The stevia companion plants can be grown to offer or receive benefits from the mutual relationship – they include marjoram, lemon verbena and oregano. Many insects do not like stevia plants, and this characteristic can be beneficial to the plants that are grown together with it. T

The Ultimate Guide to Stevia Companion Planting

he insect-deterring abilities of this plant are due to its sweetness which is not preferable to grasshoppers and aphids, for example. This article will help you to identify the plants that you can grow together with this wonderful plant.

A List of Stevia Companion Plants to Inform Your Choice

Some of the stevia companion plants that you can consider are thyme, marjoram, rhubarb, marigold, orange, limes, sweet woodruff, oregano, and lemon verbena. We will look at the characteristics, uses, benefits, and care needs of each plant.

We will explore some general information to help you get acquainted with the plants before you make your choices on which ones to include when you grow stevia.

1. Marjoram

A Herb for All Seasons Marjoram

Benefits
  • Helps to regulate the menstrual cycle
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Relieves digestive discrepancies
Uses
  • Used as an ingredient in meat dishes, salad dressings, or some preserved meats like the German sausage
  • Used for poultry seasoning
Distinguishing characteristics
Care
  • Thrives best in full sun
  • Soils should be well-draining, with pH ranges between 6.7 to 7.0
  • Water when the top inch of the soil dries up

The marjoram is an aromatic perennial that is highly cold sensitive. It is a member of the mint family and for thousands of years, this plant has been grown in Western Asia, North America, and the Mediterranean.

The marjoram is similar to the oregano, but the former has a milder flavor. Please note that the marjoram is relatively safe when used for shorter periods by adults but long-term consumption might not be safe.

2. Lemon Verbena

Herb for Flavorful Teas and Dishes

Benefits
  • Improves quality of sleep
  • Protects your muscles from damage
  • There are no reports of its toxicity
Uses
  • Added as a flavor in sweet drinks
  • Used to garnish salads and fruit cups
  • Used as an ingredient in puddings and jellies
Distinguishing characteristics
Care
  • Prefer being grown under full sun
  • Water about once a week to avoid creating waterlogging conditions that promote root rot
  • Soils should be well-draining and well-aerated

As the name suggests, the lemon verbena falls under the Verbenaceae family. Some refer to this plant as the lemon beebrush. The lemon verbena has its origins in South America.

3. Rhubarb

Tangy Stalk for Pies and Preserves

Benefits
  • Fruit has medicinal properties
  • Is a rich source of vitamin C
Uses
  • Rhizome and roots are used to treat liver and digestive problems
  • Used for dealing with digestive issues, including stomach ache, constipation, heartburn, and diarrhea
  • Eaten as food
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Has a characteristic sour taste and fleshy leaves
  • Has thick stalks that can be pink, red, or pale green in color
  • The consistency of this vegetable is similar to that of celery.
Care
  • An open site that is exposed to the full sun is best
  • Keep the plant from late frosts that may damage the young stems
  • Requires soils that are free-draining as it is sensitive to soggy environments

Rhubarb is a perennial that is native to Asia. The leaves of this plant are quite large, spanning approximately 2 feet across. Interestingly, the edible parts of this vegetable are the pink stalks, unlike in most cases where the leaves are consumed.

These stalks are usually prepared with lots of sugar to reduce their sour taste.

4. Marigold

Flower for Gardens and Cuisine

Benefits
  • Flowers have lutein, which is beneficial to the human eye
  • Naturally control pests and critters
  • Can destroy germs that may cause various diseases
Uses
  • Used for beautifying spaces
  • Extracts, ointments, and infusions are used to treat various conditions, including fevers, liver issues, jaundice, stomach ulcers
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Produces flowers that have lemon yellow, yellow, golden yellow, or orange shades of colors
  • The plant, depending with type, grows to height ranges between six and 36 inches
  • Leaves are pinnate and green
Care
  • Avoid watering the foliage of the marigolds as this makes it vulnerable to fungal infections
  • Thrives best under the full sun
  • Soil should be drained well and be moderately fertile

The marigold is a bright flower of the Asteraceae family. This plant does better in summer, spring, and autumn, but not in winter because the flowers are highly sensitive to low temperatures.

The marigold flowers are also upheld for what they are believed to represent. For example, they are often associated with creativity, beauty, warmth, and the urge to succeed.

