Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas 11 Companion Plants You Should Grow Next to Rosemary—and 4 You Shouldn't This fragrant shrub will perform better in your garden when you grow it near companion plants. By Felicia Feaster Felicia Feaster Felicia Feaster has worked for the past 20-plus years as a lifestyle journalist. She specializes in writing about interior design, gardening, trends, culture, travel, and wellness. Editorial Guidelines Published on June 7, 2024 Close Photo: Getty Images Rosemary (Rosmarinus) is a remarkably sturdy, lush, and hardy perennial shrub that is native to Mediterranean regions. Because of its native habitat, rosemary needs at least six to eight hours of full sun a day and well-draining dry soil in order to thrive. Another way to ensure rosemary looks, smells, and tastes its best is by growing it alongside companion plants. Companion planting is a cornerstone of successful gardening. It's the practice of pairing mutually beneficial plants together to help prevent pests, retain soil moisture, attract pollinators, boost flavor, and more. Rosemary itself is an amazing companion plant due its potent fragrance that wards off pests. In turn, other plants offer benefits that boost the vitality of rosemary by improving soil quality, welcoming pollinators, and repelling unwanted bugs. We asked gardening experts to share the best companion plants for rosemary—and well as some plants you should never grow next to this shrub. Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app, an app that's designed to make planning a garden easier. Linda Vater, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection, a plant collection designed to solve landscape challenges. How to Care for Rosemary Plants, a Drought-Tolerant Herb You Can Grow Indoors and Outside Best Companion Plants for Rosemary 01 of 11 Pole Beans Raymond Poll / Getty Images Pole beans (Phaseolus coccineus) take nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into nitrogen compounds that enrich the soil, which helps fertilize rosemary. What's more, rosemary’s scent also repels bean beetles, an insect that can damage pole beans, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app, an app that's designed to make planning a garden easier. Zones: 3 to 11Size: 6 to 10 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 02 of 11 Carrots Jurgute / Getty Images Carrots (Daucus carota sativus) are another natural pairing with rosemary, says Spoonemore. Rosemary’s intense fragrance helps protect carrots by deterring carrot flies, while carrots make it easier for rosemary's roots to take up nutrients. Zones: 3 to 11Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 1 to 6 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; lose, well-draining soil 03 of 11 Thyme Yulia Naumenko / Getty Images Round out your kitchen garden with another Mediterranean herb, thyme (Thymus vulgaris), which has similar care requirements to rosemary, making them great companion plants. Like rosemary, thyme is a hardy herb that thrives in full sun and well-draining soil. Zones: 5 to 9Size: 6 to 12 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; sandy, well-draining soil 04 of 11 Marigold 3sb / Getty Images It’s hard to go wrong in any garden when you plant bright, sunny marigolds (Tagetes). This annual flower deters pests like aphids, making it ideal for rosemary companion planting, says Spoonemore. Zones: 2 to 11Size: 6 to 36 inches tall x 6 to 36 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil How to Plant and Care for Marigolds, Splashy Bedding Plants That You Can Grow in Almost Every Hardiness Zone 05 of 11 Sage Ray Tango A natural and nice-smelling herb, sage (Salvia officinalis) helps repel pests, making it a beneficial companion plant for rosemary, says Spoonemore. Zones: 4 to 8Size: 1 to 3 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 06 of 11 Chives Garlic Chives or Chinese Chives. Getty Images Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are a hardy herb well suited to any kitchen garden. Like rosemary, chives prefer well-draining soil, full sun, and moderate watering, making them perfect companions, says Spoonemore. Zones: 3 to 9Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 07 of 11 Tomatoes Westend61 / Getty Images Like a host of other vegetables, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) grow well when planted near rosemary as they have similar care requirements. Additionally, the smell of rosemary can keep pests away from tomatoes. Zones: 3 to 11Size: 3 to 10 feet tall x 1 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil The Best Companion Plants for Tomatoes, Plus Tips to Make Sure Yours Thrive 08 of 11 Marjoram scisettialfio / Getty Images Marjoram (Origanum majorana) has similar growing requirements to rosemary: well-drained soil, full sun, and minimal watering, making them ideal companion plants. It also acts as a pest-repellent, protecting rosemary from potentially harmful insects. Zones: 5 to 9Size: 6 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 09 of 11 Lavender Adam Smigielski Lavender (Lavandula) has a strong scent that can keep pests away from rosemary. What's more, lavender attracts beneficial insects like bees and predatory insects that can help control pests, says Spoonemore. Plant lavender and rosemary together near pathways, porches, decks, and anywhere you can enjoy their luscious fragrance. Zones: 9 to 10 Size: 2 feet tall x 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; sandy or loamy, well-draining soil 19 Fragrant Flowers That Will Make Your Garden Smell–and Look—Amazing 10 of 11 Abelia Elisabeth Schittenhelm / Getty Images Like rosemary, abelia is a hardy shrub that is drought- and heat-tolerant, as well as deer-resistant, says Linda Vater, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection. Their mutual ability to resist unideal growing conditions makes them suitable companion plants. Zones: 6 to 9Size: 2 to 3 feet tall x 3 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; well-draining soil 11 of 11 Oregano AYImages / Getty Images Another hardy herb that makes a great companion to rosemary, oregano (Origanum vulgare) also thrives in full sun and with well-draining soil, says Spoonemore. Growing plants together that have similar care requirements is benefit to the plants and less work for you. Zones: 4 to 10 Size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 18 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil Plants You Should Never Grow With Rosemary Be aware of the mature size of anything you plant with rosemary to ensure nothing will shade out the plant and inhibit its growth, says Vater. Additionally, you should avoid growing the following plants next to rosemary. Fennel: Fennel can inhibit the growth of rosemary, due to its release of chemicals into the soil, says Spoonemore. Mint: An invasive grower, mint can compete with rosemary for space, water, and nutrients, says Spoonemore. Cucumbers: Cucumbers require more moisture and can create a humid environment in which rosemary, which prefers drier conditions, does not thrive, says Spoonemore. Potatoes: Rosemary can inhibit the growth of potatoes and may lead to a smaller yield, says Spoonemore. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit