The Art & Secrets of Companion Planting: Flowers
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If you want fruit and vegetables, you need flowers too! The most important reason to grow flowers in your garden is to attract native bees and other beneficial insects like butterflies and hummingbirds. Studies show that when bees pollinate even self-fertile crops, the yield increases significantly. When flowers are used as ground cover or space fillers, flowering plants can shade soil and out-compete weeds. Many flowers can provide a variety of health benefits from the nutrient compounds they contain and can be used to make remedies.
FLOWER
COMPANIONS
ANTAGONISTS
NOTES
ALYSSUM
Lobularia maritima
COMPANIONS
Grapes and lettuce.
ANTAGONISTS
n/a
NOTES
Because they attract syrphidae they help reduce aphids through predation.
BABY’S BREATH
Gypsophila paniculata
COMPANIONS
Can grow with most plants!
ANTAGONISTS
n/a
NOTES
Because they attract syrphidae they help reduce aphids through predation.
BEE BALM
Monarda spp.
COMPANIONS
Tomatoes.
ANTAGONISTS
n/a
NOTES
Improves the health and flavor of plants like tomatoes.
COSMOS
Cosmos
COMPANIONS
Celery, cucumbers, legumes, squash, and tomatoes.
ANTAGONISTS
None! This flower gets along with everyone.
NOTES
Cosmos help keep aphids away from tomatoes.
GERANIUMS
Pelargonium spp.
COMPANIONS
Corn, grapes, peppers, and roses.
ANTAGONISTS
Eggplant, tobacco, tomatoes, and other nightshades.
NOTES
A trap crop for roses and grape vines – distracts beet leafhoppers, carrier of the curly top virus.
MARIGOLD
Tagetes
COMPANIONS
Most plants, especially tomatoes and peppers. Also alliums, basil, broccoli, coreopsis, cucurbits family, kale, lavender, lettuce, radish, roses, salvia, and zinnias.
ANTAGONISTS
Beans and cabbage (some Marigolds, especially Mexican Marigolds can have an herbicidal effect on these plants).
NOTES
Marigolds are a garden staple, invoking the saying “plant them everywhere in your garden.”
NASTURTIUM
Tropaeolum majus
COMPANIONS
Beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, dill, kale, kohlrabi, potatoes, pumpkins, radish, spinach, squash, tomato, and zucchini.
ANTAGONISTS
Friends with everyone!
NOTES
Among the best at attracting predatory insects and is a trap crops for aphids. This plant deters many pests of the cucurbits family.
SHASTA DAISY
Leucanthemum × superbum
COMPANIONS
Algerian iris, coneflowers, germander sage, and rudbeckia.
ANTAGONISTS
None! Plant with anything.
NOTES
n/a
SUNFLOWER
Helianthus annuus
COMPANIONS
Caulitflower, corn, cucumber, peppers, squash, swan plant, and toamtoes.
ANTAGONISTS
Pole beans and potatoes.
NOTES
Works as a trap plant for thrips keeping then off bell peppers and ants herd aphids onto sunflowers. Planting near swan plants help sunflowers grow rapidly.
TANSY
Leucanthemum × superbum
COMPANIONS
Beans, brassicas, corn, cucurbits family, fruit trees, raspberries, and roses.
ANTAGONISTS
n/a
NOTES
Toxic to people and many animals – don’t plant it where livestock browse. Tansy generally repels insects, except for nectar-eating types.
ZINNIA
Zinnia
COMPANIONS
Beans, peppers, and tomatoes.
ANTAGONISTS
n/a
NOTES
Attracts hummingbirds that eat whiteflies. ☾
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