Lavender companion plants are a great way to add visual variety to your flower garden without worrying about any dangers to the residents. Companion planting has many benefits, and the most prominent one is companion plants’ mutually beneficial relationships.
These friendly plants not only increase the visual appeal of the garden, but they also are a great way to add edible options to your garden in the form of fruits and vegetables, and they also benefit from each other. Certain plants help each other by defending against pests and diseases.
Contents
Types of Lavender Companion Plants
1. Marigold
Marigolds are an excellent option for companion planting with lavenders. These flowering plants produce warm-colored blooms, adding interest and appeal to any area they appear in.
These daisy-like flowers come in a range of sizes and colors; some are small single-petal flowers like signet marigolds, while others, like African marigolds, are large double-petal flowers.
– Characteristics
Marigolds are splendid companion plants in a garden with lavender plants. These gorgeous flowers are often considered a great option for keeping away all pests, so growing lavender next to them is certain to keep them safe from the threat of becoming pest food.
The roots of these flowering plants secret a chemical that keeps soil pests away from them and the plants in their vicinity.
Any variety of this plant will provide you with this benefit, and you can plant them as close to lavender plants as possible. They will not affect the growth of their neighbors in any way.
What you must remember that these plants can grow easily from seeds, and they take only a couple of months before they are ready to bloom. However, most of the time they are planted in early spring after the soil the prepared to be worked, but if you want early outdoor bloom, you can plant them indoors and grow them about six weeks before the last frost.
– Growth Requirements
Lean, moist, and well-draining soil is the best to grow marigolds, but they are easily grown in wide different soil varieties. Make sure the soil is not too acidic, and you should be good to go. They also do not need nutrient-rich soil.
Like other flowering plants, the best results are obtained by planting marigolds under the full sun. It will result in abundant plants that are healthy and vibrant. Shady conditions can hinder the growth of plants.
In the early stages, these flower will require regular watering, but once they have established their root system, they are relatively resistant to droughts. However, you should note that for the absolute best results, you should water them every week, and make sure you schedule it.
2. Rosemary
Rosemary is an edible herb and a good companion for lavender plants. It is native to the Mediterranean region. Their leaves and oil are essential components for medical and culinary purposes.
For medical uses, rosemary is good for hair growth, and rosemary extract can be used as a sunblock.
– Characteristics
In the world of cuisines, rosemary is used primarily for its flavor. It is used as stuffing in roasted lamb, chicken, and turkey. The leaves can be used to make herbal tea. They are also cooked alongside meats and vegetables to give the dish a strong aroma. Growing these green herbs in your garden allows you to try new dishes right at home.
The culinary benefits are not the only ones that rosemary will introduce to your garden. It also attracts pollinators and its fragrance keeps pests away. Both of these features are excellent for other plants in the garden, and resonate with the lavender’s similar abilities. When it keeps the pests away, they will no longer approach your garden in any way, or near the rest of the plants too.
Adding rosemary is also a great way to enhance the visuals of your garden. The plants have straight stems filled with thin, needle-like leaves that are gray-green in color. The plan also produces tiny white or light blue flowers that are a beautiful sight every time to enter your garden, this would happen in spring time when they are reestablishing themselves.
Rosemary is a low-maintenance plant. It requires trimming, especially after the flowers bloom, to encourage growth. You can replant these trimmings to grow more plants instead of throwing them away. This characteristic will help you propagate the growth of your plants without much hassle or the need to buy more seeds.
– Growth Requirements
These aromatic herbs would prefer to grow in a moist but well-draining soil, which means that when you try to water it, you must make sure that the water won’t sit at the bottom of the pot, or else the roots will be stressed. Moreover, they also like soil that ranges from acidic to neutral in nature.
Well-lit places are the best ones to grow rosemary as they require abundant light. They do not tolerate shade, so keep this in mind when planting your seeds.
Rosemary has good drought tolerance once it is mature but requires water during its growth, but water logging is very dangerous, especially for young plants. It is better for the plant to be under-watered compared to over-watering.
3. Globe Thistle
Globe Thistle is a low-maintenance perennial thistle with spherical, spiky flowers at the tip of thin stalks that protrude over the bushy bottom.
It has prickly leaves and blossoms during late spring and summer with purple flowers which are somewhat similar to many lavender varieties. The spherical blooms of the thistle contrast beautifully with the straighter blooms of the lavender.
