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Basil Companion Plants: Full List of Pairings
Basil is one of the most versatile herbs you can grow in the garden. The good news is that it also grows nicely with most other garden favorites! There are a few exceptionally good basil companion plants that I’ll highlight today, along with a handful that you should avoid planting near basil.
Full List of Basil Companion Plants
These fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs all make excellent companion plants for basil, many by preventing pests or offering improved flavor for the companion.
Fruits and Vegetables to Plant with Basil
• Asparagus – Asparagus and basil both require similar growing conditions, and they both help repel each other’s common pests. (Here are some other great asparagus companion plants.)
• Beets and Carrots – Basil can repel many common beet and carrot pests, along with potentially improving their flavor.
• Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Kale – Basil does a great job preventing cabbage loopers and cabbageworms, common pests for all these brassicas family members.
• Eggplants, Peppers, and Tomatoes – Basil and nightshades, especially tomatoes, are one of the best garden pairings you can make. They all require the same soil conditions as basil, and the basil helps repel many common pests. It’s thought that basil can even improve the flavor of tomatoes and peppers!
• Garlic – Basil and garlic improve each other’s flavor, and the garlic helps prevent many common pests.
• Grapes – Basil can repel many bad bugs away from your grapes.
• Lettuce – Some suggest that planting basil and lettuce together improves the lettuce’s flavor.
• Parsnips, Radishes, and Turnips – These root vegetables can all benefit from basil’s pest deterring abilities.
• Potatoes – Basil is thought to improve the health and yield of potato plants.
Flowers to Plant Near Basil
• Marigolds – Plant a small variety of marigolds, like Signet, by your basil to improve its flavor and help keep many pests, like aphids, away.
• Nasturtiums – Nasturtiums make an excellent aphid trap crop when planted near (but not right next to) basil.
• Petunias – Petunias help keep many basil pests at bay.
Herbs to Plant Near Basil
These herbs all offer either similar growing conditions, pest deterring qualities, or flavor improvement for your basil.
• Anise
• Borage
• Chamomile
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Lavender
• Lemongrass
• Marjoram
• Oregano
• Parsley
What NOT to Plant Next to Basil
Some vegetables and herbs should be planted a distance away from basil, since they require different growing conditions or can harm each other’s growth.
• Cucumbers – Basil and cucumbers both require plenty of water and similar nutrients, so they may stunt each other’s growth if placed in close proximity. The cucumbers may also start to taste like basil – not an appealing thought!
• Fennel – Fennel attracts pests to your basil and may stunt the basil’s growth.
• Mints, Rosemary, Sage and Thyme – These herbs require different growing conditions from basil.
• Rue – Fellow herb rue can stunt basil’s growth and cause the basil to taste bitter.
Enjoy Your Basil!
With these options, you should be able to find great basil companion plants that will work for your garden. Enjoy!
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