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20 Best Companion Plants to Grow

for Natural Pest Control
Last Modified: Jul 14, 2023 by Lauren Landers · This post may contain
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Companion plants can be used to enhance the growth of other plants,

improve soil and attract pollinators. But one of the best ways to use
companion planting is for organic pest control. If you want to keep pests
out of your garden but you don’t want to resort to chemical pesticides,
these bug-busting companion plants can help!
 Companion planting can take a lot of the work out of pest control in the
garden.

17. Sage

18. Thyme

19. Horseradish

20. Wormwood

Summary

20 best compan ion plan ts to grow f or n atu ral

pest con trol
Plants that are naturally repellent to pests make good companion plants.

Certain vegetables, herbs, and flowers have strong scents and other
properties that make them repellant to an assortment of garden pests. In
the list below, you’ll find companion plants to repel beetles, hornworms,
and other destructive caterpillars and deer too! Say goodbye to pest
damage and say hello to a healthier garden with these top companion
plants for natural pest control.

1. Ch ives
 Chives make an excellent companion plant for several reasons.

Plant name: Chives

Growing zone: Zones 3 to 10

Plant type: Herb

Japanese beetle, aphids, cabbage

Top pest control use:
loopers, deer

Strawberries, roses, brassicas,

Recommended companions?
tomatoes, carrots

Chives are one of the most popular herbs to grow in home gardens, and
their mild, oniony flavor is a must-have on baked potatoes, salads, and
casseroles. But what many gardeners don’t realize is that chives are one
of the most useful plants to grow for organic pest control. Plus, if you
allow them to flower, they’ll lure beneficial insects and pollinators to your
garden too!

While chives’ strong aroma can repel a wide variety of pests, chives are
mostly known for their ability to repulse Japanese beetles and aphids .
This makes chives a perfect companion plant to pair with ornamentals,
like roses , but chives can also benefit fruit and vegetable plants too. If
you want to get the most use out of growing chives in an edible garden, try
pairing them with pest-prone plants like brassicas and strawberries .

2. Basil

Basil is a well-known companion plant for tomatoes, but it works well with
other vegetables, too.
 Plant name: Basil

Growing zone: Zones 4 to 10

Plant type: Herb

Top pest control use: Flies, mosquitoes, potato bugs

Tomatoes and other nightshades,

Recommended companions?
asparagus, root vegetables

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Basil is well-known for being a top companion plant for tomatoes , and
growing these two edibles together is said to boost the flavor of both
plants. But basil can also grow happily with many other herbs and flowers,
and its fragrance can be useful for repelling flies, Colorado potato
beetles, and pesky mosquitoes ! While all basil varieties have pest-
repellent properties, cultivars like cinnamon basil and lemon basil are
particularly useful for this purpose.
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Since basil is a relatively small plant, you can easily grow it in inground
gardens or container planters. And, while Genovese basil is the most
popular type of basil for pesto-making, varieties like Thai basil or purple
basil can also be fun to grow. Beyond tomatoes , some of the other best
companion plants for basil include asparagus, root vegetables, and
eggplants .

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3. On ion s
 Onions and related alliums are one of the most effective companion
plants.

Plant name: Onions

Growing zone: All

Plant type: Vegetable

Top pest control use: Various insects, deer, moles

Carrots, beets, brassicas,

Recommended companions?
strawberries

Like chives, onions contain a lot of sulfur, which is responsible for their
pungent aroma and their strong pest-repelling properties. Onions are multi-
purpose companion plants, and they can be used to keep many different
pests out of your garden, including various insects, moles , and even deer !
That’s why, if you’ve ever struggled with keeping deer out of your garden ,
you may want to try planting a ring of onions around the perimeter of your
beds.

Onions come in a wide range of flavors, and heat levels can vary
significantly between onion varieties. Most chefs agree that red onions are
the best for fresh eating, while yellow onions are recommended for
cooking. But if you don’t like lots of spice, sweet onions have a deliciously
mild flavor that can elevate almost any dish!