– Characteristics
Globe thistle, comparably to lavender, grows up to two to five feet tall and one to four feet wide. It is an excellent pollinator, and its prickly leaves are a natural deterrent to deer and rabbits, which complements the lavender’s pest-repellant abilities. Together, they offer protection to each other and any plants around them while attracting bees and butterflies by the dozen.
These features and its relatively tall height make it an exquisite addition to border gardens as well. However, there is a caveat: it is not native to America; naturally found only in Europe and Asia. Still, you can plant one here without any problems, and it is available readily in some regions within the USA.
On top of all its beneficial features, globe thistle is also an extremely low-maintenance perennial, so much so that it is pretty much plant-and-forget when established.
– Growth Requirements
It is suited for USDA hardiness zones three to nine just as the lavender plant would b able to grow in zones five to eight.
Globe thistle thrives in dry, loamy, well-draining soil. In fact, it will grow in any type of soil as it is tolerant to several varieties of soil. Its only true requirement is that the soil drains well, which makes it okay to plant with the purple aromatic flower varieties that prefer sandy, well-draining soil.
Globe thistle grows best in full sun, but it remains tolerant to partial shade. Additionally, if you live in a very hot climate, you may need to provide partial shade from the harsh afternoon sun.
Globe thistle only requires supplementary watering and is drought-tolerant once established. Only water if it suffers from typical drought symptoms (wilting leaves and brown foliage). Freshly planted ones do need more moisture, and it would be best to water them daily during their growth phase.
4. Black-eyed Susan
The Black-eyed Susan is also known as the Rudbeckia fulgida. These plants are a tall flowering greens that combines very well with lavender plants as its companion plant.
It can grow up to three feet tall. It has rigid stems that can support other plants in the garden.
– Characteristics
Not only that, but it is called “black-eyed” because of the dark brown center of its flower head. In addition to being the support structure, these flowers attract beneficial pollinators such as insects and birds.
As the one mentioned above, this accelerated pollination helps the propagation of other plants in the garden. This will help keep your garden residents to keep thriving and spreading.
This daisy like flower is a beautiful flower that produces yellow-orange daisy-like flowers. The description alone is enough to visualize its beauty. These flowers have a brown centerpiece. Plant lavender next to them, and their yellow blooms contrast sharply with the distinct purple shade of lavender, which makes for an incredible scene.
This plant thrives under the full sun. It can also live under the partial sun, but its bloom would not be to its full potential. In addition to partial shade, this plant can also tolerate harsh conditions such as bad soil and water. But naturally, the flowers will not be able to bloom with their full brilliance.
– Growth Requirements
Black-Eyed Susan grows best in rich, loamy, moist, and well-draining soil. It is also best to use a soil mixture that is neutral in nature. You can always send your garden soil for testing before any actual planting.
Black-Eyed Susan grows best in full sun as it will help the plant to thrive and produce abundant flowers. The only exception is if you live in hot and dry climates, as that can lead to damage from burning.
The best watering conditions are to keep the soil moist without making the ground soggy, which can lead to root rot. They may require more water depending on the weather and dry conditions. A good rule of thumb is to ensure one inch of water per week.
5. Catmint
Catmint (Nepeta Mussinii) is another gorgeous flower that can be a fantastic option for lavender companion plants.
Catmint seeds prefer the sun and moist, well-drained soil. Catmint is a perennial plant with lush green leaves and long stems riddled with astounding blue-lavender flowers.
– Characteristics
This vibrant beauty is enough to warrant planting it as a companion in your lavender garden. Catmint is easy to grow and maintain and is drought-resistant. In addition, the most significant benefit of catmint as a companion plant is its natural bug-repelling ability. It is particularly effective against aphids and squash bugs.
This variety would be able to get this ability to repel pests all arounf from its aroma, which triggers the chemical receptors which bring forth a sensation of pain or itch. It is interesting to note that it has different effects on different animals. It causes euphoria and hallucinations for domestic house cats but causes decisive repellent action against mosquitoes.
Furthermore, catmint also provides us with health benefits. It can be made into an herbal tea that can aid in treating digestive problems such as excessive gas, upset stomach, and diarrhea. The tea is also suitable for respiratory issues such as coughs and colds.
– Growth Requirements
Like many other plants, catmint grows best in well-draining, moist, and nutrient-rich soil. They are relatively tolerant of the pH of the soil as they can easily thrive in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soils.
Catmints thrive under full sun and grow to their full potential, on another note, remember that they are relatively tolerant and can also thrive in partial shade.
