The Best Companion Plants for Lavender for Your Garden and Landscape

Lavender is a star in many gardens. Its aromatic, purple blooms and silvery-green foliage brighten spaces, attract pollinators, and add a calming scent. But even stars perform better with the right support. That’s where companion planting comes in. Pairing lavender with the right plants not only enhances its beauty but also boosts the health of your garden.

This post will walk you through the best companion plants for lavender, why they work well together, and how you can use them to create a thriving, low-maintenance garden.

Why Companion Planting Matters

Companion planting is the practice of placing plants together that benefit each other. Some combinations repel pests. Others improve soil health, encourage pollination, or simply look good side by side. With lavender, smart companion planting can:

• Improve drainage and prevent root rot.
• Boost flower production.
• Attract beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
• Deter pests naturally.
• Reduce the need for chemical treatments.
• Create beautiful garden designs with contrasting textures and colors.

Lavender thrives in well-drained soil, full sun, and low humidity. Keeping these needs in mind is key when selecting companion plants.

Major Companion Plants for Lavender

Here’s a quick table summarizing the major companion plants and why they pair well with lavender:

Plant	Benefit to Lavender Garden
Rosemary	Similar soil and sun needs; aromatic pairing.
Sage	Repels pests; thrives in similar conditions.
Echinacea (Coneflower)	Attracts pollinators; adds color contrast.
Yarrow	Drought-tolerant; draws beneficial insects.
Sedum	Low water needs; adds texture.
Thyme	Ground cover; prevents weeds.
Alliums	Pest deterrent; striking flower shapes.
Roses	Enhanced aesthetics; attracts bees.
Catmint	Softens edges; attracts pollinators.
Artemisia	Silvery foliage complement; thrives in dry soil.

Now, let’s break down each group and explain why they make great neighbors for lavender.

Rosemary: Aromatic Power Duo

Rosemary and lavender are Mediterranean natives. They crave the same conditions: sunny spots and well-drained, somewhat rocky soil. Planting them together creates an aromatic powerhouse. Not only do they smell fantastic, but rosemary’s upright growth can also provide a subtle backdrop to lavender’s more sprawling form. Together, they attract bees and butterflies while deterring cabbage moths and carrot flies.

Sage: Pest-Repelling Ally

Sage thrives in the same conditions as lavender. Its rough leaves and subtle blooms work visually alongside lavender’s soft spikes. More importantly, sage is a pest-repelling champion. It keeps cabbage moths, carrot flies, and beetles at bay. Plant sage alongside lavender, and you reduce the need for pesticides in your garden.

Echinacea: Bold Color Partner

Echinacea, or coneflower, brings bold pinks, purples, and whites to the garden. It shares lavender’s love for sun and dryish soil. But beyond the color play, echinacea draws bees and butterflies, boosting pollination across the garden. The tall, daisy-like flowers tower gracefully over lavender, creating layered beauty.

Yarrow: Drought-Tolerant Insect Magnet

Yarrow is a rugged, drought-hardy perennial. It thrives in poor soils where other plants struggle. Its tiny clustered flowers come in whites, yellows, and reds, providing a striking contrast to lavender’s soft purple. Yarrow is a magnet for beneficial insects like ladybugs, lacewings, and hoverflies, which help control aphid populations.

Sedum: Low-Water Texture

Sedum, or stonecrop, is a succulent that loves dry, sunny conditions. It hugs the ground, filling in gaps between lavender plants and adding texture with its fleshy leaves. Sedum’s late-season flowers feed bees and butterflies when other blooms fade, extending your garden’s pollinator season.

Thyme: Ground-Hugging Companion

Thyme makes an excellent lavender companion, especially as a ground cover. It spreads low and wide, filling spaces between lavender plants. This helps suppress weeds, retain soil warmth, and reduce water evaporation. Both plants are drought-tolerant, and thyme’s tiny flowers attract pollinators too.

Alliums: Dramatic Pest Control

Alliums, such as ornamental onions and chives, are striking additions. Their tall, spherical flower heads rise above lavender’s mounds. But they’re more than just eye candy. Alliums release sulfur compounds that deter aphids, slugs, and cabbage worms. They create a natural pest barrier around more vulnerable plants.

Roses: Classic Beauty Meets Utility

Lavender at the base of rose bushes isn’t just beautiful; it’s practical. Lavender repels aphids and adds a fragrant underplanting. The roses, in turn, provide vertical interest and bring in bees and other pollinators. This combination has been used for centuries in European gardens.

Catmint: Softening and Pollinator Draw

Catmint (Nepeta) has soft, gray-green foliage and delicate purple-blue flowers that echo lavender’s tones. It spreads low, softening the edges of lavender borders. Catmint attracts bees and butterflies, making it another strong pollinator booster. It’s also more drought-tolerant than many people realize.

Artemisia: Silvery Partner in Dry Soil

Artemisia, or wormwood, is known for its finely cut, silvery foliage. Like lavender, it thrives in dry, poor soils. Planting artemisia nearby creates a silver-on-silver effect, adding visual cohesion. Artemisia also deters some pests and requires minimal water.

Designing Your Lavender Companion Garden

When planning your garden layout, consider these tips:

• Sunlight: Place lavender and its companions in the sunniest spots available. They need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight.
• Soil: Ensure the soil drains well. Amend heavy clay soils with sand or gravel. Avoid overwatering.
• Spacing: Give each plant room to breathe. Good air circulation helps prevent fungal diseases.
• Height: Layer taller plants like echinacea and alliums behind or among lavender mounds. Use thyme and sedum as ground-level fillers.
• Color Palette: Play with contrasts. Mix lavender’s cool purples with the warm yellows of yarrow or the bold pinks of coneflowers.
• Texture: Combine lavender’s fine leaves with the coarse, fleshy texture of sedum or the airy, delicate look of artemisia.

Maintaining Your Lavender Companion Garden

• Pruning: Trim lavender lightly after flowering to maintain shape. Avoid cutting into old wood.
• Watering: Water deeply but infrequently. Once established, most companion plants here are drought-tolerant.
• Mulching: Use gravel mulch instead of organic mulch, which can hold too much moisture.
• Fertilizing: Go easy on the fertilizer. Lavender and its companions generally prefer lean soils.
• Pest Control: Take advantage of the natural pest-repelling qualities of sage, alliums, and lavender itself.

Seasonal Considerations

Spring: Plant new lavender and companions after the last frost. Watch for early weeds.

Summer: Enjoy blooms and fragrance. Deadhead spent flowers on companions to encourage more blooms.

Fall: Lightly prune lavender and tidy up surrounding plants. Avoid heavy pruning before winter.

Winter: In mild climates, lavender and companions may stay evergreen. In cold regions, provide light protection like straw mulch or frost cloth.

Final Thoughts

Lavender is more than just a stand-alone beauty. With the right companions, it becomes the heart of a resilient, thriving garden. From pest control to pollinator support and stunning visual designs, the combinations are nearly endless.

By understanding the needs of lavender and its best companions, you can create a garden that not only looks great but also supports a healthy ecosystem. Whether you’re planting a few pots on a patio or designing a full landscape, these companion strategies will help you get the most out of every plant.

So go ahead – pair your lavender with rosemary for an aromatic edge, tuck thyme and sedum at its feet, or let tall alliums and echinacea rise behind it. Your garden will reward you with color, fragrance, and life season after season.

Happy planting!