4. Marigolds

Marigolds offer beauty and function in the garden when used as

companion plants.
 Plant name: Marigolds

Growing zone: Zones 2 to 11

Plant type: Ornamental

Mexican bean beetles, nematodes,

Top pest control use:
deer, rabbits, aphids

Nightshades, cucumbers, melons,

Recommended companions?
lettuce, pumpkins

Marigolds are pretty enough to hold their own in ornamental beds, but
marigolds’ fragrant flowers also make them useful for pest control. For
this reason, many growers interplant marigolds among their fruit and
vegetable beds to keep an assortment of insects, nematodes, deer, and
rabbits at bay. Even better, marigolds also come in dwarf sizes that are

ideal for container gardens.

Marigolds come in an assortment of colors, including yellow, red, and

orange, as well as bi-colored bloom varieties. Blooming from early
summer to the hard frosts of fall, marigolds are a long-season flower that
can be enjoyed for the better part of the year. If you want to get the most
out of growing marigolds as companion plants, use them as a border
around your veggie patch or pair them with plants like tomatoes,
potatoes, and cucumbers.

5. Nastu r tiu ms
Not only do nasturtiums make good companion plants, but they are edible,
too.

Plant name: Nasturtiums

Zones 9 to 11; Grown as an annual

Growing zone:
in cooler spots

Plant type: Ornamental; Edible

Top pest control use: Aphids, whiteflies, beetles

Recommended companions? Beans, cucumbers, brassicas

Nasturtiums are another powerfully scented flower with big, bold blooms
in various shades of yellow and orange. All parts of nasturtiums are
edible, including their leaves, flowers, and seeds, and they make
spectacular ornamental plants too. You can find nasturtiums in both
mounding and trailing varieties, which can be used differently in gardens
and growing containers.

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Mounding-type nasturtiums are particularly useful for container gardens,

while vining varieties can be trained to grow up trellises, or they can be
used as a low-maintenance ground cover for weed suppression. As far as
companion planting goes, nasturtiums can repel aphids, whiteflies, and an
assortment of destructive beetles . These plants also act as excellent
trap crops and lure pests away from more vulnerable fruit and veggies.

6. Wh ite Icicle Radish es

 Radishes make good companion plants, but the white icicle radish is
particularly well suited.

Plant name: White Icicle radishes

Growing zone: Zones 2 to 11

Plant type: Vegetable

Top pest control use: Borers, beetles

Recommended companions? Tomatoes, carrots, squash

Any radish variety can be useful as a companion plant, but ‘White Icicle’
radishes offer more benefits for the organic garden than most. These
radishes are famed for their long and tapering white roots, which can break
up tough soils and make it easier for plant roots to grow. More than that,
‘White Icicle’ radishes emit compounds into the soil that can repel many
different pests, including cucumber beetles and borers .

Like other radishes, ‘White Icicle’ radishes can also be used as trap crops
to lure flea beetles and other pests away from more valuable produce. So,
if you’ve ever struggled with holey brassica leaves, you may want to try
interplanting some radishes among your broccoli and cabbage! And if you
needed more reasons to try out ‘White Icicle’ radishes, these plants also
have better heat tolerance than many other radish types, and they can be
grown from spring through fall.

7. Borage
 Borage is top of the list of beneficial companion plants.

Plant name: Borage

Growing zone: Zones 3 to 10

Plant type: Ornamental; Edible

Top pest control use: Tomato hornworms

Tomatoes, cucumbers, melons,

Recommended companions?
strawberries

Borage’s bright blue, star-shaped flowers are a magnet for bees and other
pollinators. But borage can also attract predatory wasps to your garden
beds, which will prey on a variety of different pests, including tomato
hornworms . Not to mention, borage’s scent can distract different pest

insects from feeding on your crops, and it may also improve the growth of
plants like cucumbers, melons, and brassicas .

Borage will grow happily with many fruits and vegetable plants, but some
of the best companion plants for borage include strawberries, tomatoes,
and squash . Even if you’re new to gardening, borage is an easy-to-grow

plant, and it can be readily propagated from seeds. Like radishes, the long
tap roots of borage can break up compacted soil, improving the overall
health of your garden and the growth of your plants too!

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8. Catn ip
 Catnip, a mint family plant, is edible for humans is a good companion for
many plants.

Plant name: Catnip

Growing zone: Zones 3 to 9

Plant type: Herb

Top pest control use: Aphids, squash bugs, mosquitoes

Recommended companions? Brassicas, beans, squash

Catnip is a fragrant plant in the mint family, which is mostly known for the
euphoric effect it creates in cats. But many people don’t know that catnip
is also edible for humans, and it makes a delicious herbal tea. Plus, its
purple, spire-like flowers have tons of ornamental appeal, and they can
draw pollinators to your garden beds and increase your harvest yields.

