16 Must-Have Garlic Companion Plants (with Chart)

If you’re growing garlic just for its flavor, you’re only scratching the surface of what this little bulb can do. Garlic companion planting is one of the smartest tricks in the gardening playbook—because garlic isn’t just good for you, it’s good for your entire garden.

What makes garlic so special? For starters, it’s a natural multitasker. While it quietly grows beneath the soil, it works behind the scenes protecting neighboring plants from harmful insects and fungal diseases. Its strong scent alone is enough to drive away some of the most persistent garden pests.

And here’s the best part: garlic doesn’t demand much in return. It takes up very little space, thrives in full sun, and fits right in whether you’re growing veggies, herbs, or even flowers. That’s why many of us love to tuck it between rows or around the garden’s edge—it plays defense while everything else grows better beside it.

Whether you’re a first-time grower or managing a full backyard ecosystem, understanding the power of garlic companion plants can help you grow a healthier, more productive garden—without relying on chemical sprays.

Why Garlic Is the Ultimate Companion Plant

Let’s talk about what really makes garlic a garden MVP: its natural defense system.

Garlic produces sulfur compounds as it grows—those same ones that give it its pungent smell. But for plants nearby, this is a gift. That sulfur acts like a natural fungicide, helping to protect surrounding crops from soil-borne diseases and mildew. It’s like having a built-in plant doctor in the dirt.

Beyond disease control, garlic’s aroma sends pests packing. Aphids, spider mites, cabbage loopers, Japanese beetles, onion flies—you name it. If they don’t like the smell (and most don’t), they’ll stay away. For that reason, many gardeners scatter garlic companion plants throughout their plots, especially around pest-prone veggies like tomatoes, eggplants, and kale.

It doesn’t stop there. Garlic’s strong presence in the soil can also reduce the chances of fungal outbreaks in neighboring roots and improve your garden’s overall balance. Think of it as a quiet bodyguard—low maintenance, always working, and highly effective.

Expert Tips: If you’ve ever wondered why your carrots thrived one year and flopped the next, it might come down to who they were planted next to. When you start using garlic companion planting techniques, you’ll likely notice fewer pest problems, stronger crops, and more harmony in your soil. That’s the power of planting with intention.

Check Out 16 Best Garlic Companion Plants and Pick the Right Ones for Your Garden:

Let’s explore some of the best companion plants for garlic, organized by plant type so you can plan your garden layout with confidence.

Vegetables That Thrive with Garlic

Garlic has a way of making neighboring vegetables stronger and more resilient. Here are some veggie companions you’ll want to plant side by side:

1. Carrots (Daucus carota)

These two make a great team. Garlic repels the carrot fly, a common root pest that can ruin your harvest before it even starts.

Related: Carrot Companion Plants

2. Spinach & Kale (Spinacia oleracea & Brassica oleracea var. sabellica)

Leafy greens benefit from garlic’s pest-repelling properties and seem to grow cleaner and healthier when tucked nearby.

3. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

Tomato plants love the natural pest control garlic provides. It helps fend off red spider mites and aphids—two common nuisances.

4. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

Growing garlic alongside potatoes can help protect both from fungal issues like blight.

5. Eggplants & Peppers (Solanum melongena & Capsicum annuum)

These nightshades do well when planted close to garlic, which helps deter leaf-chewing insects.

6. Beets (Beta vulgaris)

A root-level alliance: garlic’s strong scent helps mask the presence of beets from pests that love to munch on them.

Each of these veggies benefits in some way, whether it’s fewer pests, better disease resistance, or just improved growing conditions thanks to garlic’s subtle soil contributions. When people talk about garlic companion plants, this list is where most gardeners start—and for good reason.

Herbs That Pair Well with Garlic

You might not think of herbs as garlic’s best buddies, but some varieties make excellent neighbors. Here’s where the synergy gets interesting:

7. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

Not only does it invite pollinators, but it’s also believed to enhance the flavor of garlic itself. A win-win.

8. Dill (Anethum graveolens)

A light and feathery herb that doesn’t crowd garlic and helps draw in beneficial insects like predatory wasps and ladybugs.

9. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Known for improving soil health and boosting the resilience of surrounding plants, making it a thoughtful choice in companion beds.

10. Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis)

This lesser-known herb has antifungal properties of its own and supports the natural balance garlic brings.

Planting garlic with the right herbs turns your garden into a harmonious ecosystem. These aren’t just companion plants to garlic—they’re allies that bring out the best in each other.

Flowers That Benefit from Garlic 🌸

Flowers might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about garlic, but you’d be surprised how much they appreciate its company:

11. Roses (Rosa spp.)

Garlic helps protect roses from aphid infestations, one of the most common nuisances in rose gardens.

12. Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)

These bright bloomers lure in aphids, effectively keeping them away from your more vulnerable plants. Garlic enhances this defense.

13. Geraniums & Calendula (Pelargonium spp. & Calendula officinalis)

Their natural pest-repelling properties make them ideal partners for garlic, creating a protective barrier in mixed beds.

14. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)

Combine the root-protecting power of marigolds with garlic’s above-ground defense system, and you’ve got an unbeatable pest barrier.

These flowering companions don’t just look good—they make your garden function better. When we talk about garlic companion plants, it’s not just about vegetables and herbs; it’s about designing a healthier, more resilient growing environment across the board.

Fruits That Grow Well with Garlic

Although garlic is most often paired with vegetables and herbs, there are a few fruiting plants that genuinely benefit from its presence. These garlic companion plants can enjoy healthier growth and improved pest resistance when grown nearby.

15. Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa)

If you’re growing strawberries, planting garlic nearby can be a smart move. Garlic naturally repels several pests that commonly attack strawberry plants, including aphids and spider mites. It also helps reduce fungal pressure in humid growing conditions, offering added protection without the need for chemical sprays. Strawberries, in turn, grow low and wide, which helps shade the soil and preserve moisture around garlic bulbs.

16. Raspberries (Rubus idaeus)

Raspberry bushes are prone to pests like Japanese beetles and cane borers. Fortunately, garlic’s strong aroma can help deter these unwelcome visitors. Interplanting garlic around raspberry beds can create a natural protective barrier, contributing to healthier foliage and better fruit set. Since both plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil, they can coexist quite comfortably in the same garden zone.

By including strawberries and raspberries in your garlic companion planting plan, you’re adding more than just delicious fruit—you’re building a natural pest defense system that supports your garden’s overall health.

Garlic Companion Planting Chart

To make things easier, here’s a quick visual guide to help you choose the right companions for garlic—and avoid the wrong ones. You can use this garlic companion planting chart to design a more effective garden layout.

Feel free to print or save this garlic companion planting chart for reference before each growing season. It’s a helpful tool to make your garden smarter—not harder.

Plants You Shouldn’t Grow Near Garlic ❌

While garlic is generally friendly and beneficial, it doesn’t get along with everyone. Some plants either compete for resources or suffer from garlic’s naturally strong biochemicals—so it’s smart to give these a little space.

Here are the main crops to avoid when planning your garlic companion planting layout:

Beans and Peas – These legumes don’t appreciate garlic’s assertive root behavior. Garlic can inhibit their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, slowing their growth.
Asparagus – Since both garlic and asparagus are heavy feeders with long growth cycles, they tend to compete for nutrients and root space.
Sage and Parsley – Delicate herbs like these may lose their vigor when planted too close to garlic. Their flavor and vitality can be compromised by garlic’s overpowering presence.
Onions, Leeks, and Chives – It might seem logical to pair garlic with other alliums, but that’s not a great idea. Planting similar species together can increase the risk of soil-borne diseases and pest buildup, like onion flies.
Spring Onions – Like their bigger cousins, they share vulnerabilities that can escalate when grown in close proximity to garlic.

In short, even though garlic is a fantastic neighbor for most plants, avoiding these specific combinations will help you maintain balance and productivity in your garden. Not all garlic companion plants are beneficial—some are best kept apart.

Must Read: Vegetables That Can Grow in 4 to 6 Hours of Sunlight

Tips for Successful Garlic Companion Planting

Now that you know which plants love garlic (and which ones don’t), let’s talk about how to set up your garden for success.

Here are a few practical tips that can make your garlic companion planting more effective:

Plant at the Right Time

Garlic thrives when planted in the fall—usually a few weeks before the first frost. This gives it a head start on root development before winter. Planting it early also ensures it’s in place to protect spring crops from early pests.