Young saplings require regular watering every couple of days, but once they are established, they are pretty tolerant to droughts and do not generally require water.
6. Blue Sedum
Blue pearl sedum is another excellent option as a companion plant for lavender gardens. It is a unique plant with chic blue foliage with purple and blue flowers. It has an intense fleshy texture on its leaves and flowers.
In summer, the plant shows off its contrasting colors when the pink flowers are in full bloom.
– Characteristics
The plant grows to about eight inches with a 15-inch width. The plant has a dense bunch of leaves with smoky blue color. The leaves also have a purple hue that adds a remarkable beauty to the plant. But these characteristics are not set in stone, and different varieties have unique characteristics and defining features.
Sedums are generally classified depending on their height, i.e., low-growing and upright flowers. As the names suggest, low-growing them typically stays low and spreads across the ground. In contrast, form vertical clusters of plants and are a great option to populate garden borders. They will add their unique touch to your colorful garden.
This plant will add contrast and interest to any background, thus making them an excellent choice as indoor plants. The beautiful plant also has several different species that number around 350 in total. These colorful herb-like plants have homes around the globe, including in Mexico, Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe.
– Growth Requirements
The best soil for sedum plants is sandy or loamy, which is moist but well-draining. The soil can be acidic or neutral, as both are great for sedum plants. Water logging can lead to root rot, so ensure the ground has good drainage.
Most of these plants grow at their best potential when they are under full sun conditions, allowing them to bloom profusely with abundant flowers. Although some varieties can survive in partial shade, sunlight is generally required for healthy growth.
Sedum plants have excellent tolerance against drought, but it is a good idea to water them regularly at an early age to encourage proper growth in young plants.
7. Oregano
Oregano is different from many other entries on the list as it is an edible herb rather than a flowering plant. It is a prevalent herb used primarily in different foods, adding its characteristic flavor to various dishes.
These herbs are ones that would be safe to consume but does not provide an evident health benefit. It’s mainly used to modify the flavor a little richer.
– Characteristics
The leaves of this herb are olive-green and have purple flowers. As this is a member of a large family of plants, it is closely related to other herbs like thyme and basil.
The leaves have a strong taste and a pungent smell, it will basically fill out the whole garden, and if you have lavender too, you will start sniffing around different types of aroma once a gust of wind hits. The leave and flowers are also used for making tea and can quickly be grown indoors and outdoors.
Oregano can be found as young plants or in the form of seeds, and both forms allow you to grow it in your home. They can be sown in indoor pots at the start of the year. After sowing the seeds, they can be watered and germinated. When the plant is visibly large, pick out these young plants and plant them in a pot of multipurpose composite for further growth.
The plants start as low-growing but can reach up to two feet in height after their maturity. Spring is typically the time of year when you plant the seeds, and it proliferates to provide you with leaves suitable for use in cooking. Which means that you do not have to wait long to use this unique herb.
– Growth Requirements
Sandy soil with a lot of drainage is the best mixture for growing oregano. A lot of moisture and nutrients may lead to the herb not growing very well as it will in well-draining, slightly dry soil. The soil can be acidic or neutral.
Most varieties enjoy their time under the full sun as it will help them grow to their full potential, but some types, such as golden oregano, prefer partial shade to avoid leaf scorching.
These herbs would thrive easily with moderate watering cycles and do not require a lot of water. On the other hand, you must be cautious that soggy soil can lead to root rot and will harm the plant.
Conclusion
Lavender companion plants come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. You can choose from many options, depending on your requirements and tastes.
If you are looking to get companion plants for your lavenders, keep in mind the following key points:
- There are a lot of varieties, and their growth requirements may vary from each other.
- Most plants thrive under the full sun, while others can survive under shade. There are also flowering plants solely there for ornamental purposes, adding more colors and vibrancy to your already colorful lavender garden.
- Most plants require proper care in their early days but once established, they can mostly fend for themselves.
- Lavender companion plants are plenty, with varying textures, shapes, colors, sizes, and characteristics that will bring a breath of fresh air with them.
- Some plants bear vibrant flowers to keep the scene exciting and appealing, while others have vegetables and leaves that are significant components in many dishes.
Some plants are repellent for pests and local wildlife. Other plants produce edible leaves and vegetables to give you a fresh supply of food components. Which of the companion plants on this list caught your eye? Which will be the next addition to your lavender garden?
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