As a companion plant, catnip repels mosquitoes, as well as various

beetle species, aphids, and squash bugs . Potatoes, collard greens, and

squash are all suitable mates for catnip, but you may want to grow your

catnip in pots in your garden to keep it from spreading. Like other mint
plants, catnip can become quite unruly over time, but these plants are
much more manageable if you keep them confined in containers or raised
beds.

9. Dill
 Many common garden pests are repelled by dill.

Plant name: Dill

Growing zone: Zones 2 to 11

Plant type: Herb

Cabbage loopers, aphids, spider

Top pest control use:
mites

Recommended companions? Brassicas, lettuce, cucumbers

Dill belongs to the Umbellifer family, which also includes plants like

carrots, parsley, and fennel. When allowed to flower, Umbellifers like dill

are amazing companion plants for many different herbs and vegetables. In
fact, growing dill near squash and cucumbers can increase pollination
rates and boost your harvest.

What’s more, predatory insects, like wasps, lacewings, and ladybugs, can’t
resist dill blooms. So if you want to keep the populations of aphids,
spider mites, and cabbage loopers in check, you may want to try

interplanting dill in your veggie garden. Companion planting dill with taller
plants is also beneficial because the added shade will help prevent dill
from bolting as quickly during the summer heat.

10. Yarrow

Ants, flies, and beetles are all repelled by yarrow, while predatory wasps
and beneficial insects are attracted to it.
 Plant name: Yarrow

Growing zone: Zones 3 to 9

Plant type: Ornamental

Top pest control use: Ants, flies, beetles

Recommended companions? Brassicas, arugula, lavender

Yarrow is mostly grown as an ornamental plant, but it can also be worked

in vegetable gardens. This plant has wide, flat blooms that are highly
attractive to pollinators, as well as beneficial insects like predatory
wasps and hoverflies . Growing yarrow near vulnerable plants can keep a

variety of pests and insects away, and even better, yarrow is also useful
for repelling mosquitoes !

Yarrow is a very adaptable plant that can grow in a range of soil types,
including sandy and dry gardens . And while yarrow is certainly a hard
worker when it comes to policing pests, it’s also highly prized for its
feathery leaves and colorful blooms that come in white and various
shades of pink and yellow. Yarrow flowers dry beautifully in preserved
arrangements, and they also make fantastic cut flowers.

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11. Min t
 Mint is repelling to creatures large and small.

Plant name: Mint

Growing zone: Zones 3 to 10

Plant type: Herb

Top pest control use: Deer, cabbage loopers

Recommended companions? Legumes, tomatoes, brassicas

Mint is another popular companion plant that’s useful for deterring many
different pests, including deer . Planting a ring of mint around your garden
can keep deer from browsing your vegetables. Plus, mint can also deter
pests like cabbage maggots and cabbage loopers , making it a top
companion for plants in the Brassica family, like cabbage, broccoli, and
Brussels sprouts .

Of course, mint is also a rather notorious grower, and it can become

invasive in many areas. To avoid this, try planting mint in containers and
then place your potted mint throughout your garden. This will give you all
the companion planting benefits of growing mint without the risk of mint
taking over your garden!

12. Ru ssian sage

Russian sage is an economical way to "fence" in a garden to guard against

deer.

Plant name: Russian sage

 Growing zone: Zones 4 to 9

Plant type: Ornamental

Top pest control use: Deer

Recommended companions? Daylilies, phlox, yarrow

Anyone who’s tried to keep a garden in a deer-prone area knows how

damaging deer can be to vegetables and flowers. And while fencing is the
best way to keep deer from invading garden spaces, this option can be
cost-prohibitive, and it may not be the best choice for all garden spaces.
However, one easy alternative is to grow Russian sage around your
garden!

Russian sage is another aromatic plant that has a scent that’s reminiscent
of sage and lavender. While the fragrance is pleasant to human noses,
deer hate it, and they will give Russian sage plants and their companions a
wide berth. As an ornamental, Russian sage has lots of aesthetic appeal,
and its airy, purple flowers look alluring when paired with yarrow,
coneflowers, and other perennial favorites.

