15 Perfect Rosemary Companion Plants (with Chart)

If you’re growing rosemary in your garden—or planning to—you’ve already chosen one of the most rewarding and resilient herbs out there. Known for its needle-like leaves and bold, woodsy scent, rosemary not only flavors our food but can also improve the health of nearby plants when used wisely in companion planting.

But here’s the truth: rosemary isn’t a fan of just any garden neighbor.

Through years of gardening experience and careful observation, we’ve seen how rosemary companion planting can help control pests, attract pollinators, and even enhance flavor in vegetables and herbs. On the flip side, the wrong plant pairings can lead to stunted growth, mold issues, or constant competition for space and nutrients.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the 15 best co mpanion plants for rosemary that thrive when grown nearby—plus 5 plants you should avoid planting alongside it.

If you want your rosemary to grow bushier, last longer, and even protect other plants in your garden, this guide is for you. Let’s understand a few important things first…

What Is Companion Planting and Why It Matters for Rosemary

Let’s break this down simply: companion planting is the practice of placing specific plants near each other so they help—not harm—one another. And when it comes to rosemary, choosing the right companions can make a visible difference.

I’ve personally found that planting companion plants with rosemary not only simplifies care but also keeps the whole bed looking vibrant and productive. Whether you’re tucking rosemary into a raised vegetable bed or pairing it with other Mediterranean herbs, thoughtful plant combinations really can elevate your garden’s performance.

Rosemary Growing Requirements

Before we dive into companion planting choices, let’s make sure you’re giving rosemary exactly what it wants. A happy rosemary plant will be much more effective at supporting its garden neighbors.

Here’s what you need to know:

Requirement	Details
Botanical Name	Salvia rosmarinus (formerly Rosmarinus officinalis)
Sunlight	Full sun – at least 6 to 8 hours daily
Soil Type	Sandy or loamy, well-drained, with good airflow
Soil pH	Slightly alkaline to neutral (around 6.5 to 7.5)
Watering	Low to moderate – allow soil to dry out between waterings
Spacing	18–24 inches apart to allow air circulation
Ideal Zones	USDA Zones 7–10 (can be overwintered indoors in colder zones)
Growth Habit	Upright, shrubby perennial that can reach 3–5 feet in height when mature

Don’t overwater rosemary…it absolutely hates wet feet. If your soil stays soggy or lacks drainage, the roots will suffer, and you’ll end up with yellowing or drooping growth.

Give rosemary its favorite conditions, and it’ll reward you not just with flavor—but with natural pest control and harmony when grouped with the right companions.

Here Are the 15 Best Rosemary Companion Plants I’ve Successfully Grown in My Garden:

Over the years, I’ve tested different combinations in raised beds, containers, and ground plots. Some were instant successes. Others? Let’s just say they weren’t invited back the next season.

Below are the plants that consistently play well with rosemary—divided into herbs, vegetables, and flowers or fruits.

🌿 Best Rosemary Companion Herbs

These herbs share rosemary’s love for full sun and well-drained soil. Most are Mediterranean natives, which means they thrive in similar growing conditions.

1. Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

If I had to pick a best friend for rosemary in the herb garden, it would be thyme. Both love the sun and dry, rocky soil. I often plant them side by side in containers, and they seem to grow stronger together. Thyme stays low to the ground, making it perfect for filling in space beneath taller rosemary plants.

Did you know? Their combined fragrance can help confuse common pests like whiteflies and cabbage moths—something I’ve seen firsthand in my own garden.

2. Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Sage and rosemary are like garden cousins. They’re both drought-tolerant, love heat, and don’t mind a little neglect. When planted near each other, they help repel pests like carrot flies, cabbage moths, and beetles.

Sage can also encourage pollinators like bees, which benefits nearby vegetables too. Just give each plant enough space so they don’t compete for airflow.

3. Marjoram (Origanum majorana)

I’ve had great luck pairing rosemary with marjoram. Both thrive in similar soils and create a powerful aroma that sends many pests packing. Marjoram is also known to enhance the flavor and growth of nearby veggies like peppers and tomatoes, making it a multitasker in your garden.

4. Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Oregano is another drought-loving herb that complements rosemary’s growing needs. They not only look good together in an herb border but also work as a defensive team against aphids and spider mites.

Oregano tends to sprawl a bit, so I like planting it at the base of a taller rosemary bush.

5. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

You might not expect chives to get along with rosemary, but they do surprisingly well. Chives grow upright and don’t compete with rosemary’s deeper roots. Their scent deters aphids, and they’re easy to trim and toss into a dish with rosemary for fresh flavor.

If your garden gets a lot of wind or sun exposure, chives can even act as a partial windbreak for rosemary seedlings.

6. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender and rosemary are a visual and functional match. Both have narrow leaves, woody stems, and an irresistible fragrance. I plant them near walkways to enjoy their scent every time I pass by.

In the garden, lavender attracts pollinators and repels ticks, moths, and flea beetles. It also helps prevent weed competition around rosemary since its dense growth covers the soil.

🥕 Best Rosemary Companion Vegetables

When it comes to rosemary companion vegetables, the key is choosing crops that don’t hog water or create too much humidity.

7. Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)

I love tucking rosemary near the edges of my carrot rows. The strong scent of rosemary confuses carrot root flies and helps protect the crop naturally. In return, carrots break up the soil gently, which improves drainage around rosemary’s roots.

Plant rosemary at the ends of carrot beds, not in between rows, to avoid competition for underground space.

8. Beans – Bush or Pole (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Beans are a go-to option in our garden beds. Not only do they fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits rosemary, but rosemary’s smell deters pests like Mexican bean beetles. It’s a true win-win.

Stick with bush beans for smaller spaces or try pole beans on a trellis behind your rosemary for a productive vertical combo.

9. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Brassicas like cabbage pair nicely with rosemary thanks to its ability to repel cabbage moths and loopers. I’ve found that spacing rosemary a few feet away—rather than right beside—is best, as cabbage prefers a bit more soil moisture.

Keep this in mind when watering, and your cabbage heads will come out cleaner and less chewed up.

10. Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa)

Parsnips are a lesser-known but excellent rosemary companion. Just like with carrots, rosemary’s scent hides the parsnip’s natural sweetness from hungry flies. Plus, the deep taproots of parsnips aerate the soil, which rosemary appreciates.

11. Peppers (Capsicum annuum)

Whether sweet or spicy, peppers love growing near rosemary. Rosemary helps deter aphids and spider mites that often plague pepper plants. I usually plant rosemary along the sunny side of my pepper bed to increase air circulation and reduce fungal issues.

This combo works especially well in raised beds and patio containers.

🌸 Best Companion Flowers and Fruits for Rosemary

Flowers and fruiting plants add beauty and function to a rosemary garden. Choose varieties that match rosemary’s soil and sun needs.

12. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)

Few companion plants are as hardworking as marigolds. Their strong scent helps repel aphids, nematodes, and whiteflies. When planted near rosemary, they boost pest resistance across the whole bed.

Try the smaller French marigold varieties if you’re growing rosemary in pots or narrow spaces.

13. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

Zinnias not only brighten up your garden but also bring in bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that support flowering herbs and veggies. I like planting zinnias behind rosemary bushes where they have room to grow tall without crowding.

Zinnias are also low-maintenance, making them great partners for rosemary’s fuss-free attitude.

14. Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa)

You might not think of strawberries as a good match, but they pair beautifully with rosemary. Rosemary helps deter slugs and weevils from feasting on ripening fruit, while strawberries cover the ground and prevent weed growth around rosemary stems.

Plus, the smell of rosemary may even enhance the flavor of nearby berries.

15. Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

Alyssum is a flowering ground cover that grows low and spreads wide, making it ideal for tucking around the base of rosemary. It brings in beneficial insects like hoverflies and lacewings that prey on aphids.

This soft, fragrant flower pairs nicely in a herb border and doesn’t compete with rosemary for space or nutrients.

5 Bad Companion Plants for Rosemary

Just like good neighbors can make life easier, the wrong ones can cause nothing but problems. The same goes for rosemary in your garden. While this herb is famously low-maintenance and resilient, it does not get along with every plant. Over the years, I’ve learned the hard way that not all pairings are worth the risk.

Here are five worst companion plants for rosemary you should avoid growing nearby:

1. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Even though basil and rosemary are both kitchen staples, they couldn’t be more different in the garden. Basil craves moisture and humidity, while rosemary prefers things on the dry side. Planting them together almost always leads to unhappy herbs—either the rosemary suffers from too much water or the basil dries out.

