What can you grow with sunflowers? The answer is just about anything with a few exceptions. Sunflowers are a workhorse in the garden. Whether you grow them as a crop, to bring in pollinators, or for the simple enjoyment of the large, bright flower heads, a number of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers make good companion plants for these summer beauties.

Here is a list of 22 plants you can try growing as companion plants with your sunflowers and others youll want to avoid.

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Allelopathic plants release toxic substances into soil that can inhibit the growth of other plants growing nearby. This is not always a negative, especially when those toxins kill weeds. That may be the case with sunflowers and the best choices for companion plants may depend largely on the composition and quality of your soil starting out.

Companion Plants For Sunflowers

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  Cucumbers

  Barbara Rich / Getty s Trunk-like stalks of tall sunflowers give cucumber vines a structure to climb, keeping fruits off the ground and providing good air circulation. Climbing vines add stability to these stately flowers which can flop or topple in strong winds. A tall, single-stem sunflower variety works best. Continue to 2 of 22 below

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  Pole Beans

  The Spruce / Adrienne Legault Timing is a key consideration if you want to trellis pole beans on your sunflowers. The gardening practice is similar to the “Three Sisters” planting method where pole beans are interplanted with corn and squash. Your sunflowers need to be tall enough to allow adequate sun exposure for the bean seedlings and, while some varieties may climb and attach naturally to sunflower stalks, others might need to be tied or trained starting out. Choose dried or butter bean varieties and avoid vining green beans which can be stunted by sunflowers. Beans add nitrogen back into the soil—a benefit for heavy feeders like sunflowers. Choose a tall, single stem sunflower for best results. Continue to 3 of 22 below

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  Lima Beans

  Uncle_Benny / Getty s Depending on the variety, lima beans can be bushy or send out runners for climbing a support like a sturdy sunflower. The roots of lima beans add nitrogen to the soil renewing depleted nutrients. Both types of lima beans can be interplanted with sunflowers as long as you allow adequate spacing between bean plants. Choose an average to tall sunflower type, either single stem or branching. Continue to 4 of 22 below

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  Lettuce

  Kodiak Greenwood / Getty s Timing is important when interplanting lettuces with sunflowers. For early lettuce, choose a shorter, faster-growing sunflower variety. You can succession sow late-season lettuce under tall sunflowers. The goal is to protect tender lettuce from the hot afternoon sun. This can get tricky early in the season since most lettuces are cool-weather crops and sunflowers grow best in warm, sunny conditions. Consider choosing a summer variety lettuce for interplanting with sunflowers. Continue to 5 of 22 below

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  Spinach

  JackF / Getty s Spinach is an early, cool weather crop that will not stand up to summer heat. You may be able to extend the spinach harvest by succession sowing under sunflowers tall enough to keep soil temperature down and provide shade as weather starts to heat up. Other leafy greens including mustards and Swiss chard can also work as companion plants to sunflowers for an efficient use of space. Continue to 6 of 22 below

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  Tomatoes

  Platforma / Getty s Sunflowers make an effective trap crop for stinkbugs which damage nightshade plants like tomatoes. Plant them within 2 to 4 feet of each other instead of interplanting the two which creates competition for nutrients and can impede access to your tomatoes. Tall, branching sunflowers can also stunt tomato plants by creating too much shade. Continue to 7 of 22 below

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  Peppers

  Helen Camacaro / Getty s Sunflowers attract aphids and can serve as a trap crop for these pests that damage pepper plants. They also bring in lady beetles to devour the aphids. Both plants like hot, sunny conditions, so grow them 2 to 4 feet apart instead of interplanting. Sunflowers also attract pollinators to boost the pepper harvest. Any variety can pair well. Continue to 8 of 22 below

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  Sweet Corn

  The Spruce / Autumn Wood Sweet corn and sunflowers do not compete for space, sunlight or nutrients when interplanted in alternating rows. Plant tall sunflowers between your rows of sweet corn where the deep roots break up soil to encourage a well developed root system for your corn. Sunflowers attract bees which help pollinate corn for full, uniform ears. Continue to 9 of 22 below

