Lavender Companion Plants for Good Plant Growth and Deterring Pests

lavender and roses grown together along a white picket fence

Lavender companion plants offer significant benefits, including deterring pests, attracting pollinators, and improving the overall health and productivity of other plants.

Lavender's suitability and benefits extend across a broad, eclectic spectrum of flora. From roses to vegetable to herbs, lavender is a wonderful helping plant to not only give your flowers a beautiful background to shine, but the scent from lavender is detested by many bugs and critters.

In the flower bed as a companion plant, lavender creates not only a wonderfully harmonious color display, but also a strong and diverse ecosystem that lures in a host of beneficial pollinators and is loved by bees and butterflies alike.

Your Quick Guide to Good Lavender Companion Plants

lavender grown as a companion plant with other herbs

1. Herbs

These aromatic herbs complement each other's scents while deterring pests and attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.

Rosemary: Shares similar growing conditions – full sun, well-draining soil, and not too much water.
Sage: Another Mediterranean herb that thrives under the same conditions as lavender.
Thyme: Complements lavender in the garden and kitchen, both requiring full sun and well-drained soil.
Oregano: Its growth habit and needs are compatible with lavender, making them good garden companions.

2. Flowers

In flower gardens, lavender adds color, texture, and fragrance while attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Planting lavender alongside flowering perennials and annuals creates a visually stunning and ecologically beneficial landscape.

Echinacea: Its tall, bold flowers provide visual interest and contrast, while also attracting pollinators that benefit both plants.
Roses: Not only do they look great together but the lavender keeps the roses healthy and helps keep aphids at bay.
Sedum (Stonecrop): Offers late summer blooms, extending the garden’s flowering season, and shares similar drought-tolerant traits.
Alliums: Their spherical blooms add a different shape to the garden and their strong onion scent can deter pests.
Yarrow: Available in a variety of colors, yarrow attracts beneficial insects and tolerates drought, much like lavender.

3. Vegetables

Cabbage and leafy greens: Lavender can help repel common pests like moths and beetles that prey on these vegetables.
Tomatoes, Peppers and Eggplants: By planting lavender with these veggies you can reduce pest damage and promote healthier plants.
Asparagus: Benefits from lavender’s ability to deter pests while providing a season-long aromatic backdrop to the asparagus ferns.

4. Fruit Trees

Apple trees: Lavender can help deter codling moths, which are pests to apples. The fragrance of lavender masks the scent of the ripening fruit, confusing pests.
Cherry trees: Similarly, planting lavender around cherry trees can help reduce pest issues.

5. Other Beneficial Plants

Catmint (Nepeta): Often used in similar landscaping contexts as lavender, catmint provides a sprawling contrast to lavender's upright habit.
Drought-tolerant grasses: Such as blue fescue, which can complement lavender's texture and color in a xeriscape garden.

Our Top 15 Plants to Grow Together with Lavender

Lavender and coreopsis grown together as companion plants

Growing lavender alongside other flowers can create a visually stunning and ecologically beneficial garden. Here are 15 top flowers that complement lavender and thrive well together:

1. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Rosemary shares similar soil and sun requirements with lavender and adds fragrance and culinary value to the garden.

2. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Low-growing thyme complements the height and structure of lavender while attracting beneficial insects and adding diversity to the garden.

3. Sage (Salvia officinalis): Sage's strong scent deters pests and complements lavender's aromatic properties. It also attracts pollinators and adds culinary value to the garden.

4. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.): Marigolds are known for their pest-repellent properties and vibrant blooms. Planting them alongside lavender adds color and helps deter nematodes and aphids.

5. Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea): Echinacea's daisy-like flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies while adding height and texture to the garden.

6. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Yarrow's feathery foliage and flat-topped flower clusters complement the spiky blooms of lavender while attracting beneficial insects.

7. Catmint (Nepeta spp.): Catmint's lavender-blue flowers and aromatic foliage pair well with lavender and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.

8. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia): Russian sage's silvery foliage and airy spikes of lavender-blue flowers create a striking contrast with lavender while attracting pollinators.

9. Salvia (Salvia spp.): Salvias come in a variety of colors and sizes and attract hummingbirds and butterflies while adding color and texture to the garden.

10. Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.): Coreopsis's cheerful daisy-like flowers come in a range of colors and attract pollinators while providing a vibrant contrast to lavender.

11. Verbena (Verbena spp.): Verbena's clusters of small, colorful flowers attract butterflies and bees and add a splash of color to the garden.

12. Liatris (Liatris spp.): Liatris's tall spikes of purple, pink, or white flowers attract bees and butterflies while adding vertical interest to the garden.

13. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.): Blanket flowers produce bold, daisy-like blooms in shades of red, orange, and yellow, attracting pollinators and providing a colorful complement to lavender.

14. Coneflower (Echinacea spp.): Coneflowers come in a variety of colors and attract bees, butterflies, and birds while adding height and texture to the garden.

15. Penstemon (Penstemon spp.): Penstemons produce spikes of tubular flowers in a range of colors, attracting hummingbirds and bees while adding vertical interest to the garden.

By planting these flowers alongside lavender, you can create a diverse and vibrant garden that attracts beneficial insects, supports pollinators, and enhances the overall beauty of your landscape.

Bad Companion Plants for Lavender

Unfortunately, not all plants make for successful planting together with lavender and there are some bad companion plants for lavender.

Success in lavender companion planting demands keen awareness of what not to do. Lavender prefers a sun-kissed, well-drained environment, which is incompatible with plants favoring moist or shaded conditions. Hence, attempting to pair lavender with shade-dwellers like ferns or moisture-loving plants like azaleas and hydrangeas could result in an unhappy, unhealthy garden.

Lavender also thrives in a slightly alkaline pH, unlike acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons and blueberries, marking them as unsuitable lavender companion plants.

Deterring Critters with Companion Plants

Lavender's fragrance, while delightful to us, is a powerful deterrent for many garden pests. Mice, rabbits, deer, mosquitoes, and flies tend to avoid areas dense with the potent aroma offered by lavender. This natural pest resistance makes lavender an invaluable gem in the realm of organic gardening.

Essential Tips for Successful Companion Planting with Lavender

To maximize the benefits of companion planting with lavender, consider the following tips:

Choose Complementary Species: Select companion plants that share similar soil, sun, and water requirements with lavender to ensure compatibility and mutual benefit.
Plant in Groups: Plant lavender and its companion species in clusters or drifts rather than isolated individuals to create visual impact and maximize their pest-repellent properties.
Rotate Crops: Rotate crops and companion plants regularly to prevent the buildup of pests and diseases and maintain soil health and fertility.
Prune Regularly: Prune lavender and its companion plants regularly to promote airflow, prevent overcrowding, and encourage vigorous growth and flowering.
Provide Adequate Space: Allow sufficient space between plants to prevent overcrowding and ensure optimal light penetration and air circulation.

In conclusion, understanding lavender companion plants can radically transform your gardening journey. Lavender, in all its aromatic grandeur, can serve to augment the health, productivity, and aesthetics of your garden. With the right companion plants and the correct guidelines to maintaining them, your garden will not just thrive—it will flourish.