5 Best Companion Vegetables for Lavender

The best companion vegetables for lavender are cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli and celery. Lavender is the perfect companion because their strong fragrance will repel pests like white moths that can destroy your brassica leaves. The best companion vegetables for lavender will have similar watering needs like deep watering and drying out between water.

Lavender can act as a natural pest repellent and attract pollinators, making it an excellent companion plant for vegetables.

In this article, we will explore some of the best companion vegetables for lavender and how they can benefit each other in the garden.

Best Companion Vegetables for Lavender

  • cabbage
  • cauliflower
  • brussel sprouts
  • broccoli
  • celery
  • carrots
  • onions
Infographic: Best companion vegetables for lavender

How to Plant Lavender with Companion Vegetables

Lavender is a hardy plant that requires well-draining soil and full sun to thrive. The good news is that many vegetables also prefer these growing conditions, making them great companions for lavender.

Preparing the Soil

Before planting, it’s important to prepare the soil to make sure that the lavender and vegetables have the nutrients they need to grow. Start by removing any weeds then work in a layer of compost or well-rotted manure to add extra nutrients and improve drainage.

Planting Lavender and Vegetables Together

When planting lavender with companion vegetables, it’s important to give each plant enough space to grow. Lavender should be spaced about 12 inches apart, while most vegetables require at least 18 inches between plants. To make the most of your space, consider planting lavender and vegetables in raised beds or containers.

Some of the best companion vegetables for lavender include alliums (such as onions, garlic, and leeks), brassicas (such as broccoli and cabbage), and carrots. These vegetables not only thrive in the same growing conditions as lavender but can also help repel pests and attract beneficial insects.

Caring for Lavender and Companion Vegetables

To ensure that both the lavender and companion vegetables stay healthy, it’s important to water the plants deeply and regularly, especially during dry spells. Fertilize with a balanced, organic fertilizer every few weeks to promote healthy growth.

When it comes to pruning, lavender should be trimmed back by about one-third in the spring to encourage bushy growth and prevent woody stems.

By following these simple tips, it’s easy to plant lavender with companion vegetables and create a beautiful and productive garden.

Benefits of Companion Planting with Lavender

When it comes to companion planting, lavender is a great choice for many gardeners. Here are just a few benefits of companion planting with lavender:

Natural Pest Control

One of the main benefits of companion planting with lavender is its ability to repel pests. Lavender’s strong scent can help deter pests like moths, whiteflies, and codling moths from attacking nearby plants. This can be especially helpful for fruit trees, which are often vulnerable to insect pests.

Improved Growth

Companion planting with lavender can also help improve the growth and yield of nearby plants. Lavender’s root system can help improve soil structure and drainage, which can benefit other plants in the area.

Lavender will also attract pollinators like bees can help increase the yield of nearby plants that rely on pollination to produce fruit.

Enhanced Flavor

Companion planting with lavender can help enhance the flavor of nearby vegetables and herbs. Plants like broccoli, cabbage, and other brassicas can benefit from the natural pest control properties of lavender which can help them to grow stronger, greener and juicier.

Herbs like thyme and rosemary can benefit from the natural pest control properties of lavender, and the combination of these plants can create a delicious and aromatic garden.

Broccoli is a perfect companion for lavender

Companion herbs to plant with Lavender

Herbs that love Mediterranean conditions like basil, oregano and rosemary will grow well with Lavender.  They can repel aphids and love the same well-draining soil that lavender does.  The key to growing these with success is not to overwater.  Let the soil dry out before watering again and give them a nice sunny position in your garden.  

Companion planting fruit trees with Lavender

Fruit trees will benefit from the bee attracting lavender when planted close by. My tips for companion planting lavender with fruit trees is to keep them away from the root zone.  Citrus in particular like to have space underneath their canopy because the feeder roots will sit close to the surface.

If you plant anything directly under the leaf canopy including lavender, they can compete with the fruit tree for nutrients. Lavender will also enjoy slightly dryer conditions than most citrus so give them a bit of space.

Apples and pears will benefit from the pollenating bees and insects that are attracted by the lavender.  I would suggest planting the lavender away from the root zone to keep the fruit tree happy.  Stone fruit like peaches and nectarines will also be happy living near lavender.

How to grow lavender with companion plants

Lavender loves sun, well-draining soil and drying out between watering.  If you live in an area with high rainfall, you will need to make sure you plant lavender in a raised bed or pot to make sure it doesn’t stay too wet. 

Placing lavender in a sunny spot in your garden to grow more flowers that will attract bees and good insects.  They will grow well with flowers like roses and other Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, oregano and thyme.  The other tip to grow healthy lavender is to trim the dead flower heads once they have finished.  This will promote new growth and keep your lavender looking fresh.

Check out a quick guide on how to grow lavender.

What companion plants look great with lavender?

Salvia is a beautiful flower that comes in purple, red and oranges. They enjoy the same soil conditions as lavender and look great when paired together. 

Roses are also amazing companion plants to pair with lavender. Roses that can tolerate dry conditions and will look great together with lavender, especially when they have lost their leaves. The lavender will stay green all year round and look great in your garden until your rose comes back into bloom.

Tips for companion planting lavender in containers

Lavender will grow really well in containers. Choose one that will drain well and add a good quality potting mix. Place the container or pot in a sunny position which the lavender will love. Check out my recipe here to make a great potting soil your self at home. This mix will be well draining and give your lavender the release of the nutrients it needs.

Lavender grows well so you may find it needs re-potting after a year or so. If you want to keep it compact, give it a light trim every few months. It is better to do regular, light trims and you will have a compact bush that looks great. Just remember not to cut off your flower heads before they have bloomed.

Companion planting with lavender – FAQ

Can I plant lavender and chamomile together?

Plant lavender and chamomile together as they are both bee attracting and can be used together to make herbal teas. Chamomile has beautiful white and yellow flowers that look great when paired with the grey and purple of the lavender.

Can you plant lavender and lemongrass together?

You can plant lavender and lemongrass together. For a nice display, plant the lemongrass in the middle of the pot, this will grow tall and add height to your garden. You can then plant the lavender around the lemongrass.  The purple flowers will complement the green of the lemongrass and both will look and smell amazing.

Can you plant lavender and rosemary together?

Plant lavender and rosemary together as they grow in the same soil conditions. They both love sun and prefer their soil to dry between watering.  They are Mediterranean herbs so taste great in many dishes, including pasta, pizza and with chicken.

Can you plant star jasmine and lavender together?

Star jasmine is a beautiful climber so will look great surrounded at its base with lavender.  Both are drought tolerant and enjoy well-draining soil.  Once established, the star jasmine and lavender will be beautiful and fragrant together attracting bees and looking great in a sunny position in your garden.

What grasses will grow well with lavender?

Plant lavender with grasses such as Tanika or Lomandra Longifolia.  This is a beautiful bright green grass that is as hardy as they come.  Blue fescue will also look great planted alongside lavender.  It has beautiful gray/green foliage so works perfectly with the purple of the lavender.

Can I companion plant lavender with succulents?

Succulents like sunny dryer conditions so can pair well with lavender.  Pig-face is a good partner to plant with lavender, it is a ground cover and has beautiful pink flowers. They like full sun and they don’t like to be overwatered.  Well-draining soil is important for both succulents and lavender.

Best Companion Vegetables for Lavender | Summary

Lavender is a great companion for your vegetables as it will attract pollinating insects and help to deter pests. Summer vegetable gardens in particular will benefit from a lavender border which will increase your yield of tomatoes and strawberries by encouraging insects which will lead to increased flower pollination.

Happy gardening.