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Rosemary Companion Plants

If you're looking for companion plants to grow with rosemary, you've come to the right place. In this post, we will discuss the best and worst companions for rosemary plants and why.

Rosemary, also known as Rosmarinus officinalis or Salvia rosmarinus, is a woody herb that belongs to the mint family. It is native to the Mediterranean region but can be grown in other parts of the world. Rosemary is an aromatic evergreen plant that can be grown as a shrub or small tree.

The fragrant needle-like leaves of rosemary plants are used to flavor food, but the culinary herb can also be grown as an ornamental perennial in certain climates. Not mine, though!

I actually love to use rosemary when I'm making sous vide chicken breast or sous vide whole chicken, it's a great way to infuse the rosemary flavor through the entire piece of chicken.

Rosemary plant in a pot.

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Rosemary is a hardy plant that can tolerate drought and salt spray. It is also resistant to pests and diseases, but it can be affected by aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.

One important thing to note about rosemary is that it makes a poor companion plant for herbs other than itself. The only exception to that rule is sage, sage can safely be planted near rosemary without being negatively affected!

Rosemary plant in a metal pot.

What Is Companion Planting?

Companion planting is the practice of planting different types of plants together in order to benefit one another. Companion plants can protect each other from pests and diseases, and some companion plants can even improve the growth and yield of other plants.

Companion plants don't always need to be interplanted together to achieve maximum benefit. Some companion plants can be grown in close proximity to each other and still provide benefits, ie, in flowerpots or along the edge of the garden.

It's like a food forest, but on a smaller scale!

What Are The Benefits?

One of the main benefits of companion planting is that it can help to protect plants from pests and diseases. Companion plants can form a barrier between susceptible plants and pests by deterring their presence or masking their scent from predators. They can also attract beneficial insects that will prey on harmful pests.Some companion plants can also improve the growth and yield of other plants. For example, certain companion plants can add nitrogen to the soil, help to suppress weeds or help to create a desirable growing space for your plants.

Best Rosemary Companion Plants

Here are some of the best options for plants to place near your rosemary shrub! These plants are perfect for growing, worry-free, near rosemary, for their benefit, or for the rosemary.

Beans

Beans are a good companion plant for rosemary because they can improve the health of the soil by fixing nitrogen into the soil.

As an added bonus, planting them near the aromatic rosemary can help to cover their scent from predators!

If you're growing beans near your rosemary, keep chives away from the area!

Bean plant.

Brassicas

Brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, turnips, kohlrabi, rutabaga, and others, are susceptible to cabbage moths. The cabbage moth can cause a ton of damage to brassica crops in a short period of time.

The scent of rosemary can help to camouflage the scent of cabbage and other brassicas from the dreaded cabbage fly!

Broccoli plant.

Carrots

The scent of rosemary strikes again!

The strong essential oils found in the needle-like leaves of the rosemary plant help to disguise carrots from the carrot rust fly and can result in larger, healthier yields from your carrot crops!

Freshly harvested carrots.

Chives

Chives are a garden superstar when it comes to companion planting. Ornamental or edible chives can be planted near rosemary to help deter aphids from the area.

Be aware that alliums don't play nice with beans!

Chive plant.

Peppers

According to anecdotal evidence from The Pepper Geek, the strong scent of rosemary can also help to repel insect pests from your pepper plants, as well as its shrubby growth habit makes a great ground cover to help keep the soil moist and weed-free.

Bell pepper plant.

Sage

Sage is a great companion plant for rosemary because both plants require similar growing conditions. They can be safely planted together, interplanted, or in pots!

Sage plant.

Strawberries

This ground cover plant loves to be planted near herbs! The strong scent of rosemary is said to help repel aphids, slugs, and snails from attacking your strawberry plants!

Strawberry plant.

Worst Rosemary Companion Plants

Avoid planting these near your rosemary as these plants can have negative effects on each other!

Basil

You might be surprised to see basil on this list, but it's true! Basil and rosemary should not be planted together.

Basil prefers more moisture than rosemary. This means that one or the other will be sacrificed - either the basil will have enough moisture to flourish and the rosemary will suffer or vice versa.

Basil plant.

Mint

Mint is another plant that should not be planted near rosemary. The two plants compete for the same resources, and (potentially invasive) mint will quickly take over an area if given the chance.

The best thing to do with mint is to plant it in pots and place the pots around your garden as required.

Mint plant.

Tomatoes

Rosemary can help to deter pests from tomatoes, but the vast difference between water requirements in these two plants can have a negative effect on the rosemary.

Keeping the tomatoes watered enough to maximize production will overwhelm the rosemary plant.

Tomato vine.

Can't Get Enough Of Companion Planting?

Final Thoughts

Companion planting rosemary thoughtfully can be a great way to maximize crop yields and keep your garden healthy and free of pests. But it's important to avoid planting certain herbs, like basil or mint, or plants with high water needs near your rosemary.

By pairing rosemary with companion plants that have similar needs and complementary attributes, you can help to improve the health of your rosemary plant while keeping pests at bay!

Pin This Rosemary Companion Planting Guide!

Best and worst rosemary companion plants pinterest graphic.