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  Squash

  Steve Cicero / Getty s Both summer and winter squashes put out long vines that trail along the ground. Plant them at the base of your sunflowers to help keep the soil moist and cool. Sunflowers draw bees and other pollinators squash plants rely on to fertilize their flowers. They also attract big-eyed bugs that feed on the squash bugs that damage your crop. Taller varieties of sunflowers work best and allow room for the large, upright leaves of squash plants. Continue to 10 of 22 below

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  Pumpkin

  Will Heap / Getty s Plant sunflowers around the perimeter of your pumpkin patch to bring in pollinators necessary for fertilizing the crop. This works more effectively than interplanting pumpkins in among your sunflowers. Both are heavy users of nutrients and planting them together can cause stunting in your pumpkin crop. Pumpkins are often planted later in the season which gives sunflowers time to establish beforehand. Any variety of sunflower works with pumpkins when planted properly. Continue to 11 of 22 below

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  Onions

  TommyIX / Getty s Planting onions and other alliums like leeks, shallots, and garlic at the base of your sunflower crop is an efficient space-saving method for a small garden. These plants have the same watering needs but dont attract any of the same insect pests. The strong scent of alliums also discourages animal pests like deer and rabbits. Work well-rotted compost into the soil before planting to supply plenty of nutrients for sunflowers and onions. Continue to 12 of 22 below

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  Carrots

  The Spruce / K. Dave Carrots are considered resistant to sunflower allelopathy. Their roots pull nutrients from deeper in the soil than the roots of sunflowers which alleviates competition for nutrition. Sunflowers provide shade from hot afternoon sun but keep in mind this crop still requires at least six hours of sun daily. Planting the two crops together is a practical use of space or you can plant sunflowers on the western side of the carrot crop. Continue to 13 of 22 below

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  Beets

  The Spruce / K. Dave Like carrots, beets are resistant to sunflower allelopathy. Beets are often started early in the garden and succession sown for an extended crop. Later crops also benefit from some afternoon shade provided by sunflowers. Interplant to save space or plant sunflowers, any variety, on the western side of your beet crop. Continue to 14 of 22 below

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  Turnips

  Denise Taylor / Getty s Turnips are the third vegetable crop resistant to sunflower allelopathy. Turnips are usually grown in early spring or planted for an autumn crop, Sunflowers protect young turnips seedlings from hot summer sun. Once onions are harvested consider pairing a late turnip crop with your sunflowers. Continue to 15 of 22 below

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  Dill

  By Eve Livesey / Getty s Fern-like leaves of dill add interest around the base of sunflower stalks. This fragrant herb attracts ladybugs that feed on aphids that damage your sunflowers. Lacewings and tachinid wasps also feed on dill pollen and help control other insect pests in the garden. Dill has a deep taproot and minimal nutritional needs so it doesnt compete with sunflowers. Continue to 16 of 22 below

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  Chives

  Catherine McQueen / Getty s Like other alliums, chives have a strong odor that deters insect and animal pests. They have a shallow root system and minimal nutritional needs which makes them a potential companion for sunflowers. Continue to 17 of 22 below

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  Basil

  Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty s Basil is another herb with a strong scent that repels many insect pests. Pairing basil with sunflowers may also provide some shade to discourage basil plants from early flowering. Continue to 18 of 22 below

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  Marigolds

  Lex20 / iStock / Getty s The bright oranges and yellows of marigolds pair well with sunflowers for aesthetic value. These flowers also repel aphids attracted to your sunflower crop. Continue to 19 of 22 below

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  Nasturtiums

  Jenny Dettrick / Getty s Nasturtiums repel a number of insect pests attracted to sunflowers. These cool weather flowers benefit from shade provided by sunflowers which can extend the bloom season into autumn. Continue to 20 of 22 below

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  Zinnias

  The Spruce / Letícia Almeida Zinnias bring all kinds of pollinators into your gardens and are easy-care plants that bloom with single-ray or double flowers in an array of colors. Branching plants add interest and beauty when planted alongside tall, single-stem, or branching sunflowers. Work well-rotted compost into soil before pairing these two flowers as both have heavy nutritional needs. Continue to 21 of 22 below

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  Blueberries

  Fanny Martin / EyeEm / Getty s Blueberry bushes have extensive pollination needs so pairing them with sunflowers can help bring in the honeybees and wild bees necessary for a good blueberry harvest. However, grow your sunflowers far enough away to avoid shading blueberries which can cause stunting. Continue to 22 of 22 below

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  Raspberries

  The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova Sunflowers can support tall, rangy raspberry vines or, planted alongside, can form a windbreak to keep vines from breakage and damage. Choose a variety of sunflower and pair these plants so that both receive plenty of sun.

