Lavender is a favorite of many gardeners. Most likely, you are already aware of all the advantages of this perennial.
Lavender likes the heat and sunlight, grows well on rocky soil, and needs little water. Therefore, you should opt for plants that have similar requirements when you’re looking for good lavender companion plants.
However, you will also find a few plants on this list that have different requirements but benefit from lavender’s pest-repelling characteristic.
So, what should you plant next to your lavender? Read on to find out!
1. Purple Coneflower
Coneflowers attract a lot of butterflies and bees, which benefits lavender plants. Small birds like goldfinches and tufted titmice will eat the seed heads as the blooms go to seed.
Due to their prickliness and resistance to drought, deer and rabbits avoid coneflowers.
This perennial produces an abundance of seeds that germinate each autumn to produce new plants the following spring.
2. Marigolds
Bees and ladybugs are attracted to marigolds, and their presence helps keep pests away from other plants, such as lavender.
Like lavender, marigolds need lots of sunshine and can flourish in average or poor soil, as long as it is well-drained.
Marigolds come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They germinate quickly, so you can experiment with different varieties to see which one works and looks best when combined with your lavender.
3. Thyme
Thyme and lavender make excellent companion plants because they have similar growth requirements. Both like plenty of direct sunlight and sandy soil with good drainage and require very little water to thrive.
Both lavender and thyme are effective in warding off pests, and they also make it much simpler to entice pollinators like bees to your plants. In addition, if allowed to spread, thyme may function as a groundcover and offer refuge for beneficial insects if planted underneath tall lavender plants.
4. Sage
Sage is another plant that thrives in the same conditions that lavender prefers. It keeps pests away from plants that feed on lavender and spread disease.
Sage, regardless of the particular variety you plant, thrives in warm climates with sandy, well-draining soil and, once established, requires very little care or watering. Sage grows well in USDA Zones 5 through 11. Thyme, sage, and lavender make a lovely planting combination that thrives in pots and other small spaces.
Sage has numerous applications, including the kitchen and the medicine cabinet. It also looks great as a border plant.
5. Roses
Roses and lavender are a traditional combination, especially in English gardens, and they go very well together. Both plants have comparable demands and will provide fragrance and beauty to your landscape.
It is important to remember that you should leave some distance between your roses and your lavender plants. This is because roses sometimes need more water during dry periods, which might cause mildew to form on lavender plants.
6. Stonecrop
Another excellent plant to grow with lavender is stonecrop sedum. Its varied hues, including red, white, and pink, blend well with lavender.
This border plant prefers sandy, rocky soil with excellent drainage, and it does best in lots of direct sunlight. Sedum requires just as little care as lavender and may be grown in USDA Zones 3 through 10.
Stonecrop sedum continues to bloom when the lavender season comes to an end, so you will enjoy a continuous visual interest in late summer and fall.
7. Yarrow
Yarrow, much like lavender, is a plant that can tolerate poor soil conditions and periods of drought. Both yarrow and lavender will flourish if they are grown in close proximity to one another as they don’t compete with each other for nutrients or water.
Like lavender, yarrow is pest-resistant. It comes in a variety of colors, so you can experiment with different color schemes and choose whichever one you like best. Both lavender and yarrow make great additions to cut flower arrangements.
