bee on a lavender flower

11 Best Companion Plants For Lavender

If you’re looking for a way to enhance the beauty and fragrance of your lavender garden, then you’ve come to the right place. By planting companion plants alongside your lavender, you can create a beautiful, vibrant, and fragrant garden that will be a joy to behold. We’ll explain why companion planting is so beneficial and then discuss some of the best companion plants for lavender. Read on to learn more and create a stunning and aromatic garden!

The best companion plants for lavender

Companion plants are able to enhance one another through various properties, like returning nutrients to the soil and repelling pests. These are the best companion plants to grow with lavender.

Zinnias

Zinnias are a beautiful companion plant to grow with lavender. They attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, which help pollinate the lavender flowers. They also help keep weeds away from the lavender, providing a protective barrier. Zinnias also provide a bright, cheerful display of color when planted near lavender, adding to the beauty of the garden. Zinnias are also drought tolerant and require little maintenance, making them an ideal companion for lavender. Together, zinnias and lavender create a stunning garden display.

Sage

Sage and lavender make a great combination when used in companion planting. Sage’s strong scent helps to repel insects, like flies and mosquitoes, which can be beneficial for lavender plants. Additionally, sage’s deep root system helps to draw up nutrients from the soil, which lavender also needs. Furthermore, sage’s broad, silvery leaves provide a beautiful contrast to the purple-blue flowers of lavender. When planted side by side, sage, and lavender make a stunning combination of both texture and color in the garden.

Echinacea

Echinacea, also known as the purple coneflower, is another good companion plant for lavender. Its vibrant purple petals and tall stems add a beautiful contrast to lavender’s grey-green foliage. The echinacea also provides a great habitat for beneficial insects, like bees and butterflies, which are attracted to the nectar-rich petals. Additionally, echinacea is a great companion plant to lavender because its deep taproot helps to break up hard soil and loosen clay, allowing the lavender’s roots to spread more easily. With these two plants together, your garden will be full of color and life.

Rosemary

Rosemary and lavender make a great combination for companion planting. Additionally, providing shade and protection from the sun for the lavender, while lavender is an excellent source of nectar for pollinators. This herb also repels pests, and its strong scent helps to keep away any critters that might try to eat the lavender. The combination of the two herbs makes an attractive display in the garden and can be used in a variety of recipes. The combination of rosemary and lavender also makes a wonderful, aromatic potpourri. When planted together, the two herbs can create a beautiful and fragrant landscape.

Basil

Basil and lavender make good companion plants for many reasons. First, they grow well together due to their similar water, soil, and light needs. Both herbs need well-drained soil, full sun, and moderate amounts of water. Additionally, the aromatic qualities of both herbs can be used together to create a beautiful and fragrant garden. Basil also helps to repel pests, such as mosquitoes and aphids, that may otherwise harm lavender plants. Lastly, the combination of the two herbs can make for a delicious culinary experience. Basil can be used to add a hint of sweetness to a lavender-infused tea or lavender can be added to a basil-based pesto for a unique flavor.

Oregano

Oregano is a great companion plant for lavender in the garden. Not only do oregano and lavender have similar soil, sun, and water requirements, but their aromas also blend beautifully. The strong scent of oregano will help to repel certain harmful pests, while lavender attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Additionally, both plants are drought-tolerant and can handle dry conditions. Growing oregano in the same bed as lavender can create an inviting and fragrant garden space.

Marigolds

Marigolds are good companion plants for lavender, as they provide complementary colors and fragrances to enhance any garden. They are easy to grow and require little maintenance while adding a vibrant splash of yellow, orange, and red to the garden. They also attract beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, which help pollinate the lavender flowers. Marigolds are also known to repel some pests, such as tomato hornworms, that can damage lavender plants. Planting marigolds near lavender can help to provide the perfect balance of beauty and protection for a fragrant, colorful garden.

Thyme

Thyme is a great companion plant for lavender. Not only is it a beautiful and fragrant addition to the garden, but it also provides a number of benefits. Thyme helps to repel pests and insects, and it also helps to increase the essential oil content of lavender, making it even more fragrant. Furthermore, the aromatic oils produced by the thyme act as a natural fertilizer for the lavender, providing essential nutrients. Thyme also helps to retain moisture in the soil to keep the lavender hydrated. Finally, the bright and colorful flowers of the thyme act as an attractive backdrop to the purple blossoms of the lavender, creating a stunning visual effect. When planted together, these two plants create a beautiful and fragrant garden display.

Yarrow

Yarrow is n ideal companion plant for lavender as it can help to deter pests and protect the lavender from other diseases. Yarrow’s strong scent helps to repel aphids, flea beetles, and other insects from feeding on the lavender. It can also help to crowd out competing weeds that would otherwise grow around the lavender plants. Additionally, the deep roots of the yarrow help to prevent soil erosion and help the lavender to access more nutrients from the soil. Yarrow is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant, and is easy to grow in a variety of conditions. Its bright yellow flowers also provide a nice contrast to the purple lavender blooms, making it an attractive addition to any garden.

Roses

Roses and lavender make a beautiful and fragrant combination in any garden. Not only are they a stunning visual pairing, but they also have a number of functional benefits when planted together. Roses provide a wonderful vertical structure for the low-growing lavender and the large, bushy foliage of the rose can provide some shade for the delicate lavender. The scent of the roses can also help to intensify the aroma of the lavender. Additionally, roses help to attract beneficial insects such as bees, which can help to pollinate the lavender and ensure a good harvest. Finally, the two plants have similar soil and water requirements, meaning they will both thrive in the same growing conditions.

Aster

Asters are another good companion plant for lavender, as they have many similar needs and preferences. Asters prefer full sun, like lavender, and need well-draining soil. They also both benefit from occasional trimming to maintain a neat and tidy look. Asters will attract bees and other pollinators to your garden, which will help to pollinate your lavender and keep it healthy. Asters also come in a variety of colors, so you can choose the perfect color to complement your lavender. When planted together, aster and lavender create a beautiful contrast that will add a touch of elegance to your garden.

Cody Medina
Small Scale Farmer
Hi there! I'm Cody, a staff writer here at The Garden Magazine and a small-scale farmer living in Oregon. I've been gardening most of my life and now live on a quarter-acre farmstead with chickens, ducks, and a big garden.