What to Plant with Rosemary in Containers: The Best Companion Plants

Dive into the world of rosemary, a herb revered not only for its culinary uses but also for its remarkable role in the garden.

This guide unravels the art of companion planting with rosemary, guiding you through effective strategies to enhance your vegetable plots and flower beds.

Discover the best companions for this aromatic herb and learn how to create a garden thats as productive as it is beautiful.

Whether youre an experienced gardener or just starting out, get ready to explore the symbiotic relationships that rosemary can bring to your garden space.

Companion Planting and Its Benefits

Companion planting is all about maximizing space in your garden by planting crops nearby that have similar needs. Though you can plant a variety of different plants, they all work together to provide benefits such as preventing diseases, insect infestations, and improving soil quality.

The benefits of companion planting are purely based on longtime gardeners observations. These are just recommendations, but it could be trial and error in your garden to see what prospers growing next to rosemary. Rosemary plants prefer sunny conditions and drier soil, so plants that need more shade or water might not work.

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  Lavender

  The Spruce / Adrienne Legault Since they both have Mediterranean roots and maintenance needs, lavender makes a great companion for rosemary. Both herbs love to bask in warm environments with full sun exposure and well-draining soil. With the well-drained soil, rosemary and lavender companion gardens only need to be watered about once a week.

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  Alyssum

  Wirestock/ iStock/ Getty s Plus Rosemary is compatible with nearly any type of flower, but what makes alyssums more special are the insects they attract. The white flowers of the alyssums attract pollinators while the pungent scent of the rosemary repels pesky insects to keep them from feeding on the stems or leaves. In return, you get a pollinated garden full of this gorgeous bright color.

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  Sage

  Getty s / Bonnie McCann If youre looking to grow more of an herb garden, the good news is that other herbs, like sage, make some of the best rosemary companion plants. Rosemary and sage have the same growing requirements, but rosemary plants have the ability to intensify the health and flavor of sage, giving you an easy-to-maintain garden full of flavor.

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  Thyme

  The Spruce / Almar Creative Thyme is another herb to plant with rosemary in your garden as a companion plant. Not only do these two herbs go together in your meals, but they also go together to protect your garden with their attributes. Rosemary repels insects from feasting on your plants while thyme acts as a cabbage worm deterrent. Meaning, your garden doesnt have to worry about being invaded, especially if youre planting cabbages too. Thyme also has Mediterranean roots, which means soil and environment needs are the same as rosemary. Continue to 5 of 25 below

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  Oregano

  The Spruce / Kara Riley Keep your garden full of flavors with companion plants that are easygoing and follow the same maintenance plan. Oregano is a great herb to use as a companion for rosemary with their mutual properties of enjoying full-sun exposure, well-drained soil, and ease in growth. Another perk to planting oregano is that its low-growing and will protect your topsoil from erosion.

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  Marjoram

  Getty s / scisettialfio Marjoram provides a lot of benefits to your garden as a companion plant with rosemary. Other than building more flavors into your outdoor garden, this herb releases specific chemicals into the soil to promote faster plant growth and the flavor enhancement of surrounding vegetable plants.

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  Borage

  Getty s / naturaltexture This beautiful starflower herb can be planted as a companion plant for rosemary since its growing needs are relatively the same. Borage flourishes in well-drained soil thats slightly moist, so it doesnt need an overwhelming amount of water that could cause your rosemary to drown.

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  Chives

  The Spruce / Randi Rhoades Chives are universally beneficial herb that can be planted with most plants and vegetables, rosemary included. These flavorful herbs also enhance the flavors of other plants theyre planted with, but most importantly, they also keep insects like aphids out of your garden for a pest-free zone. Continue to 9 of 25 below

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  Marigolds

  Getty s / Ravinder Kumar Whether you want to add a pop of color to your garden or double up on your protection, marigolds are great rosemary companion plants. Their strong scent repels certain bugs like flies and mosquitos—even wasps—on top of the repellent qualities of rosemary. For this, marigolds are great to include in your garden with rosemary to keep vegetable plants off-limits to pesky insects while adding livelihood with their colorful hues.

