10 Lemongrass Companion Plants: How to Choose Them

Lemongrass companion plants are various and varied with basil, bee balm, cilantro and echinacea etc. being candidates. Cymbopogon citratus, with a more familiar name called lemongrass, is known for its unique citrusy scent and flavor, and it is often used as a natural insect repellent.

Aside from this, it is also utilized as one of the best plants to use in companion planting with other vegetable crops mainly because its scent can deter insects – read on to find out what plants are best planted next to lemongrass.

A List of Easy-to-Grow Lemongrass Companion Plants

Lemongrass thrives in direct sunlight; thus, other sun-loving plants can be good companion plants for lemongrass. Known for its scent, which is a natural pest repellent, lemongrass also offers protection to crops and vegetables planted next to it. Here is a list of the best pairings that will benefit both plants.

1. Basil

Similar to lemongrass, basil thrives in moist soils. It is a great companion plant because of its sweet aroma, which attracts bees and wasps that in turn help in pollinating the plants in the garden.

– Unique Characteristic

It has square stems with oppositely growing leaves, which are rounded, slightly cupped, and bend to form a point at the tip. Although some types have leaves that are reddish or purplish, the foliage is typically pale green.

– Main Benefit

Basil is known to be a great enhancer of flavor and growth of nearby plants. It can also be utilized for natural pest control because the aroma scares away soil bugs. However, basil has enemies that eat its leaves, so pay attention to it.

2. Bee Balm

Bee balm is a perfect companion plant for a number of veggies, from squash to tomatoes, as it can help draw beneficial insects to the garden. It also serves as a decorative addition to numerous herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses.

– Unique Characteristic

This plant has 2- to 3-inch-wide flower heads with slender, tubular blooms. The flowers come in white, pink, red, lavender, and purple colors.

– Main Benefit

Bee balm attracts beneficial insects, and the colorful flowers serve as an ornament to the garden. The flowers also lure bees and butterflies, which help pollinate the plants.

3. Cilantro

Planting cilantro in the same area as growing lemongrass plants is a good idea because it has the same requirements when it comes to light and water. Cilantro and lemongrass also benefit from each other as lemongrass helps keep insects away from cilantro, and cilantro’s potent scent can help deter insects that might want to eat lemongrass.

– Unique Characteristic

Cilantro is a small plant, only reaching a height of about a foot. It has pinkish-white flowers, which are particularly attractive to pollinator insects. Many plants look like cilantro, so make sure not to confuse them.

– Main Benefit

Cilantro and lemongrass work well with each other in deterring hungry bugs which also benefits the whole garden. Cilantro’s potent scent can help deter insects that might want to eat lemongrass.

4. Echinacea

The echinacea or coneflower also grows best in direct sunlight, similar to lemongrass. The purple coneflower is a delight to behold, which helps enhance the attractiveness and ambiance of any site where it thrives.

– Unique Characteristic

It is an herb native to America and has been used to treat disease symptoms, such as fever, inflammation, pain, and blood sugar levels. It is a fantastic dietary supplement for boosting immunity.

– Main Benefit

Echinacea plant is the one benefiting from lemongrass when they are planted next to each other. The scent of lemongrass helps repel undesirable pests, such as whiteflies, mites, aphids, and Japanese beetles.

5. Ginger

Another plant that benefits from lemongrass is ginger. Given that it can be sensitive to various insects, including aphids, mites, and thrips, having lemongrass as its companion plant helps to deter these pests and prevents infestation.

– Unique Characteristic

The tall, branching rhizome which is the underground stem of the ginger plant has a brown outside and a yellow inside, and it smells spicy and lemony. It’s very useful for treating digestive disorders including bloating, nausea, and acid reflux.

– Main Benefit

Grow lemongrass with your ginger crop to help protect the plants from pests. Additionally, you can harvest the roots instead of having to discard them in the compost bin at the end of the growing season.

6. Goji Berries

Similar to lemongrass plants, goji berries are sun-loving plants that thrive in well-draining soil. Like the other companion plants of lemongrass, the goji berry is the one benefiting here from the natural repellent scent of lemongrass.

