Lavender Companion Plants

Creating a fragrant garden is a joy, and lavender is often the star. Choosing the right lavender companion plants can make your garden even more beautiful and aromatic. The right neighbors will help your lavender thrive, boost pollination, and create a stunning display of color and scent all season long. Let’s look at how to build a garden that smells as good as it looks.

Good companions do several important things. They can attract helpful insects like bees and butterflies. They might help deter pests that bother lavender. And they often share similar needs for sun, soil, and water, making your gardening work much simpler. The goal is a harmonious, low-maintenance space filled with wonderful fragrances.

This list focuses on plants that grow well with lavender’s specific conditions. Lavender loves full sun and well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. It dislikes wet feet. The best companions share these preferences, so you can care for the whole area the same way.

Herbs for a Scented Garden

Many Mediterranean herbs are perfect partners. They come from similar environments and their scents often complement each other beautifully.

Rosemary: This is a classic pairing. Both love sun and dry, rocky soil. Their fragrances mingle wonderfully, and rosemary’s upright structure looks great next to lavender mounds.
Thyme: Low-growing thyme varieties make an excellent living mulch around lavender. They help suppress weeds and their tiny flowers attract pollinators right to the base of your lavender.
Oregano: Especially the creeping types, oregano fills in gaps with greenery and pretty flowers. It’s tough and drought-tolerant, just like lavender.
Sage: The silvery foliage of many sage varieties echoes lavender’s leaves. Sage also prefers dry conditions and its flowers are a bee magnet.

Flowering Perennials & Annuals

Adding flowers increases visual interest and supports more pollinators. Choose varieties that won’t overwhelm the lavender or require lots of extra water.

Sedum (Stonecrop): These succulents are ideal. They thrive in poor, dry soil and their late-season blooms provide color when lavender is fading.
Echinacea (Coneflower): Their bold, daisy-like flowers create a lovely contrast with lavender’s soft spikes. They are both tough, sun-loving plants.
Russian Sage: Not a true sage, but its airy blue flowers and silvery stems look stunning with lavender. It has the exact same cultural needs.
Marigolds: The strong scent of marigolds can deter some pests. French marigolds are a good choice, and they add a bright pop of warm color.
Zinnias: For a cut garden, zinnias are fantastic. They bloom all summer, love heat, and bring butterflies to visit your lavender too.

Beneficial Allies

Some plants offer specific benefits beyond just looking nice. They can improve the health of your garden ecosystem.

Garlic & Onions: The strong smell of alliums (ornamental or edible) can confuse and repel pests like aphids and even deer. Their spherical blooms add unique shape.
Yarrow: Yarrow is a fantastic insectary plant, attracting predatory wasps and ladybugs that eat common garden pests. Its ferny foliage is a nice textural contrast.

Plants to Avoid Near Lavender

Knowing what not to plant is just as important. Avoid plants that need lots of water or rich, moist soil.

Mint: Mint is far too invasive and aggressive. It will quickly choke out your lavender, and it needs much more water.
Hostas & Ferns: These are shade and moisture lovers. They will suffer in the hot, dry spot your lavender adores.
Impatiens: These annuals require constant moisture and shade, making them completely incompatible with lavender’s needs.

Designing Your Fragrant Layout

Think about how you arrange your plants. Good design makes maintenance easier and enhances the overall effect.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Test Your Soil: Check your soil’s pH. Lavender prefers it between 6.5 and 7.5. If it’s too acidic, add some garden lime.
Amend for Drainage: If your soil is heavy clay, mix in plenty of coarse sand or fine gravel. Raised beds are a great option for ensuring perfect drainage.
Plan for Space: Give lavender room to breathe. Space plants at least 2-3 feet apart depending on the variety. This improves air circulation and prevents fungal disease.
Place Taller Plants Behind: Put taller companions like rosemary or echinacea behind lavender, which is usually mid-height.
Edge with Low-Growers: Use creeping thyme or sedum at the front of the border to spill over edges.
Water Wisely: Water new plantings regularly until established. After that, water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings.

Maintenance Tips for Success

Once planted, a little care goes a long way. The key is to mimic the dry, sunny hillsides where lavender originates.

Prune Annually: Prune your lavender lightly in early spring to remove dead wood and again after flowering to maintain a compact shape. Never cut into old, bare wood.
Skip the Fertilizer: Lavender and its companions thrive in poor soil. Too much fertilizer leads to weak, leggy growth and fewer flowers.
Weed Carefully: Keep the area around plants free of weeds, which compete for limited water. A gravel mulch is both attractive and functional, keeping leaves dry and soil warm.

FAQ: Lavender Companion Planting

Can I plant lavender with roses?
Yes, this is a classic and beautiful pairing. Both love sun, and lavender can help deter aphids from roses. Just ensure the rose isn’t a type that needs heavy feeding and watering, as that’s to much for the lavender.

What are good lavender companions in pots?
For containers, stick to one lavender plant per pot with one or two very compact companions. Try a small rosemary, some creeping thyme, or a few sedums. Ensure the pot has excellent drainage holes.

Do lavender companion plants repel mosquitoes?
While plants like lavender and rosemary have scents mosquitoes dislike, you need to crush the leaves to release significant oils. Simply having them in the garden has a very minor effect. It’s more about creating a pleasant space for you.

What should I plant between lavender?
Low-growing, drought-tolerant plants are best. Creeping thyme, woolly thyme, or sedum are perfect choices. They fill the space without competing aggressively for resources.

Building a garden with thoughtful lavender companion plants is rewarding. You’ll create a resilient, fragrant oasis that supports wildlife and provides endless sensory pleasure. Start with good soil prep, choose sun-loving partners, and enjoy the process of watching your aromatic haven grow.