The Best Marigold Companion Plants
Marigold flowers are a lovely addition to the garden as they offer pest control properties as well as a pretty pop of color. Consider different marigold companion plants to get the most from your garden!
In my experience, marigolds and tomatoes grow very well together. In fact, so many vegetables and herbs make great companion plants for marigolds, especially planted as garden borders!
Pungent marigolds work very well planted among vegetables, herbs, fruit, and other flowers. My mom always plants a border of marigolds around her garden to deter rabbits, deer, and other pests. She says it works pretty well!
Following the same strategy, we loved planting a border of marigolds to stand sentinel around our green bean patch.
One year the deer actually jumped over the fence to eat our green beans! We were left with very little that year, but last season I think the friendly marigolds helped.
Benefits of Marigolds in the Garden
Marigolds are wonderful to grow in the garden for so many reasons. Many of them are purely anecdotal from gardeners across the globe, so be advised your mileage may vary.
- Pest Control – Marigolds are believed to be effective in keeping various garden pests at bay. Some nuisance insects in particular may include aphids, cabbage maggots, corn earworms, cucumber beetles, and Japanese beetles, among others.
- Brilliant Color – Hues of red, orange, and yellow in various solids and combinations decorate the garden when marigolds abound. This year I’m also attempting Eskimo Marigolds in a creamy to white shade.
- Low Maintenance – Marigold flowers tend to be a “set it and forget it” planting for me, aside from the fact that we love cutting them for indoor bouquets and deadheading marigolds to save seeds for next year.
- Prolific Blooms – Whether you deadhead regularly or not, you’ll surely enjoy constant blooms all summer long.
- Plentiful Seeds – A single marigold produces a season’s worth of new seeds for most gardeners’ needs. Collect marigold seeds to use in the future and share with other gardening friends.
- Unique Aroma – Once you smell the marigold’s fragrance, you’ll never forget it. To me, it is one of the smells of summer. It’s also said to deter some garden pests like bunny rabbits.
Top Marigold Plant Companions
Growing marigolds in the garden works well with vegetables as well as other flowers. Here are some marigold companion plants to consider:
Marigold Plant Companions: Vegetables and Herbs
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Gourds
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Melons
- Onions
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Radish
- Squash
- Tomatoes
Last season I prepared garden grow bags with tomatoes, lettuce, basil, and marigolds. Those plants suffered very few if any pests, so I will plan to attempt this gardening configuration again.
Marigold Plant Companions: Flowers
Marigolds look beautiful in flower beds, too. Try these stunning flower combinations when wondering what marigold companion plants to try.
- Allium
- Asters
- Bachelor Buttons
- Clematis
- Coreopsis
- Dusty Miller
- Geraniums
- Gerbera Daisies
- Lantana
- Lavender
- Roses
- Salvia
- Zinnias
Remember to consider the dimensions you’re looking to create in your garden beds. Some marigolds are rather petite as dwarf varieties. Others tend to be more of a giant or taller height, sometimes two to three feet tall or higher.
Check the type of marigold before planting to ensure you’ve planned your garden according to plant height for an appealing end result.
Final Thoughts: What to Plant with Marigolds
When searching for the best marigold companion plants, you may find that marigolds grow well just about anywhere with just about anything.
Enjoy them as part of your floral landscape or integrate them into your vegetable garden as a natural border.
You may have a lifetime tradition of growing marigolds as I do, stemming from my childhood gardening adventures with my mom. Or maybe you’re new to companion planting with marigolds.
Whatever the case, I wish you the best of luck for a successful garden!
Also, here are a few of my favorite marigolds so far, including the strawberry blonde variety!
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By the way, I’d love to chat about marigolds in the comments below, so feel free to share a story or ask questions.
Happy Gardening!
09.20.22 – Edited to include new pictures of marigolds companion plants. Added links to favorite seeds. Fixed spacing and full-size images.