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  Zinnia

  The Spruce / Lacey Johnson Add even more color and pollinators to your garden with the help of zinnias. Zinnias are one of the best rosemary companion plants since they thrive in the same growing conditions and attract the right pollinators to help your garden flourish.

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  Cabbage

  The Spruce / K. Dave Interested in starting an edible garden? Some of the best rosemary companion plants are vegetables in the cruciferous category, like cabbage. With rosemarys repellent abilities, cabbage moths and worms stay clear of your garden so your veggies can grow healthy and strong. The scent of the rosemary masks the cabbage scent that attracts the bugs, so not only will you get a pest-free garden, but youll have a good-smelling garden too.

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  Beans

  Getty s / brytta Beans are other plants you can use as companion plants with rosemary. Bean plants are nitrogen-fixing plants, which improve the soil to provide healthier growth for your rosemary plants. Just like cabbage, beans attract specific pests like a Mexican bean beetle, but when planted next to rosemary, the scent of the plants is masked to deter bugs. Continue to 13 of 25 below

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  Carrots

  Getty s / Dimitrie Ragar If you havent guessed by now, rosemary is largely used to infuse flavor in your garden and mask scents for healthier crops. The trend continues for carrots. Plant carrots as companions to your rosemary for an edible garden free of carrot flies so you can bring more fresh, homegrown veggies to your table. Though carrots enjoy well-drained soil too, these plants need more water. Since rosemary doesnt have to be watered as often, they work best when planted on the ends of carrot rows.

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  Peppers

  Getty s / Vasin Hirunwiwatwong Peppers are delicious vegetables to grow, but we humans arent the only ones who think so. Peppers are prone to being invaded by aphids, spider mites, and other pests until rosemary plants come and save the day. Plant rosemary at the base of your pepper plants to repel insects and keep moisture retained in the soil.

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  Strawberries

  Getty s / Helaine Weide Is there anything better than growing your own strawberries? Strawberries love to be planted with companion plants like rosemary that intensify the flavors of the sweet fruits and repel insects that love them too. Rosemary is a great companion for strawberries since they both improve soil fertility and strawberries squash weed growth so rosemary plants can thrive.

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  Blueberries

  Getty s / YelenaYemchuk Enjoy the taste of homegrown blueberries by making them one of your companion plants for rosemary. These two plants require the same well-drained, slightly moist soil, which makes maintaining your garden a breeze. Plus, thanks to the natural repellent provided by the rosemary, your blueberries will stay pest-free for only you to enjoy. Continue to 17 of 25 below

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  Raspberries

  Getty s / GomezDavid Similar to blueberries, raspberries love a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Because of this, rosemary makes a great companion plant not only to enhance the flavor but to keep the area blocked off from bugs.

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  Apple Trees

  Getty s / Mint s Obviously, apple trees grow much bigger than rosemary plants, but that doesnt mean they cant have smaller companions. Rosemary makes one of the best companion plants for apple trees because of its strong scent thats unpleasing to critters looking to snack on a juicy red apple.

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  Cherry Trees

  Getty s / Cristi Croitoru If youre planting some cherry trees in your backyard, make sure you plant some rosemary around the trunk as well. This tasty herb uses its eucalyptus-like scent to confuse insects in the area by throwing off the cherry smell with something more pungent.

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  Brussel Sprouts

  Flickr / Nick Saltmarsh Brussel sprouts are like mini cabbages and also in the cruciferous family, so of course theyre one of the best rosemary companion plants. Rosemary enhances the Brussel sprouts flavor when planted nearby, and deters certain insects from feasting on the miniature bulbs. Continue to 21 of 25 below

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  Onions

  Getty s / rootstocks Almost all companions on this list use rosemary for its strong scent as a natural deterrent, but onions come with a repelling smell of their own. Onions are great rosemary companion plants since their shallow roots dont interfere with rosemarys deep roots, and both plants act as a deterrent for other plants in your garden.

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  Parsnips

  Getty s / duckycards Also a root vegetable, these light carrot-like vegetables benefit greatly from the companion of rosemary. Rosemary infuses extra flavor into parsnips as theyre growing and provides amazing pest control to keep pesky flies at bay.

