15 Companion Plants That Help Raspberries Grow Bigger and Sweeter

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Raspberries can be so generous that you often end up with more berries than you can eat in one season. With a little care, your patch can keep producing sweet, juicy fruit that’s perfect for snacking, baking, or turning into jam.

Pairing raspberries with the right companion plants can help them grow healthier and tastier. Some neighbors improve the soil, keep pests away, attract helpful insects, or support pollination, while others act as ground cover to keep weeds down. Planting thoughtfully can make a real difference in your harvest. Here are 15 companion plants that can help your raspberries thrive.

Chamomile

Chamomile isn’t just a calming herb for tea—it also benefits raspberry plants. It improves plant health by strengthening neighboring plants and attracting pollinators. Chamomile’s flowers also bring beneficial insects like hoverflies, which help control pests.

Tansy

Tansy is a dual-purpose plant that attracts pollinators while repelling pests. Bees and other beneficial insects are drawn to its small, golden flowers, improving raspberry pollination. At the same time, tansy’s strong aroma helps keep away ants, beetles, and other unwanted garden pests.

Yarrow

Yarrow is a companion plant that brings in beneficial insects like ladybugs, which feed on aphids and other raspberry pests. It also attracts pollinators, increasing fruit production. Yarrow’s deep roots help improve soil structure, making it a valuable addition to your raspberry patch.

Marigolds

These vibrant flowers do more than add color to your garden—they are excellent pest repellents.

Marigolds help keep nematodes, aphids, and other harmful insects away from raspberry plants. Their strong scent can deter pests, making them a great natural solution for pest control.

Chives

Chives are a flavorful and functional addition to a raspberry patch. Their pungent scent helps repel aphids, which can damage raspberry leaves and fruit.

Some gardeners also believe chives enhance the flavor of raspberries. However, chives spread aggressively, so keep them in check to prevent them from overtaking your garden.

Garlic

A natural pest deterrent, garlic helps repel beetles, aphids, and other insects that can harm raspberry plants. Planting garlic around your raspberries can create a protective barrier, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

Plus, garlic is an easy crop to grow alongside berries and can be harvested for culinary use.

Onions

Like garlic and chives, onions release a strong scent that helps deter common raspberry pests. They’re easy to grow and can fit well around the base of raspberry plants without competing for resources. Onions are also a great companion plant for many garden crops, making them a useful addition.

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are an excellent companion plant for raspberries because they act as a trap crop, luring aphids away from your berries.

By planting nasturtiums nearby, aphids are more likely to attack them instead of your raspberries. Plus, nasturtiums’ bright flowers attract pollinators, improving berry production.

Clover

Clover is a natural nitrogen-fixer, meaning it helps enrich the soil by pulling nitrogen from the air and converting it into a form that plants can use. This benefits raspberries, which require nutrient-rich soil for healthy growth.

However, clover spreads quickly, so keep it contained to prevent it from overtaking your raspberry patch.

Borage

Borage is an excellent companion plant for raspberries because it attracts bees, improves pollination, and increases fruit yields. It also repels hornworms, which can damage nearby crops. As a bonus, borage leaves can be used as mulch to enrich the soil naturally.

Dill

Dill attracts beneficial insects such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps, which help control aphids, caterpillars, and other pests that might target raspberries. Additionally, its feathery foliage doesn’t compete for space, making it easy to grow among raspberry plants.

Thyme

Thyme’s strong scent is a natural deterrent for many garden pests, including cabbage worms and aphids. Its low-growing habit makes it an excellent ground cover around raspberry bushes, helping to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture without competing for nutrients.

Comfrey

Comfrey is a nutrient-rich plant that acts as a living mulch around raspberries. Its deep roots pull up minerals from the soil, making them available to neighboring plants when its leaves decompose. This natural fertilization process helps raspberries grow strong and healthy.

Fennel

Fennel attracts pollinators and predatory insects like hoverflies and lacewings, which help control aphids and other pests.

However, fennel can be aggressive and may inhibit the growth of certain plants, so it’s best to plant it at a slight distance from your raspberries rather than right alongside them.

Spinach

Low-growing crops like spinach provide natural ground cover, helping suppress weeds and retain moisture around raspberry plants. They don’t compete heavily for nutrients, making them ideal for planting at the base of raspberry bushes to improve soil conditions and reduce maintenance.

Lettuce

Like spinach, lettuce is a low-growing crop that serves as a natural ground cover, keeping weeds at bay and helping the soil retain moisture. Its shallow roots ensure it won’t compete with raspberries for nutrients, making it a practical choice for filling gaps around your berry bushes.

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