Garden Tower® Project Herb Chart

Did you know that basil helps tomatoes and peppers grow in the garden? Or that borage can be used to repel different pests? It’s important to keep these things in mind when planning your garden. To help you out, the Garden Tower Project has assembled a guide that explores various herbs and their roles within a garden.

 

Common nameScientific nameHelpsHelped byAttractsRepelsAvoidComments
BasilOcimum basilicumtomato,[3] peppers, oregano, asparagus, petuniaschamomile, anisebutterfliesasparagus beetle, mosquitoes, thrips and fliescommon rueis said to make tomatoes taste better, chamomile and anise are supposed to increase the essential oils in many herbs like basil
BorageBorago officinalisAlmost everything, especially strawberry, cucurbits (cucumber, gourds), tomatoes and cabbagePredatory insects, honeybeesmany pestsPredict a square meter for its adult size. Borage is the magic bullet of companion plants
CarawayCarum carviStrawberriesParasitic wasps, parasitic flies
ChamomileMatricaria recutitaBasil, Wheat, Onion, Cabbage, CucumberHoverflies, waspsGrowing near herbs will increase their oil production.
ChervilAnthriscus cerefoliumRadish, lettuce, broccoliaphidsradishloves shade, fortunately it grows well with shade-tolerant food plants; will make radishes grown near it taste spicier
Cilantro / CorianderCoriandrum sativumspinachbeans, peastachinid flyaphids, spider mites, white flies and potato beetle
ChivesAllium schoenoprasumApples, carrots, tomatoes, brassica (broccoli, cabbage, mustard, etc.), many otherscarrotscabbage worms, carrot fly, aphidsbeans, peasSame companion traits as all alliums (onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, etc.)said to prevent apple scab after 3 years planting at base of apple trees
DillAnethum graveolensCabbages, Corn, Lettuce, Onions, CucumbersTiger Swallowtail butterflies/ caterpillars, Hoverflies, Wasps, Tomato Hornworm, honeybees, Ichneumonid WaspsAphids, spider mites, squash bugs, cabbage loopercarrots, tomatoesone of the few plants said to grow with fennel
FennelFoeniculum vulgareDillDillladybugs, syrphid fly, tachinid flyaphidsAlmost everythingFennel is allelopathic to most garden plants, inhibiting growth, causing to bolt, or actually killing many plants
GarlicAllium sativumApple trees, Pear trees, Roses, Cucumbers, Lettuce, CeleryAphids, cabbage looper, ants, rabbits, cabbage maggot, vampiresBeans, cabbages, peasDeters rabbits, same companion traits as all alliums (onions, chives, shallots, leeks, etc.)
HempCannabis sativa L. subsp. sativaBrassica (cabbage, brussels sprouts, other kales)Repels many types of beetles which attack cabbages.
HyssopHyssopus officinalisCabbage, grapeshoneybees, butterfliesCabbage moth larvae, Cabbage ButterfliesStimulates growth of grapes.
LovageLevisticum officinaleAlmost all plantsbeansIchneumonid Wasps, ground beetles (good)rhubarbIs thought to improve the health of almost all plants, like borage and geraniums, is considered a "magic bullet" of companion planting
OreganoOriganum vulgareTomatoes, peppers, many other plantsbasilaphidsprovides ground cover and much-needed humidity for pepper plants if allowed to spread among them
ParsleyPetroselinum CrispumAsparagus, corn/maize, tomatoesSwallowtail Butterflies, wasps, fliesAlliums, lettuceSacrificially attracts insects that predate upon tomatoes
PeppermintMentha piperitaBrassica (cabbage, kholrabi, broccoli, and the other kales)cabbage fly, ants, cabbage looperRepels cabbage flies, has same general companion properties as other mints
RosemaryRosmarinus officinalissage, cabbage, beans, carrots, thymebean beetlebasilDeters cabbage flies, repels many bean parasites
SageSalvia officinalisrosemary, cabbage, beans, carrotshoneybees, cabbage butterflycabbage flies, carrot fly, black flea beetle, cabbage looper, cabbage maggotDeters cabbage flies, repels many bean parasites
Southern- woodArtemisia abrotanumFruit treesControls cabbage moths and malaria mosquitoes.
SpearmintMentha spicataants, aphidsControls ants and aphids, has same general companion properties as other mints.
Summer SavourySatureja hortensisGreen beans, onions,also delays germination of certain foul herbs
TansyTanacetum vulgarebeans, cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, etc.), corn, roseshoneybeesflying insects (Ichneumonid Wasps), Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs and antsIs reputed to generally repel insects (except for nectar-eating types). This herb should not be consumed, as it is quite toxic.
TarragonArtemisia dracunculusEverything, but especially eggplantIts scent is disliked by most pests, and this plant is also thought to have Nurse Plant properties, enhancing the growth and flavor of crops grown with it.
ThymeCabbage and broccoliDeters white fly

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