In the kingdom of herbs there are dream teams and opponents who are enemies of each other. Other herbal treasures are mild-tempered and tolerate their green plant neighbors. A rule of thumb provides help when it comes to determining which herbs go well together and which ones are better kept apart. A table provides guidance for beginners. Read this guide for important information before planting garden herbs.
What combinations of herbs go well together?
Herbs that go well together include rosemary and basil or parsley, dill, chives, chervil and marjoram. A rule of thumb is that annual and perennial herbs should be planted separately. Avoid combinations such as thyme and marjoram or chamomile and parsley in a bed.
- Herbs fit together when annual species stay among themselves and perennial species also form a closed society.
- Rosemary and basil as well as parsley, dill, chives, chervil and marjoram go very well together. Lemon balm harmonizes with almost all herbs.
- Thyme and marjoram as well as chamomile and parsley are at war in the herb bed.
Which herbs go together? – Rule of thumb for beginners
When herbs go well together, various criteria come into play. A herb plant often attracts beneficial insects that destroy pests on its neighboring herb. It is often root exudates that promote mutual growth and prevent soil fatigue. Some herbalists believe that the emissions from one variety protect the neighboring variety from disease. These gardening details have long been familiar to advanced hobby gardeners. Beginners are guided by this experience:
Rule of thumb: plant annual herbs and perennial herbs in separate beds
The explanation is obvious: Perennial herbs don't like it when a new plant neighbor causes unrest every year. Annual herbs develop their optimum potential when they are given a new location each season. For this reason, the two herb categories should not be placed side by side.
Which herbs go together? – Table for the herb bed
Sage and parsley go well together
As the rule of thumb for the herb bed teaches us, annual and perennial herbs like to keep to themselves. Every well-thought-out planting plan rests on this foundation. Of course, this criterion alone does not guarantee vital growth and a rich harvest. By taking into account the individual location requirements, the socialization of your favorite herbs becomes a successful project. The following table separates annual and perennial herb friends, supplemented with information about the ideal lighting conditions:
| Annual herbal friends | botanical name | Location | Perennial herbal friends | botanical name | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Ocimum basilicum | sunny | Wild garlic | Allium ursinum | partially shaded to shady |
| Summer savory | Satureja hortensis | sunny to partially shaded | Curry herb | Helichrysum italicum | sunny |
| Garden cress | Lepidium sativum | sunny to sunny | Tarragon | Artemisia dracunculus | sunny to partially shaded |
| Chervil | Anthriscus cerefolium | sunny to partially shaded | Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | sunny |
| Coriander | Coriandrum sativum | sunny to partially shaded | garlic | Allium sativum | sunny to partially shaded |
| Marjoram | Origanum majorana | sunny to partially shaded | Oregano | Origanum vulgare | sunny |
| parsley | Petroselinum crispum | partly shaded | Sage | Salvia officinalis | sunny to partially shaded |
| Rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis | sunny | Chives | Allium schoenoprasum | partly shaded |
| Arugula | Eruca sativa | sunny to sunny | Thyme | Thymus vulgaris | sunny |
| Stevia | Stevia rebaudiana | sunny to partially shaded | Woodruff | Galium odoratum | shady |
If you still have a spot free in the herb garden in a sunny to semi-shady location, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) should be there. The easy-care herb plant tolerates almost every plant neighbor and scores with a wide range of delicious uses.
Excursus
Harmony in the herb pot
Intrusive confinement in the herb pot calls for species and varieties that complement each other perfectly. From the category of annual herbs, borage, dill, garden cress, marjoram and parsley go well together. Are you thinking about having a herb pot for several years? Then tarragon, sage, chives, thyme and lemon balm are recommended. The unbeatable trio for a magnificent herb pot on the balcony are winter savory, oregano and sage. If the location is behind glass, tropical herbs come into focus. In the herb garden on the kitchen windowsill, Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflorum), Vietnamese coriander (Polygonum odoratum) and indoor garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) thrive in peaceful coexistence.
Which herbs go well together? – List of dream teams
Rosemary and basil are great neighbors
As a beginner in hobby gardening, you don't feel like experimenting? Then please take a look at the following list of dream teams for the herb garden. These herbs go very well together:
- Rosemary benefits basil
- Chamomile promotes dill, chervil and marjoram
- Parsley strengthens dill, chives, chervil and marjoram
- Thyme harmonizes with savory, borage, tarragon, fennel and coriander
- Hyssop protects savory and lavender
Attentive readers will not have missed the fact that, according to this list, annual and perennial herb species sometimes support each other. In this case, the general rule of thumb is overruled because individual preferences prevail.
Which herbs go together in a raised bed?