– Unique Characteristic

Goji berries are reddish-orange berries with a tart and sweet flavor. These berries can be consumed fresh or dried. They are often referred to as wolfberries or by their scientific name, Lycium barbarum.

Goji berries come in a range of flavors, with one tasting somewhat tomato-like and another tasting tarter and cranberry-like. They have a long medicinal plant history that dates back to ancient China.

– Main Benefit

As a companion plant, lemongrass is the one providing its insect repellency properties as a benefit to goji berries. Lemongrass contains citronella, a key chemical compound that repels many annoying insects, especially mosquitoes.

7. Lavender

Lemongrass and lavender can be planted and grown together. Grow lemongrass in pots and plant it in the center of the pot for a wonderful presentation; it will grow tall and heighten your landscape. After that, you can surround the lemongrass with lavender plants. The green of the lemongrass will be complemented by the purple blossoms, and both will look and smell fantastic.

– Unique Characteristic

Lavender is known for its incredible scent, which many have found to be extremely soothing to the senses. This scent is also used to repel many insects in and out of the house. Aside from this, dried lavender flowers are used to flavor teas, desserts, and even ice cream. If your lavender starts yellowing do not worry because it is a reversible problem.

– Main Benefit

Both plants repel pests that can damage your garden. Planted together, they create a strong partnership that benefits not only each other, but also the plants nearby. Best of all, you get to enjoy the sight and scent of both plants while using them for your home and culinary projects.

8. Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena companion plants include lemongrass because planting this plant alongside it will create a lemon-fresh aroma around the garden. Together, their citrusy smell functions as an excellent mosquito repellant that can help protect against malaria, dengue, and other mosquito-borne diseases.

– Unique Characteristic

This plant is a fragrant herb often used for therapeutic purposes and as a flavoring for food and drinks. Scientifically known as Aloysia Citrodora, this herb is indigenous to Chile and Argentina.

– Main Benefit

Together with the lemongrass, their natural scents get a boost, which helps increase their mosquito repellency function. These plants will also keep away other pests, such as aphids and flies.

9. Marigold

Marigold is often utilized as a companion plant because it helps in keeping pests out of the garden. It produces a fragrance that hazardous pests tend to abhor. When planted together with lemongrass, the combined smell of lemongrass and marigold deter the bugs and keep them away.

– Unique Characteristic

The Marigold is a lovely flower that primarily draws various types of insects. With a reddish stem, the foliage is dark green. The flowers range in color from mahogany red to yellow.

– Main Benefit

The smell of marigold when combined with lemongrass will act as a natural barrier between plants and harmful insects. It also draws parasite wasps and hoverflies, which feed on aphids, mites, and other small pests.

10. Mint

Known for its fresh and delicious smell, mint blends well with many flowers and other sweet-smelling plants. Given that mints share the same growing requirements as lemongrass, they can be planted next to each other with no problem.

– Unique Characteristic

Mints have square stems and opposite leaves. Its flowers are typically light purple, pink, or white in color and are grouped together. It has a unique flavor known as menthol, which is a natural chemical that fools your nerves into believing they are cold when they are not.

– Main Benefit

Mint draws pollinators like bees, butterflies, and parasitic wasps into the garden. When planted next to lemongrass, mint helps in keeping pesky insects out. mosquitoes. Mints also have their enemies, so pay attention to them.

References:

• Lemongrass: Are There Health Benefits?. WebMD..
  Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/diet/lemongrass-health-benefits
• Joshua Siskin. Lemon Verbena and Lemongrass. The Smarter Gardener.
  Retrieved from https://www.thesmartergardener.com/lemon-verbena-and-lemongrass/
• Echinacea: Benefits, Uses, Side Effects, and Dosage. Healthline.
  Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/echinacea
• Why is cilantro (coriander) good for you?. Medical News Today.
  Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277627#benefits
• Brit Haines. Your Easy and Complete Guide to Growing Lemongrass Plant. Garden and Happy. Retrieved from https://gardenandhappy.com/growing-lemongrass/