Rosemary is an aromatic shrub native to the Mediterranean. It usually grows better in dry weather rather than in cold temperatures.
Good Rosemary Companion plants include
- Thyme
- Chives
- Lavender
- Marjoram
- Beans
- Sage
- Oregano
- Parsnips
- marigold
- CauliFlower
- Onions
One needs to consider the repelling properties of rosemary before deciding on its companions.
Rosemary is naturally odious and repulsive to insects making it a good companion for many other plants.
Let’s first understand what companion planting is!
It is a time-tested gardening method that boosts and safeguards vulnerable plants. Companion planting helps to
- Keep a check on pests
- Attract helpful pests
- Revitalize growth
- Enrich soil nutrients
- Act as a ground cover
You not only save space in your garden by adopting this methodology to cultivate well-suited plants together but also can provide a healthy growth cycle to your plants.
Companion planting is known as the concept of The Three Sisters.
People planted corn, beans, and squash together in the past which turned out to be a proven beneficial method.
Good Rosemary Companion plants
Growing Thyme with Rosemary
Thyme like Rosemary belongs to the mint family Lamiaceae. It has culinary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. It is best known for the aroma of its dried leaves.
Thyme saves its neighboring plants from the cabbage worm. It also augments the pleasant-smelling qualities of other shrubs planted nearby and captivating pollinators like honeybees.
Further, Thyme is a threat to worms making it a suitable companion plant.
Both thyme and rosemary enjoy matching sun and water conditions making them a perfect companion pair.
Growing Chives with Rosemary
Chives are thin, grass-like plants with long stems. It belongs to the allium family and has an exquisite onion flavor.
Chives are perennial shrubs with low maintenance. So long as they get full sun, they grow pretty well. You can plant them once and harvest them for years.
They also resist aphids, tiny white garden pests that ruin everything in the scope. Further, They lure pollinators for nectar and enhance the yield too.
This goes on to prove them as great all-around partners.
Growing Lavender with Rosemary
Lavender species are common herbs mainly for their aromatic leaves and charming flowers.
There are many varieties of this like English lavender, French lavender, Spanish lavender, and so on. The upright flower spikes make great borders to gardens.
Both the shrubs need the same amount of water and sun making them good companion plants.
Both the shrubs planted together will also benefit the rest of the garden. They prevent rabbits and deers if jointly cultivated.
They both smell pretty lovely given the camphor content of rosemary.
Growing Marjoram with Rosemary
Marjoram is yet another herb that belongs to the mint family. It is a cold-perennial aromatic herb with a citrus flavor.
Marjoram grows well with all plants and vegetables and increases their flavor and vigor.
It is such a great shrub that it does not have any poor neighbors and is believed to trigger growth in plants around it.
Its flowers tempt bees and other pollinators thus enhancing the pollination rate.
Growing Beans with Rosemary
Beans are one of the leguminous plants that belong to the family Fabaceae.
Bean is a summer crop. It needs warmth to grow. Mainly, it is known for its nitrogen fixation and requires less fertilization. This stands as a reason for pairing with Rosemary.
On the other way round, rosemary prevents beans from beetles that gobble up the bean leaves.
Bean also obstructs weeds with their bushy growth above and below the ground.
The earthy fragrance of rosemary subdues the bean’s smell.
Growing Sage with Rosemary
It is a perennial, evergreen shrub and belongs to the mint family that was sacred to Romans.
Sage when grown alongside rosemary will magnify the flavor of the shrubs grown with it. You can even go on to say that sage is a perfect garden buddy for rosemary.
In fact, sage loves bedding with rosemary. They both grow well together also because of the common required conditions like soil, light, and water.
We need to ensure they both have adequate space to grow.
Growing Broccoli with Rosemary
Broccoli is an edible green plant belonging to the cabbage family. Its stalk, flower, and leaves are eaten as veggies.
Broccoli is one of the best companions to plant with Rosemary.
Broccoli is vulnerable to cabbage moths. The eggs of these moths hatch into avid caterpillars. These eat away the broccoli leaves.
Rosemary is a boon for broccoli in deterring this from happening.
Growing Oregano with Rosemary
Native to the Mediterranean region, Oregano is one of the most widely known herbs in the world.
Both oregano and rosemary go well together as they both require similar conditions to grow.
Another reason for the bonding would be their growing nature.
While oregano is a low creeping plant, rosemary grows tall and bushy. In simple words, oregano can just spread itself underneath rosemary.
Growing Parsnips with Rosemary
Parsnips are root vegetables like carrots that are lightly sweet. They have traces of herb since they are related to parsley.
They attract carrot flies. The scent of rosemary helps to get rid of those flies.
Parsnips and rosemary companion planting benefit both the plants mutually.
Growing Marigold with Rosemary
Marigold belongs to the sunflower family. They are beautiful versatile flowers that enjoy hot days and grow well in dry conditions. They resemble daisies, carnations, etc.
Many companion plants love marigolds. And rosemary is not an exception. They both make a perfect companion together mainly because of the same requirement of growth conditions.
They both grow almost to a height of similar size, need full sun, loamy soil, moderate watering, etc.
Growing Cauliflower with Rosemary
Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable full of nutrients.
Rosemary benefits from having cauliflower as a companion plant and vice versa.
Rosemary and cauliflower are great companions together.
Growing Onions with Rosemary
Onion belongs to the allium family like chives, leeks, etc. They are the best staple in the kitchen full of nutrients.
Onions also make a great companion to rosemary for planting. They both exchange mutual favors. Rosemary fights off insects while onions keep bugs away.
Growing Strawberries with Rosemary
Strawberries are referred to as false fruit.
Strawberry and rosemary planted when together prove to be an efficient gardening strategy.
Growing Carrots with Rosemary
Though there are a lot of disagreements about planting carrots with rosemary, some sources say they are not that poor companions.
Carrots benefit more than rosemary if they are planted together. As rosemary helps in getting rid of the carrot flies.
Growing Hot peppers with Rosemary
Rosemary and hot peppers are good companions. Rosemary enhances the flavor of pepper.
Plants to avoid alongside Rosemary
Not all plants are good to be planted along with Rosemary. Here is a list of those plants.
Tomatoes
Avoid planting Tomatoes along with rosemary.
They both grow in more or less similar climatic conditions but Rosemary prefers to grow in dry conditions. Whereas Tomatoes require more water to grow well.
With tomatoes, rosemary may strip easily of its nutrients.
Potatoes
Normally, avoid aromatic herbs including rosemary from potatoes. This is mainly because of their sensitive roots.
Pumpkins
Even pumpkins are not advised to be planted with rosemary.
Pumpkins are known to cross-pollinate while rosemary tends to attract pollinators.
Mint
Mint can be penetrating and take away the space of Rosemary. Moreover, mint thrives in damp soil while rosemary needs dry conditions.
Basil
Rosemary requires better drainage in the soil compared to Basil. So, it would not be advisable to grow basil along with rosemary.
FAQs
A good source of iron, Vitamins A, C, B-6, etc.
It is not suggested for pediatric use and it is yet to be studied with children.
Yes. Consumed in large amounts may cause vomiting, kidney irritation, skin redness, allergic reactions, and so on.
The bottom line
Once you know the best companion, you can just start planting it with Rosemary.
All it takes is a little understanding of the mutual benefits of growing plants together to their fullest potential and reaping the benefits.