13. Oregan o
 Cucumbers are just one vegetables that can benefit from companion
planting with oregano.

Plant name: Oregano

Growing zone: Zones 5 to 10

Plant type: Herb

Cabbage loopers, cucumber

Top pest control use:
beetles

Cucumbers, strawberries,
Recommended companions?
asparagus
Like other strong-smelling herbs, oregano can repel many different
insects, including cucumber beetles and cabbage loopers . Planting
oregano near vulnerable plants, like cucumbers and brassicas , is a great
way to improve the look and health of your plants while cutting down on
your reliance on pesticides. Plus, when oregano flowers, it will lure
beneficial insects and pollinators to your vegetables too!

Oregano is easy enough to grow from seed, although most gardeners

cultivate oregano either from nursery starts or plant cuttings. Grow
oregano in full sun and well-draining soil, and you’ll have a hardy plant that
will come back year after year with minimal fuss. Incredibly, in mild
climates, oregano can continue to grow throughout the year, and you may
even be able to harvest its richly flavored leaves even in mid-winter!

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14. Sweet alyssu m

 Sweet alyssum will attract a large variety of beneficial insects.

Plant name: Sweet alyssum

Zones 9 to 11; Grown as an annual

Growing zone:
in cooler spots

Plant type: Ornamental

Top pest control use: Aphids

Recommended companions? Tomatoes, brassicas, lettuce

Sweet alyssum is commonly grown as a container plant as its trailing

growth habit makes it a fabulous “spiller” element in mixed planting
arrangements. But sweet alyssum can also be cultivated in ornamental
beds, and it’s a great, pollinator-friendly groundcover too. Plus, like other
pollinator plants, sweet alyssum is ideal for attracting beneficial insects
as well.

What beneficial insects will come to your sweet alyssum plants will
depend a lot on where you live and the time of the year. But sweet
alyssum can draw insects like hoverflies, parasitic wasps, lacewings, and
ladybugs, which will feed on insects as varied as caterpillars and aphids .
Sweet alyssum’s purple and white flowers bloom primarily in spring and
fall, although they may stop flowering during the heat of summer.

15. Su n f lowers

Sunflower heads are like wide open invitations for predatory birds and
insects.
 Plant name: Sunflowers

Growing zone: Zones 2 to 11

Plant type: Ornamental; Edible

Top pest control use: Thrips, aphids

Recommended companions? Beans, squash, corn

Sunflowers are typically used in companion planting to boost pollination

rates, but they are also ideal for organic pest control. Sunflowers’ wide-
open flowerheads are irresistible to predatory insects, including lacewings
and ladybugs, which will feed on thrips and aphids in your garden.
Sunflowers can also be used as trap crops to distract pests and draw
them away from more valuable produce.

Birds also love sunflower blooms, and growing sunflowers in your garden
is an easy way to draw in wild birds. Of course, birds love gobbling up
sunflower seeds, but they’ll also feast on beetles, caterpillars, and other
pesky insects . Tall sunflowers are a solid choice for larger gardens, but if

you’re working with a small space, you can also try out dwarf sunflower
varieties, which offer all of the benefits of larger plants but in a pint-sized
package!

16. Rosemar y
Rosemary is a useful culinary herbs that also repels a number of harmful
garden insects.

Plant name: Rosemary

Zones 8 to 9; Grown as an annual

Growing zone:
in cooler spots

Plant type: Herb

Bean beetles, carrot flies, cabbage

Top pest control use:
moths

Recommended companions? Lavender, sage, peppers

Rosemary is another staple plant in pest-resistant gardens, and it can be
used to deter carrot flies, bean beetles, and cabbage moths . Plus, when
it’s allowed to bloom, rosemary will also attract beneficial insects to your
garden and pollinators too!

Rosemary isn’t as cold-hardy as some of the other herbs on this list,

which is why it’s often grown as a container plant or an annual in cool
climates. It’s also important to remember that rosemary is a
Mediterranean herb that thrives in well-draining soils. For this reason, if
you want to grow rosemary as a companion plant, it’s best suited for
growing near plants that don’t need lots of water, like peppers, lavender,
and sage.

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17. Sage
 Cabbage moths and carrot flies are two pests repelled by sage.