If you want both in your garden, grow them in separate containers so you can meet their individual watering needs.

2. Mint (Mentha spp.)

Mint is notorious for taking over garden beds, and that’s a big reason why it doesn’t work well with rosemary. It spreads fast, competes aggressively for nutrients, and often shades out neighboring plants. On top of that, mint enjoys moist soil—again, not a match for rosemary’s dry-loving roots.

Keep mint contained in its own pot, far away from your rosemary bed.

3. Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

This one surprises a lot of gardeners. Yes, rosemary can repel pests that target tomatoes, but that doesn’t mean they should grow side by side. Tomatoes need frequent watering, rich soil, and a touch more humidity. Rosemary, on the other hand, thrives in leaner, drier conditions.

Trying to keep both happy in the same space often results in neither thriving.

4. Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)

Cucumbers are another water-loving plant that don’t belong near rosemary. They also require a lot of nitrogen, which can create conditions that rosemary roots don’t appreciate. And if you’re growing cucumbers in a humid climate, the moisture around them can lead to root rot or mildew in nearby rosemary plants.

In short, cucumbers are one of the worst companion plants for rosemary, especially in cramped garden spaces.

5. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel has a reputation for being a bit of a loner in the garden—and for good reason. It releases chemical compounds into the soil that can inhibit the growth of nearby plants, rosemary included. I avoid planting fennel near any herb, but especially rosemary, which tends to be sensitive to such interactions.

Give fennel its own space, well away from other herbs and vegetables.

Rosemary Companion Planting Chart

You can download and print the following companion planting chart for rosemary and pin it in your greenhouse, garden shed, or near your planting station. It’s a handy reminder of what to plant—and what to avoid—right where you need it most.

Steps to download this Rosemary companion planting chart:

On Desktop/PC:

• Chrome: Right-click the image and select Save image as…
• Safari (Mac): Control-click the image and choose Save Image to “Downloads” or Save Image As…

On Mobile Devices:

• Android: Tap and hold the image, then select Download image
• iPhone (Safari): Tap and hold the image, then tap Save to Photos

How to Arrange Companion Plants Around Rosemary

Once you know which plants play nicely with rosemary, the next question is—where exactly do you put them?

Arranging your companion plants with rosemary isn’t just about proximity. It’s about maximizing airflow, sunlight, root space, and water distribution so that both rosemary and its companions thrive instead of competing.

Start with Sun-Lovers

Rosemary needs 6–8 hours of full sun daily, so place it alongside other sun-loving plants like lavender, thyme, sage, and marigolds. These plants won’t block the light and will benefit from similar growing conditions.

If you’re using raised beds, position rosemary on the south or west-facing edge where it gets maximum sunlight exposure throughout the day.

Group by Water Needs

This is one of the most important companion planting principles. Keep dry-loving herbs like oregano, marjoram, and thyme close to rosemary. Vegetables that require more water (like carrots or peppers) can still be companions, but they do better at the edges of your bed or in separate rows to prevent overwatering rosemary.

Container planting? Even better. Rosemary thrives in pots, and it’s easy to pair it with matching herbs in a well-draining planter while keeping high-water veggies elsewhere.

Give It Space to Breathe

Rosemary can grow into a fairly large shrub if left unchecked. Be sure to space companion plants 12 to 18 inches away from its base to allow airflow, reduce disease risk, and avoid root crowding. If you’re tucking in low-growing companions like alyssum or chives, they can be planted a little closer.

One tip I use: think of rosemary as the anchor plant in your herb layout. Place smaller or ground-hugging plants around it like a sunburst pattern. This not only looks beautiful but also gives every plant a fair shot at light and nutrients.

FAQs

🌼 Conclusion

Remember, every garden is unique. What worked for me in raised beds might need small adjustments for your containers or in-ground layout. But with this list of companions—and a few plants to avoid—you’re already several steps ahead.

🌿 Found this article helpful? Have a favorite rosemary companion you swear by—or a pairing that flopped? Share your story in the comments below! And if there’s a plant or garden combo you’re curious about, let us know. We’re here to grow smarter together. 🌱

👩‍🌾 Know someone who grows herbs or loves companion planting? Share this article with fellow gardeners, friends, or family who want to make the most of their rosemary. They’ll be glad you passed it along!