The 25 Best Lavender Companion Plants (And What to Avoid)

Most gardening sites and books will mention companion planting — at least in passing. However, the conversation typically revolves around companion plants for vegetables. It is more difficult to find information on how to do companion planting with flowers like lavender. We’re here to help ensure you have all the information you need to establish a successful garden. So, we gathered details on twenty-five of the best lavender companion plants. Put a few of these together in or near your lavender field, and see what happens!

1. Alliums

These onion relatives naturally repel deer and rabbits. That is good news for your lavender plants, which are vulnerable to these animals. Their tall flower spikes also offer a fantastic visual complement to lavender. And since alliums also prefer sandy soil and full sun, these two plants go perfectly together.

2. Apples

While you probably don’t want to eat lavender and apples together, they make a surprisingly nice garden pairing. The flowers attract pollinators, providing great benefits to the apple trees. On top of that, lavender naturally helps deter pests that plague apple orchards.

3. Bee Balm

People love to look at bee balm flowers, and pollinators adore them, too. Planting these blossoms near your lavender will boost the overall appearance of your garden. And since both plants like similar growing conditions, they will thrive near each other.

4. Blueberries

Lavender helps deter predatory pests from chomping down on your prized blueberry bushes. Planting this lovely flower near blueberries will also help ensure a steady stream of pollinators. 

5. Brassicas

Okay, this is a plant family rather than a single plant. But it works. Members of the Brassica family go well near lavender. The flowers have a natural pest-repelling ability that helps protect your vulnerable brassicas. However, don’t forget that lavender needs less water than your brassica plants. So, be strategic about where you plant them.

6. Catmint

Not all mint is compatible with lavender. In fact, catmint is the most drought-tolerant species in its family. So, while you want to avoid other mint family plants, feel free to add some catmint to your lavender field.

7. Daylilies

The nice thing about daylilies is they will happily grow just about anywhere. So, you can save the better soil for picky perennials and plant your daylilies near lavender. Since these beautiful flowers don’t mind poor or dry growing conditions, they will work well next to lavender plants.

8. Echinacea

Echinacea (coneflower) is popular on its own. However, planting it near lavender brings a new level of intrigue to your garden or yard. Both plants love full sun and are drought-tolerant, so they can get planted close together without harm. 

9. Geranium

These lovely flowers have similar growing requirements to lavender. So, you can plant the two near each other without negative consequences. They also attract lots of pollinators, which is beneficial for your lavender.

10. Marigold

Marigolds are one of the best companion plants you can add to almost anything, including lavender. They are natural pest repellents and also attract beneficial pollinators and insects. The latter adds an additional layer of protection against unwanted pests. 

11. Onions

No pest likes to come near onions, which makes it one of the best companion plants for lavender. This plant will help deter all unwanted visitors from eating your lavender plants. 

12. Oregano

Since oregano grows relatively low to the ground, it doesn’t compete too much with lavender for sun or nutrients. This herb also tolerates much of the same growing conditions as lavender. 

13. Parsley

This flavorful herb has natural pest-repellent properties. So, while lavender often does the heavy lifting with pests, parsley can help alleviate some of that work. Additionally, parsley attracts many beneficial insects. That is good for your lavender plants and garden as a whole.

14. Peaches

Putting lavender and peaches together may not have been top on your list. However, they go very well together. Peaches often get plagued by pests, which lavender can help repel. Additionally, the flowers attract loads of pollinators that will visit your peach tree and help produce an abundant harvest!

15. Roses

These stunning flowers share similar environmental preferences and make great lavender companion plants. So, you can plant the two together without harming either plant. However, roses need slightly more water than lavender. So, don’t plant them on top of each other. Additionally, roses will benefit from lavender’s natural pest-repelling abilities.

16. Rosemary

A classic garden pair is lavender and rosemary. These two Mediterranean staples prefer similar growing conditions. They both need hot, dry weather and tolerate sandy or poor soil. The only downside is that rosemary is not very cold-tolerant. So you may need another friend for your lavender during the winter.

17. Sage

Sage enjoys full sun, little water, and sandy or poor soil, just like its Mediterranean cousins. Add some of this popular herb near your lavender to quickly and easily harvest what you need for culinary or medicinal applications. 

18. Salvia

Planting salvia near your lavender will add a pop of color to any border or hedge. The two plants grow to a similar size and shape. Additionally, salvia prefers well-draining soil and plenty of direct sunlight. The combination of lavender and salvia increases the presence of pollinators, which will benefit your entire garden.

19. Sedum

This fascinating plant makes a lovely addition to lavender fields. Since it prefers some shade, you can plant it on the edges or between lavender plants. It prefers drier conditions, so it needs little water. Additionally, sedum can be planted in poor or sandy soil. 

20. Squash

Planting squash near your lavender (or vice versa) is a fantastic idea. Lavender blossoms attract a wide range of pollinators, which is beneficial to your squash plants. Additionally, these flowers act as a natural pest deterrent, protecting the more vulnerable squash plants.

21. Strawberries

Strawberries and lavender are a surprisingly good combination. The delicate fruit often gets preyed on by insects that lavender naturally repels. Additionally, lavender brings in ample pollinators to help boost fruit production.

22. Sweet Basil

You’ll have to choose between the sage/oregano/thyme combination and sweet basil. While these all love lavender, they don’t play well with each other. Like the Mediterranean herbs, sweet basil enjoys a drier environment. It also helps protect lavender from pesky aphids.

23. Thyme

Another Mediterranean herb that pairs well with lavender is thyme. It likes dry soil, hot climates, and little water, just like lavender. However, it offers one additional bonus. Thyme is more cold-hardy than rosemary, so it will stick around into the winter longer.

24. Yarrow

This amazing flower grows so rapidly that it often gets compared to weeds. However, it is far from weedy. Yarrow is a prized plant in the traditional medicinal world. And the best part is that its growth can be controlled easily. All you need to do is plant it in slightly drier, poorer soil conditions, like what lavender loves!

25. Zinnias

Another flower that compliments lavender plants is zinnias. These flowers look fantastic next to the lavender spikes and like the same growing conditions. Give them full sun and poorer, sandy soil, and they are very happy!

What Not to Grow Near Lavender?

Unfortunately, lavender doesn’t play nicely with every plant. There are some plants you should avoid planting near your lavender for best results. These include:

• Asparagus: Asparagus produces chemicals that impede the growth of nearby plants. Avoid planting lavender nearby.
• Corn: This garden staple requires a lot of nitrogen, which makes it a direct competitor for lavender. Plant the two separately to prevent them from fighting over this crucial nutrient. 
• Fennel: This vegetable doesn’t like to grow near anything. It prefers to have plenty of space to itself and can harm the growth of anything around it. 
• Potatoes: As delicious as this vegetable is, it is also prone to many diseases. Those can harm your lavender plants if they get too close.

Additionally, since lavender prefers a drier home, it is important to avoid planting moisture-loving plants too close. If you do, one of your plants will end up damaged or killed due to too much (or too little) water.

Summary of the 25 Best Lavender Companion Plants

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