Plant name: Sage

Growing zone: Zones 4 to 10

Plant type: Herb

Top pest control use: Cabbage moths, carrot flies

Recommended companions? Brassicas, strawberries, arugula

Sage can also repel cabbage moths , but it also does wonders for keeping
carrot flies away. If you’ve never encountered these destructive insects,
carrot fly larvae can riddle carrot roots with holes, and they also target
other members of the Umbellifer family, like parsnips and celery .
However, if you grow sage nearby, you can protect your plants and have
lots of delicious herbs for roasting with your vegetable harvest too.

Like other Mediterranean plants, sage doesn’t need a lot of water, so it’s
important that you don’t overwater your sage if you keep it near water-
loving veggies. Culinary sage most often has greyish-green leaves that are
quite appealing. But if you want even more garden color, try out variegated,
tricolor sage or grow a purple sage plant, which has richly saturated deep
purple leaves!

18. Th yme
Thyme is another fragrant herb that makes an excellent companion plant.

Plant name: Thyme

Growing zone: Zones 5 to 10 (most varieties)

Plant type: Herb

Top pest control use: Cabbage worms

Strawberries, nightshades,
Recommended companions?
blueberries

By now, you’re probably sensing a theme: strongly scented herbs are some
of the best plants you can keep for pest control. Oregano, sage, and
rosemary all fall into this category… as does thyme! In the garden, thyme
can be used against cabbage worms, and its flowers will attract an
assortment of beneficial insects too.
Thyme is a versatile plant that can grow in inground gardens on containers
as long as the soil is well draining and not overly soggy. Try planting
thyme around your strawberries to keep worms away, or grow it near your
nightshade plants to attract predatory wasps that will keep hornworms in

check. While common thyme is the most popular thyme variety for
backyard gardens, you can also try out more unusual thyme cultivars, like
lemon thyme, for an unparalleled flavor that’s ideal for roasted dishes,
salads, and more.

19. Horseradish

Potatoes, rhubarb, and asparagus can all benefit from growing with
horseradish.

Plant name: Horseradish

 Growing zone: Zones 4 to 7

Plant type: Vegetable

Top pest control use: Beetles

Recommended companions? Potatoes, rhubarb, asparagus

Horseradish is an often overlooked edible plant, but if you love the spicy
flavor or you want to try out companion planting, you may want to give it a
try. Horseradish can be used to flavor an assortment of sauces, but it also
makes a budget-friendly wasabi substitute for homemade sushi. As a
companion plant, horseradish’s pungent smell can deter blister beetles
and Colorado potato beetles too !

Planting horseradish near potatoes is an excellent way to keep your

plants pest-free and boost your tuber crop. However, horseradish is a
vigorous grower that grows as a perennial in most areas, so you may want
to cultivate it in containers to keep it from spreading. ‘Big Top’ horseradish
is a popular variety of horseradish to grow in gardens, and it is often sold
as a rootstock in seed catalogs and online.

20. Wormwood
 Wormwood is an effective companion to fight against root maggots.

Plant name: Wormwood

Growing zone: Zones 4 to 9

Plant type: Ornamental

Top pest control use: Root maggots, carrot flies

Recommended companions? Rosemary, carrots, onions

Wormwood is another plant that’s not commonly grown in vegetable

gardens, but it is a staple in medicinal herb beds, and its silvery-green
leaves also make it a top choice in ornamental gardens. Flies, root
maggots, and carrot flies detest the scent of wormwood, and deer and

rabbits avoid it too.

Thanks to its strong, sage-like aroma, wormwood is sometimes used in

potpourris. However, because this plant is toxic to pets, you may want to
avoid growing it if you have cats and dogs roaming your property. Once
established, wormwood is hardy, and it doesn’t need much water, which
makes it a suitable companion for other plants that like drier conditions,
like coneflower, tansy, and yarrow.

Su mmar y

Companion planting is a functional--and often aesthetically pleasing--way

to control harmful insects in the garden.
When choosing the right companion plants for your garden, you’ll need to
consider the pests you’d like to control, as well as the growing conditions
and size of your garden. If you have a small garden or grow veggies in
containers, you may want to stick to smaller herbs when companion
planting. Conversely, if you have a large vegetable plot, why not try out an
assortment of companion plants and take full advantage of strongly
scented herbs and plant flowers to lure in beneficial insects too?

To learn more about companion planting, check out our related guides,
including the best companion plants for roses and tomatoes .

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