5. Thyme

 

Hearty Meals and Fragrant Bouquets

Benefits
  • Promotes hair growth
  • Protects the brain’s nerve cells from premature aging
  • Rich in vitamins A, C, and B complex
Uses
  • Used for seasoning soups, braises, and sauces
  • Used as a facial cleaner due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties
Distinguishing characteristics
Care
  • A sunny position is best for the plant’s growth
  • Prefers loamy, chalky, or sandy soils that are well-draining, with a neutral pH
  • Grows well in temperature ranges between 68 and 86 Fahrenheit 

The thyme is classified under the Lamiaceae family, which is also called the mint family. This plant is native to the Mediterranean region. Thyme exists in various varieties, of which one of the most common is the culinary cultivar, called Thymus vulgaris.

This cultivar is known by different names, which include the garden, English, or common thyme.

6. Orange

Nutritious Fruit for Juices and Treats

Benefits
  • Enhance absorption of iron, thereby dealing with anemia
  • Boosts the immune system
  • Can cure scurvy because they have large amounts of vitamin C
Uses
  • Eaten whole as fruits
  • Used as an ingredient in marmalades and juices
  • Used for adding tangy flavors to cakes
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Tree can grow up to 33 feet in height
  • Produces fruits that are round and orange-colored
  • Produces sweet-smelling leaves that attract bees
Care
  • Soils should be moist, warm, and nutrient-rich
  • Requires approximately six hours of exposure to direct sunlight
  • Mature plants can be watered about twice every month because they can retain water

Oranges have their origins in Southeast Asia. If you decide to put fertilizers on your orange tree, how much you add depends on what you want to use the oranges for. For example, adding too many fertilizers increases the amount of oil in the peel.

7. Oregano

Herb for Mediterranean Cuisine

Benefits
  • Has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory abilities
  • Contain vitamin A, C, and K
  • Rich in dietary fiber and minerals like calcium, manganese, and iron
Uses
  • Used in many recipes that are tomato-centric, such as pasta sauce and pizza
  • Used for adding flavors
  • Is a powerful antiseptic
Distinguishing characteristics
Care
  • Free-draining soils are preferable
  • Loves the full sun for flavor enhancement but can be grown under partial shade in hotter climates
  • About an inch of water every week is good enough

The oregano is a flowering plant that is part of the Lamiaceae family and indigenous to the Mediterranean region and western Asia. This plant contains compounds such as flavonoids that make it a powerful antioxidant. It has many other health benefits which include strengthening the human immune system and enhancing respiratory health.

8. Sweet Woodruff

Scented Ground Cover for Gardens

Benefits
  • Can be used to treat stomach and heart disorders
  • Can help to deal with migraines, sleeplessness, and anxiety
  • The scent has mosquito-repelling attributes
Uses
  • Used commercially in perfumes
  • Dried leaves used to make jellies and syrups
  • Can be used to infuse alcohols, ice creams and vinegar
Distinguishing characteristics
  • Foliage looks like an umbrella
  • Flowers are tiny and white
  • Releases a hay-like fragrance
Care
  • Well drained soils that are slightly moist are ideal
  • Grows well in shady spaces
  • Only water the plant after prolonged stretches of drought

Also known as the Gallium odoratum, the sweet woodruff is an aromatic plant. This plant, which is indigenous to central Europe and northern Africa, is an awesome ground cover, especially for shady gardens. The flowers of the plant also are short-lived but during their lifespan, they attract butterflies and other important pollinators.

Conclusion

Stevia companion planting is effective when you have the right information about the plants that you can possibly use. Before you go, here are some points to note when you plant stevia plants:

  • Some of the stevia companion plants to note are rhubarb, sweet woodruff, marigold, marjoram, oregano, and lemon verbena.
  • These companion plants have different uses, which include treating respiratory, skin-, and heart-related conditions.
  • The companion plants have various care needs though most of them prefer well-draining soils that prevent waterlogged conditions.
  • Avoid overwatering your plants as this may cause waterlogged conditions that are not desirable to stevia companion plants.

When you appropriately select the plants that can accompany your growing stevia, you will certainly love the experience. Enjoy planting stevia alongside its friends!

References

https://www.britannica.com/plant/marjoram

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/marjoram

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