In raised beds, herbs have a special task that goes far beyond ensuring they are well tolerated by one another. In close proximity to vegetables, herbal plants are useful as a natural bulwark against diseases and pests. These combinations have proven themselves very well in raised beds:
- Basil with cucumbers, kohlrabi and tomatoes: effective against mildew and whitefly
- Savory with strawberries, beans and lettuce: repels aphids
- Garden cress with radishes and lettuce: promotes growth
- Nasturtium with potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce: attracts aphids so that vegetables remain unmolested
- Marjoram with carrots and radishes: promotes growth
- Rosemary with cabbage, tomatoes and carrots: repels cabbage white butterflies and carrot flies
If you plant different herbs next to each other in the raised bed, the premises previously explained in this guide apply.
Which herbs don’t go together?
Thyme and marjoram don't mix
Decades of observations by attentive home gardeners have led to the realization that some herbs should be kept at a distance from the bed. The most common cause of intolerance is varying degrees of growth. Furthermore, some herbs inhibit each other's growth. Although there is a lack of scientific evidence, it cannot be denied that the following herbs do not mix:
- Never plant thyme (Thymus ssp) and marjoram (Origanum majorana) together
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) do not mix with coriander (Coriandrum sativum), marjoram or hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
- Plant basil (Ocimum basilicum) and lemon balm (Melissa) as far away as possible
- Chamomile (Matricaria) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum) do not mix
- Always plant lovage (Levisticum officinale) and laurel (Laurus nobilis) and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) alone because every neighbor loses out
This category also includes those herbs that are incompatible with themselves. In concrete terms, this means that an annual change of location makes sense in order to prevent the consequences of soil fatigue. These include in particular dill (Anethum graveolens), parsley, thyme and oregano.
Tip
If growth depression is rampant in the herb bed, it doesn't necessarily have to be due to herb intolerance. Common causes of poor herbs and poor harvests are waterlogging, hard tap water and rich plant soil. Collect rainwater and water herbs sparingly with soft water only when they are noticeably dry. As a substrate, most herbal treasures want a lean, well-drained soil without added peat.
Frequently asked questions
Which herbs go together for tea?
If the right herbs thrive in the garden, you can pamper yourself every day with aromatic tea from your own cultivation. On the planting plan, note lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), chamomile (Matricaria), peppermint (Mentha piperita) and sage (Salvia officinalis). These perennial herbs have similar care requirements, go well together and turn into soothing tea in hot water.
Which herbs should I plant in the flower box if I want to use them to make herb butter?
In the large flower box, create a herb bed with a length of 100 centimeters or more with these species and varieties: dill (Anethum graveolens), borage (Borago officinalis), chives (Allium schoenoprasum), cascade thyme (Thymus longicaulis ssp. odoratus) and lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Please consider drainage on the bottom of the box to protect against waterlogging. A sunny to partially shaded, warm, wind-protected location is just as important as sparing watering with soft rainwater.
Which herbs and flowers go together?
Numerous culinary herbs find their way into the flower bed because they delight with their beautiful flowers. In a sunny location, purple hazel (Origanum laevigatum) boasts violet flowers that harmonize perfectly with the delicate pink phlox (Phlox paniculata). Steppe sage (Salvia nemorosa) also likes to be added with its dark purple flowers. Curry herb (Helichrysum italicum) puts on a silver coat of leaves and vie for attention next to dark purple bearded iris (Iris) and salmon-pink Turkish poppy (Papaver orientale)
Are there herbs that stand better alone?
Indeed, there are some herbs that prefer a solitary life. Primarily they are large-scale herbal plants, such as lovage (Levisticum officinale), laurel (Laurus nobilis) and boar's rue (Artemisia abrotanum). Furthermore, the growth of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is characterized by root exudates that cause damage to other plants. Ideally, plant the above-mentioned oddballs in a large pot so that their roots do not get in the way of other herbs, flowers and vegetable plants.
Which herbs go together in terms of taste?
The criteria of compatibility in the bed take a back seat if herbs are supposed to taste together. Thyme and marjoram are unforgiving plant neighbors. Together with rosemary, basil, tarragon, laurel and sage, the herbal enemies combine to form the legendary “Herbs of Provence” mixture. If you would like to conjure up the famous “Frankfurt Green Sauce” from your own herbs, these seven species should thrive in the garden: borage, dill, parsley, garden cress, chives, pimpernelle and sorrel.
Tip
Finding the right combination of herbs for the herb spiral is one of the supreme disciplines in hobby gardening. Four climate zones on earth come together in a very small space. The dry zone is reserved for Mediterranean herbs, such as rosemary and lavender. The temperate and fresh, humid area is home to local herbal treasures such as wild garlic and nasturtium. Wet feet in the water zone tolerate stream exercise and water celery. You can read detailed information here.
