano
- Rosemary, Thyme, Lavender, Sage
- Chives, Dill, Fennel, Parsley
- Bay Leaves, Thyme, Sage
Keep in mind that dill and parsley are particularly popular among pests, so protect them with herbs that keep harmful bugs and birds away.
More Guidance
In addition to recommending herbs that grow well together, Patio Growers can provide plenty of guidance and support through our blog. We also offer a unique selection of hands-off maintenance through automated watering systems that make container gardening even easier.
Browse our entire store to find an appropriate watering system for the herbs you’ve chosen, or explore our grow guides for comprehensive overviews for growing some of the most popular herbs, flowers, and vegetables.
Have questions about herbs that grow well together? Reach out to us through the online form for expert advice.