Plants to Avoid Pairing With Sunflowers

• Potatoes: Potatoes are vulnerable to sunflower allelopathy which causes poor germination and small, misshapen potatoes.
• Peas: While peas could benefit from climbing on sunflowers, they are an early crop and, unless you grow peas as an autumn crop, sunflowers wont achieve the height needed for support.
• Green Beans: Green beans are vulnerable to sunflower toxins which cause stunted plants and lack of fruit.
• Cole Crops: Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and brussel sprouts can become infested with aphids when companion planted with sunflowers.
• Strawberries: Stunting and failure to produce fruit result when sunflowers throw too much shade on these low-growing berries.
• Black-eyed Susans: These flowers and sunflowers both belong to the family Asteraceae and can cross-pollinate when planted too closely together.

Best Companion Planting Flowers for the Vegetable Garden

FAQ

What flower goes best with sunflowers?

• Roses:

  Red or white roses create a striking contrast against the bright yellow of sunflowers. 

• Dallias:

  Offer rich colors and intricate petal shapes, adding sophistication and depth. 

• Red Lilies:

  Provide a vibrant pop of color and complement the sunflower’s cheerful nature. 

What is a good companion plant for sunflowers?

• Zinnias:

  Zinnias are vibrant, attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, which are important for sunflower pollination. They also have similar growth needs to sunflowers, so they can thrive alongside them. 

• Corn:

  Corn can be planted near sunflowers to break up the soil, potentially improving the growth of both plants. 

• Beans:

  Beans, like lima beans, can be planted near sunflowers as they climb up the sturdy sunflower stalks, offering a natural support system. They also add nitrogen to the soil, benefiting the sunflower. 

• Tomatoes:

  Sunflowers can attract pollinators like bees and birds to tomato plants, helping with fertilization. 

What is the best combination with sunflower?

1. Zinnias. Zinnias are vibrant flowers in various colours, from red and pink to orange and yellow. …
2. Lavender. Lavender’s delicate purple flowers are the perfect contrast to sunflowers’ bold yellow. …
3. Cosmos. …
4. Black-eyed Susans. …
5. Daisies. …
6. Marigolds. …
7. Peonies. …
8. Coneflowers.

What do you associate with sunflowers?

… ancient Greek mythology to Van Gogh’s iconic paintings, sunflowers have been celebrated as representations of joy, loyalty, and even spiritual enlightenmentApr 7, 2025

What flowers grow well with sunflowers?

Sunflowers can make great companion plants with a variety of flowers that have similar growing requirements. Here are some flowers that grow well with sunflowers: Marigolds: Marigolds are easy to grow and are known to repel pests like nematodes and whiteflies. They also have bright, cheerful flowers that can complement the large, showy sunflowers.

Are sunflowers companion plants?

But even more than companion plants benefitting sunflowers, sunflowers can help other plants thrive. Their tall stature can provide shade and support to summer flowers and vegetables that can’t take the hot summer sun, and their vibrant yellow flowers attract pollinators to your entire garden. What Are The Best Sunflower Companion Plants?

What plants grow in the shade of a sunflower?

Cucumbers are another plant that thrives from the shade a sunflower provides to its surroundings. The sturdy stocks of sunflowers also provide structure for cucumber vines to grow.

Which plants are good neighbors to sunflowers?

Here’s a guide on which plants serve as great neighbors to sunflowers: Repels nematodes and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators like bees. Tomatoes benefit from the shade provided by taller sunflower stalks in peak summer. Zucchinis can grow heftier with the stalk support from sunflowers.

Should you plant sunflowers with friends?

Laura Janney is the founder and owner of The Inspired Garden. While sunflowers are known for being low-maintenance, easygoing flowers, they can benefit from growing with friends. Planting sunflowers alongside companion plants can help shield them from pests like beetles, aphids, and weevils.

Are sunflowers good for summer?

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are our most beautiful summer and autumn flowers. They are perfectly fine when planted independently but can create many benefits when paired with various plants and vegetables.