Space It Out Strategically

While garlic doesn’t need much space, don’t crowd it. Allow enough room for air circulation and root expansion. When used as a companion, plant garlic along the edges of raised beds or between crop rows to maximize its protective reach.

Rotate Each Season

To prevent soil fatigue and disease buildup, avoid planting garlic (or other alliums) in the same spot year after year. Crop rotation helps keep the soil healthier and gives garlic a fresh start.

Use Mulch for Extra Benefits

Garlic benefits from a layer of organic mulch. It keeps weeds down, regulates moisture, and insulates the bulbs through winter. Plus, it helps protect your neighboring companion plants too.

Avoid Waterlogging

Garlic doesn’t like wet feet. Well-draining soil is essential—especially when it’s sharing space with moisture-sensitive companions like herbs or root crops.

Companion planting is about creating the right environment, not just mixing plants randomly. When done right, garlic companion planting can reduce your pest problems, boost yields, and make your entire garden ecosystem more self-reliant.

Garlic Chives vs. Garlic: Do They Have the Same Companion Plants?

If you’ve ever wondered whether garlic chives are just a fancy version of garlic—you’re not alone. While they may look and smell similar, they behave quite differently in the garden. Understanding the difference is key to planting smarter.

Garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) are leafy, grass-like herbs with a mild garlic flavor. They’re often used in stir-fries or garnishes, but in the garden, they play a role that’s both decorative and functional. Unlike garlic bulbs, garlic chives don’t grow underground cloves—instead, they spread through clumps and produce clusters of white flowers in summer that attract pollinators.

So, what about garlic chives companion plants?

Here’s a list of plants that grow well with garlic chives:

Lettuce & Spinach – These leafy greens benefit from the pest-deterrent effects of garlic chives without competing for nutrients.
Strawberries – Chives and garlic chives can help reduce fungal issues and keep insects off your berries.
Celery – Another water-loving plant that gets along nicely with chives due to their non-invasive root systems.
Roses & Peonies – Garlic chives can be a charming, pest-repelling border around ornamental flower beds.

The bottom line? Garlic chives companion plants overlap with garlic’s allies but are a better fit for tighter spaces, herb spirals, or decorative borders. They offer subtle pest control while adding visual appeal and flavor to your garden setup.

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Society Garlic Companion Plants: More Than Just Looks

Let’s take a moment to appreciate society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea)—an ornamental cousin of traditional garlic that’s as pretty as it is practical.

Native to southern Africa, society garlic features slender purple flowers and a milder scent compared to regular garlic. It’s often planted in borders, rock gardens, or mixed beds—not just for its looks, but for its garden-friendly traits. This plant naturally deters pests like aphids and whiteflies and can even help suppress fungal problems in surrounding plants.

Now, let’s talk about the best society garlic companion plants to grow alongside it:

Lavender – Both enjoy well-drained soil and full sun, and together they form a drought-tolerant, fragrant pairing.
Thyme & Rosemary – These Mediterranean herbs thrive in similar conditions and create a beautiful, low-maintenance herb border.
Ornamental Grasses – Society garlic’s upright flower stalks contrast beautifully with flowing grasses like blue fescue or Mexican feather grass.
Daylilies & Coneflowers – For an eye-catching flower bed, plant society garlic among these hardy bloomers that also tolerate dry spells.

Because society garlic is less pungent than culinary garlic, it’s often used in decorative beds where appearance and low maintenance matter. But don’t let the soft look fool you—it still does its part in keeping pests away. That’s what makes it one of the most underrated players in the world of garlic companion plants.

Must Read: Tomato Companion Plants for Every Garden

Conclusion

Whether you’re planting bulbs for the kitchen, soft-stemmed chives for garnish, or elegant society garlic for aesthetics, one thing is clear—garlic companion planting is a quiet yet powerful way to elevate your garden’s health.

From deterring pests and suppressing disease to improving flavor and encouraging growth, garlic brings more to the table than most plants. And with the help of a simple garlic companion planting chart, you can map out your beds with intention and avoid common pairing mistakes.

So, as you plan your next planting season, don’t just think about where to put your garlic—think about who it’s growing with. Your entire garden will thank you for it.

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