Grow together

Companion Planting Chart

Discover which plants grow best together — natural pest-control pairings, pollinator and nutrient-sharing combinations, and the plants to keep apart — across 1,000+ vegetables, herbs and flowers.

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How Companion Planting Works

Natural Pest Control

Certain plants repel harmful insects or attract predatory bugs that feed on garden pests. Planting them nearby protects vulnerable crops without chemicals.

Improved Pollination

Flowering companion plants attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden, increasing fruit set and yield for nearby crops.

Nutrient Sharing

Nitrogen-fixing plants like peas and beans enrich the soil for heavy feeders. Deep-rooted plants bring minerals to the surface for shallow-rooted neighbors.

Companion planting is rooted in centuries of gardening tradition and increasingly supported by modern agricultural science. The mechanisms behind successful plant pairings include allelopathy, where certain plants release chemical compounds from their roots or foliage that suppress weeds or repel insects. Marigolds, for example, release alpha-terthienyl from their roots, which suppresses root-knot nematodes in the surrounding soil.

Trap cropping is another powerful technique: nasturtiums planted near squash attract aphids away from the main crop, sacrificing themselves to protect your harvest. Meanwhile, nitrogen fixation by legumes like peas and beans converts atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available forms in the soil, directly benefiting heavy-feeding neighbors like corn, tomatoes, and squash.

Physical relationships matter too. Tall plants like sunflowers and corn can provide natural shade for heat-sensitive crops like lettuce and spinach, while low-growing ground covers suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. The classic "Three Sisters" planting of corn, beans, and squash demonstrates multiple companion mechanisms working together in a single planting bed.

Plant Lookup

Search for any plant to see its companions and incompatible neighbors.

Popular Companion Pairs

These classic pairings are backed by generations of gardening wisdom and can make a real difference in your garden.

Tomato & Basil

Basil repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor

Carrot & Onion

Onions deter carrot fly with their strong scent

Cucumber & Dill

Dill attracts beneficial insects that protect cucumbers

Corn & Peas

Peas fix nitrogen that corn needs for heavy feeding

Lettuce & Chives

Chives repel aphids that commonly attack lettuce

Potato & Horseradish

Horseradish increases potato disease resistance

Strawberry & Borage

Borage attracts pollinators and improves strawberry yield

Tomato & Marigold

Marigolds repel nematodes and many common garden pests

Zucchini & Radish

Radishes lure flea beetles away from young squash leaves

Bell Pepper & Basil

Basil improves pepper growth and repels common pests

Full Compatibility Reference

Browse all companion and incompatible relationships for every plant, organized by category.

CompanionIncompatible

Frequently asked questions

What is companion planting?

Companion planting is growing certain plants together because they help each other — through natural pest control, better pollination, smarter nutrient use and space efficiency. Basil next to tomatoes, for example, repels aphids and is said to improve flavor.

Which plants should never be grown together?

Common clashes include tomatoes with fennel or the cabbage family; potatoes with tomatoes, squash or cucumbers; onions with beans or peas; and dill near carrots. They compete for nutrients, share pests, or release growth-inhibiting chemicals.

What is the Three Sisters method?

A traditional Native American trio of corn, beans and squash. Corn is a living trellis for the beans, the beans fix nitrogen that feeds the corn, and sprawling squash shades the soil to hold moisture and suppress weeds — three companion benefits at once.

Do marigolds really help vegetables?

Yes. French and African marigolds release compounds that suppress root-knot nematodes, and their strong scent deters whiteflies and aphids. They're among the most reliable companions to dot through a vegetable bed.

Vladimir Kusnezow

Gardener and Software Developer

Zone 6b gardener. Growing vegetables and fruits in soil and hydroponics for 6 years. I built PlotMyGarden to plan my own gardens.

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Companion Planting Chart