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With its fragrant, needle-like leaves, Rosemary is a culinary delight and a versatile and resilient herb that can thrive in various garden settings. Once established, its preference for sunny locations with well-drained soil and minimal watering makes it an ideal candidate for companion planting.
Companion planting offers numerous benefits for both gardeners and their gardens, promoting biodiversity, deterring pests, and enhancing the overall beauty and productivity of the landscape.
By strategically selecting plants that complement rosemary’s needs and characteristics, gardeners can create a cohesive and harmonious garden that looks beautiful and promotes the health and vigor of all its inhabitants.
When choosing companion plants for rosemary, factors such as plant height, growth habits, spreading, and spacing must be considered. Here are 14 companion plants to consider when growing Rosemary.
Chives
Chives are a delicious herb with a mild onion-like smell that repels aphids and mites. Planting small clumps of chives among rosemary is a good way to keep pests at bay with their pungent aromas. The large pom-pom flowers of chive plants will also attract pollinating bees.
Chives can be harvested by snipping the green stems with scissors and chopping them into salads, soups, and dips.
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Thyme
Thyme, a low-growing perennial herb, is a must-have in every vegetable garden. The tiny, delicate flowers of thyme are irresistible to insects that boost pollination and keep pests under control. Thyme also contains compounds that can repel ants, aphids, and wireworms.
Marigolds
Incorporating marigolds is a good way to add visual interest and texture diversity. Marigolds have vibrant red, orange, and yellow flowers that attract beneficial insects to the garden, from pollinating bees to pest-destroying wasps and butterflies.
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Garlic
Garlic gives off a pungent aroma that is thought to repel many common garden pests. It makes an excellent companion to rosemary plants. This allium provides additional culinary benefits while deterring pests with its pungent aromas.
Sage
Sage is a low-maintenance perennial herb that deters cabbage moths, a troublesome insect that targets several vegetable crops. Its flowers also attract many beneficial insects that boost pollination and keep aphids under control.
Sage thrives alongside rosemary, which shares similar environmental preferences and growth habits. Sage can be easily rooted from cuttings, so add this flavorsome herb to all your vegetable beds to maximize the benefits.
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Lavender
Lavender’s striking purple color and soothing aroma attract butterflies and make it a perfect companion for Rosemary. These two also share similar environmental preferences and growth habits.
Lavender can be harvested and dried for culinary creations, home decor, and aromatherapy.
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Parsnips
Parsnips, with their sweet, nutty flavor, enrich soups and stews. High in fiber and potassium, this root veggie works well with Rosemary. Rosemary helps to heighten its flavor profile and helps keep pests at bay.
Plant seeds in early spring in deep, well-drained soil. Leaving them in the ground until after the first frost enhances their sweetness.
Yarrow (Achillea)
Yarrow produces clusters of small, flat-topped flowers in colors including yellow, white, pink, and red. It’s drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun. Yarrow attracts beneficial insects and serves as an excellent ground cover, complementing rosemary’s upright growth habit.
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California Poppies
Poppies are known for their vivid and soft papery petals, available in red, orange, pink, and white colors. They add a dramatic pop of color to gardens and thrive in conditions that balance sun, shade, and nutrient-rich soil.
It’s worth noting that some companion plants, like California poppies, can self-seed and spread rapidly, so gardeners should consider their growth habits and potential impact on the overall garden design. However, with proper planning and maintenance, these plants can contribute to a dynamic and thriving garden ecosystem.
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Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum might be the answer if you often have problems with aphids in the vegetable plot. This low-growing annual flower is highly effective at attracting parasitoid wasps, and it is one of the best insects for pest control. Sweet alyssum self-seeds easily without becoming too invasive.
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Zinnias
Zinnias are a butterfly favorite because of their wide range of colors and easy-to-grow nature. They bloom all summer long and share similar growing conditions as Rosemary. They will add pops of color to your garden and are the perfect addition to your summer bouquet.
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Oregano
Oregano is a perennial herb much loved by gardeners for its pest-repellent abilities. It has similar growing conditions as rosemary, and like most herbs, a few oregano plants dotted around your vegetable plot can reap huge rewards.
Beans
Beans are excellent companion plants for rosemary because they are nitrogen-fixing, enhancing soil health for better rosemary growth. While beans attract pests like the Mexican bean beetle, rosemary’s strong scent masks the beans and deters these pests.
The nitrogen from beans also boosts rosemary’s foliage growth, leading to larger harvests. This combination helps protect rosemary and improve its growth.
Borage
Borage is a low-maintenance annual plant that will be buzzing with insects feeding on its delicate purple flowers. This plant makes a great companion to rosemary because it is drought tolerant and doesn’t need much water to service, which works well for Rosemary.
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