Chamomile Companion Plants – What to Grow Nearby
Friendly little chamomile grows nicely in the ground or in pots. Look for a few good chamomile companion plants to maximize space and benefits in the garden.
Boasting tiny daisy-like flowers, chamomile is pretty and sweet. Its blossoms also make a calming and soothing tea.
Discover the best companion plants for chamomile, whether vegetables, fruits, herbs, or flowers.
What are the benefits of chamomile companion planting?
Planting with chamomile can bring antifungal and antibacterial benefits to the garden. This can protect some plants against some diseases and various other issues. Chamomile also attracts pollinators and beneficial insects such as hoverflies, ladybugs, and wasps.
Some anecdotal evidence suggests that chamomile planted in the vegetable garden can also repel pests like cucumber beetles.
It’s certainly worth a try!
What are some good chamomile companion plants?
Some of the best companion plants for chamomile include brassicas like kale, broccoli, and cauliflower or tomatoes and potatoes from the nightshade family. As for flowers, zinnias, petunias, snapdragons, phlox, delphiniums, and bleeding hearts also can be good choices. And, you can even plant chamomile with rose bushes, lilac trees, and other shrubs.
Are there any bad companion plants for chamomile?
Avoid planting mint near chamomile. Mint quickly becomes invasive and it may choke out chamomile. (Technically, reviews are mixed on mint.) Also, fennel for the most part is not a great planting companion.
What to Plant with Chamomile
Knowing what to plant with chamomile can help you make the most of your available garden space.
Consider these suggestions for fruits and vegetables, flowers, and herbs as chamomile companion plants.
Fruit and Vegetable Companion Plants for Chamomile
It’s believed that chamomile can improve plant growth as well as flavor.
Plant chamomile with these fruits and vegetables for a good pairing:
- Apple Trees (and other fruit trees)
- Alliums
- Garlic
- Onions
- Beans
- Brassicas
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Nightshades
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Raspberries
Companion Planting Chamomile with Herbs
Make the most of your space by planting herbs with chamomile. Proximity to chamomile supposedly enhances the flavor and aroma of the herbs.
Basil
When possible, grow basil and chamomile together as they can benefit each other. Chamomile in particular helps to improve the flavor of basil by inspiring increased essential oil production.
Rosemary
Rosemary can be another fine friend in the garden for chamomile. Who wouldn’t love stronger rosemary aromas and flavors?!
Flower Companions for Chamomile
Plan out an even prettier flower garden with some lovely companion plants for chamomile. The petite daisy type flowers look stunning with other flowers of all sizes and colors.
Besides looking beautiful, flower companions to chamomile can also benefit each other.
Consider these ideas for flowers to grow with chamomile:
- Bleeding Hearts
- Delphinium
- Lavender
- Petunias
- Phlox
- Roses
- Snapdragons
- Verbena
- Zinnias
Lilac trees and dogwoods also work well as companion shrubs for chamomile.
What are the worst planting companions for chamomile?
Growing mint and chamomile together carries mixed reviews. Some gardeners say it improves the flavor, scent, and growth, while others say to avoid this combination.
Allegedly, mint may lose some of its scent oils when grown too closely to chamomile. Also, as you hopefully already know, mint can become invasive, running other plants out of house and home.
What We Plant Near Chamomile
We plant chamomile in our raspberry bed along with Anne yellow raspberries.
Sometimes we also plant basil in the same raised garden bed.
This year, I am planning to try growing chamomile with potatoes. So far, I haven’t tried any potato companion plants to date.
What do you grow with chamomile? Feel free to share your favorite chamomile planting companions in the comments below. We always love hearing from you!
Happy Gardening!
