If you’re thinking about starting a herb garden, rosemary is an excellent plant to start with. It is versatile and hardy, and it tastes delicious!
But, what should you plant with rosemary? A good companion will work with rosemary to ensure the overall health of both plants.
To learn more about the best and worst rosemary companion plants, take a look at the ultimate guide below. We cover everything you need to know to grow a thriving herb garden.
Rosemary Care Guide
Rosemary is a great herb to grow yourself. Not only is it commonly used in recipes, but it also looks beautiful as it grows and it is very easy to care for! There are just a few things you need to do to ensure its overall health.
First, you need to make sure that the soil that you plant your rosemary in is a well-draining soil. You should also plant it in a spot that receives a lot of sunlight, as rosemary thrives in warm temperatures. It may be necessary to move it indoors during the winter for this reason.
Second, rosemary plants don’t like to be watered too much. Generally speaking, depending on the environment and the size of the plant, they should be watered every one to two weeks.
Finally, we recommend planting your rosemary plant in a terracotta pot that has draining holes. These pots allow rosemary plants to dry out faster, which is much better for their overall health. It may prevent certain health conditions from taking hold.
Companion Planting Overview
Companion planting is a well-established gardening method that works to protect crops that may be vulnerable. It is the process of planting specific crops close to each other with the goal of deterring pests, encouraging growth, and attracting useful insects.
Benefits Of Companion Planting
There are many benefits associated with companion planting. Check out the most impressive ones below!
1. Repel insect pests.
A number of different pests can cause havoc in your garden. However, some companion plants, such as marigold flowers and rue, work to repel certain harmful insects. Planting these close to vulnerable plants helps to protect them.
2. Attract good insects.
Not all insects are pests. For instance, bees and ladybugs are welcome visitors to any garden as they pollinate your crops. Some plants, such as borage flowers, are planted to attract pollinators to the garden.
3. Improve nutrients in the soil.
Most plants absorb valuable nutrients from the soil. As such, gardeners usually have to pay attention to the nutrients left in the soil at the end of the growing season. However, some companion plants work to replenish the nutrients in the soil, such as pole beans.
4. Encourage growth and better flavor.
Some plants, including chamomile and marjoram, release chemicals into the soil around them that encourage other plants to both grow quicker and produce better-tasting products.
5. Provide ground cover and shade.
Plants that spread at a low height across the ground work to cover and protect the soil from the sun, ensuring that it is kept cool. Similarly, tall and leafy plants can work to provide shade for plants that are sensitive to the sun.
The Best Rosemary Companion Plants
Below, we’ve listed the 10 best companion plants for rosemary. Check them out – you’ll have a thriving garden in no time!
Lavender
Rosemary and lavender are great friends. They have very similar care requirements and they both attract a lot of different pollinators. However, lavender tends to be more tolerant to cold weather, so keep this in mind during the colder months.
Marigolds
Marigolds are awesome companion plants for many different varieties, but they work especially well when planted close to rosemary. They both repel harmful insects so this pairing is great when planted in vegetable gardens.
Alyssum
This is one of the most beneficial companion plants for rosemary. It produces small white flowers that attract different pollinators and helpful insects. With rosemary’s ability to repel harmful insects, this pairing is a match made in heaven!
Sage
Rosemary and sage both thrive in similar environments. Additionally, it is thought that rosemary can boost the overall health of sage plants. In fact, they both may work to better the flavor of one another.
Thyme
Rosemary and thyme both grow well together and taste well together! As such, this is an ideal combination for a herb garden. Thyme enjoys the same growing conditions as rosemary, and it deters cabbage worms, which can be very harmful.
Oregano
Oregano and rosemary work wonderfully together thanks to their similar growing conditions. Oregano works to spread across the ground which helps to keep the soil cool. This is ideal if you want to include a third plant that prefers cooler temperatures.
Marjoram
If you want to promote the health of your rosemary plant as much as possible, then you should consider pairing it with marjoram. It releases chemicals into the soil that help to encourage growth and a better taste.
Strawberries
Planting strawberries next to rosemary is a great strategy to improve the overall fertility of both parties. You will notice a significant improvement in the flavor of your strawberries and a noticeable decrease in the number of pests that affect them.
Chives
Regardless of what you’re planting, it’s likely that chives will make a great companion. This plant is known to significantly enhance the flavor and growth of the plants it is close to. It also helps to ward off pesky insects such as aphids.
Brassicas
Brassica plants are particularly attracted to moths and butterflies, which means that they are always under threat from harmful caterpillars. However, thanks to its strong scent, rosemary wards off these pests.
The Worst Rosemary Companion Plants
It is important to know that some plants definitely should not be planted next to rosemary. In fact, pairing certain plants with rosemary can end up doing damage to both of the plants in the long run. Take a look at the 5 worst rosemary companion plants below.
Mint
Rosemary and mint should not be planted anywhere near each other. Mint is an overpowering herb that tends to take up a lot of space in the garden. If these plants are close, it’s likely that they’ll end up competing for space.
Additionally, rosemary and mint have vastly different growing requirements. As previously mentioned, rosemary needs well-draining soil, but mint loves damp soil. Maintaining the two herbs would be nearly impossible if grown in the same container.
Basil
There are no benefits to planting rosemary and basil together. In fact, it is likely to do both plants more damage as they require very different environments. Basil prefers higher levels of moisture in the soil than rosemary.
Pumpkins
Pumpkins are mildew-prone plants, and as such, they should be kept far away from rosemary. Whilst rosemary is a hardy plant, it can still easily fall victim to a number of health conditions, such as root rot, that can be exacerbated by mildew.
Tomatoes
Rosemary and tomatoes can thrive in similar conditions. However, it is widely recommended that they are kept far apart in the garden. When planted together, rosemary absorbs many of the nutrients that tomatoes need, meaning that the tomato plant will suffer.
Additionally, tomatoes need consistent watering because they prefer a damp environment. They need significantly more water than rosemary plants are able to tolerate. As such, it would be impossible to ensure both plants are getting what they need.
Cucumbers
Finally, it is recommended that aromatic plants should never be planted close to cucumbers. This is especially true for rosemary. Cucumbers need a huge amount of water, which is likely to drown your rosemary plant.
Additionally, cucumbers enjoy soil that has a high nitrogen content. Unfortunately, rosemary does not require this high nitrogen content. In fact, a high nitrogen content may do rosemary far more harm than good.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Far Apart Should You Space Rosemary?
We recommend that you plant rosemary around 2 to 3 feet apart. If you want to make a hedge using your rosemary, you should plant them around 18” to 24” apart. This will create a dense hedge.
Where Should Rosemary Be Planted?
As previously mentioned, rosemary enjoys soil that is well-draining and plenty of sunlight. Specifically, it is recommended that your rosemary plant receives a minimum of six hours of sunlight a day. It is also recommended that the soil pH level is between 6 and 7.
How Fast Does Rosemary Grow?
This really depends on the environment and the care. However, generally speaking, it can take around a year for a completely new rosemary plant to grow from the seed to a substantial plant. If you use rosemary cuttings rather than seeds, it may take just six months.
Conclusion
Rosemary is a truly fantastic companion plant. We hope that this article has inspired you to make the most out of your garden this growing season!