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  Garlic

  The Spruce / K. Dave These scrumptious aromatics make wonderful companion plants with rosemary. As if garlic bulbs werent flavorful enough, planting them next to rosemary amplifies the flavor even more. Plus, rosemarys strong scent repels insects away on top of both herbs having the same soil needs, so no special arrangement has to be made to maintain these two plants.

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  Broccoli

  Getty s / Barbara Rich Also in the cruciferous family, broccoli loves placement near rosemary plants for rosemarys repellent features. When you plant broccoli in your garden, keep your rosemary plants in a separate container nearby since these two plants have different soil needs. Both prefer well-drained soil, but broccoli likes its soil to be kept moist while rosemary can live on the drier side. Continue to 25 of 25 below

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  Cauliflower

  The Spruce / K. Dave Because of its scent, rosemary helps other vegetables in your garden, like cauliflower, to grow properly by keeping insects away. Rosemary is more drought-tolerant than cauliflower, so these two need to be separated to a degree. The wisest placement is to put rosemary on the ends of your cauliflower rows so each plant gets the appropriate amount of water.

Benefits of Rosemary Companion Planting

Integrating rosemary into your garden isnt just a treat for the senses; its a strategic move for healthier, more vibrant plant life.

Heres why rosemary plays such a crucial role in companion planting:

Rosemary is a hero when it comes to keeping common garden pests at bay.

Its strong scent is a natural deterrent for many insects that could otherwise harm neighboring plants.

For instance, its known to repel cabbage moths and carrot flies, making it an excellent neighbor for brassicas and root vegetables.

While it keeps the bad bugs away, rosemary simultaneously invites the good guys.

Its flowers are a hotspot for beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.

These pollinators are essential for a healthy, fruitful garden, ensuring that your plants reproduce and thrive.

Rosemary is one of many flowering herbs —to learn more about flowering herbs check out my guide Edible Beauty: The 10 Best Flowering Herbs.

How to Grow Rosemary – 7 Tips for Success

FAQ

What grows well with rosemary in pots?

Companion Planting — Rosemary does well when planted near other herb plants like lavender, thyme, marjoram, oregano, and sage. You can plant marigolds, strawberries, and brassica plants near rosemary as well. It’s not advised to plant it near tomatoes, garlic, onions, cucumbers, pumpkins, basil, or mint.

What not to plant next to rosemary?

• Mint:

  Mint is a vigorous grower that can quickly take over a garden, competing with rosemary for space, water, and nutrients. 

• Basil:

  Basil needs more water than rosemary, and both plants compete for nutrients, making them unsuitable neighbors. 

• Cucumbers:

  Cucumbers require more moisture than rosemary, which can lead to overwatering and negatively impact rosemary’s health. 

• Pumpkins:

  Pumpkins are prone to mildew, which can spread to rosemary and cause root rot. 

• Tomatoes:

  While both plants enjoy full sun, tomatoes require more frequent watering than rosemary, which can lead to overwatering and potentially harm the rosemary. 

• Potatoes:

  Potatoes and rosemary have different watering needs and can compete for nutrients, making them unsuitable neighbors. 

What pairs well with rosemary?

Rosemary Savory apricots, beans, bell peppers, cabbage, chicken, eggs, eggplant, fish, lentils, peas, pork, potatoes, soups, stews, tomatoes, winter squash bay, chives, garlic, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley, sage, thyme Fresh rosemary can be kept for a couple of days in the refrigerator.

Does rosemary like full sun or shade?

• Ideal Conditions:

  Rosemary is a Mediterranean herb that thrives in bright, sunny conditions with well-drained soil. 

• Sunlight Requirements:

  It needs a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth and flowering. 

• Shade Tolerance:

  While rosemary can tolerate some shade, it won’t thrive in it. Shady conditions can lead to slower growth and even plant death. 

• Indoor Growing:

  If growing rosemary indoors, ensure it receives at least 6-8 hours of sunlight, ideally from a south-facing window. 

• Soil:

  Rosemary prefers well-drained soil, as it is susceptible to root rot in soggy conditions. 

• Temperature:

  Rosemary is hardy to temperatures down to 15°F (USDA Zone 7 or up).