What to Plant with Lavender in a Border for a Fragrant and Attractive Border

Planting lavender in a border can be a wonderful way to add fragrance and visual interest to your garden. Lavender is a low-maintenance perennial that thrives in well-drained soil and full sun.

Some of the best plants to pair with lavender are those that complement its silvery-gray foliage and purple flowers.

Catmint, with its gray-green leaves and spikes of blue or white flowers, is a natural match for lavender. It's also drought-tolerant and attracts pollinators.

Other plants that pair well with lavender include rosemary, thyme, and oregano, all of which have similar growing conditions and fragrances.

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Choosing the right companion plants for your lavender is crucial for a harmonious and thriving garden. Consider plants with similar growing needs, such as full sun exposure, good drainage, and drought tolerance, to ensure they complement each other.

To create a visually appealing contrast, look for plants with different colors, shapes, and textures that blend well with lavender. For example, marigolds with their bright, colored flowers complement the cool purple tones of lavender.

Some excellent companion plants for lavender include catmint, coneflower, and thyme, which also offer benefits such as repelling pests, reducing maintenance, and attracting pollinators. These plants can be grown as annuals in many zones and have similar water requirements, making them easy to care for.

Here are some of the best companion plants for lavender:

These companion plants will not only enhance the beauty of your garden but also provide benefits such as pest control and reduced maintenance.

Marigold (Tagetes Spp.) is a great companion plant for lavender. It repels pests like nematodes and adds a beautiful visual contrast with its bright, colored flowers.

Marigolds come in various sizes and their yellow and orange flowers complement the cool purple tones of lavender. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them easy to grow together.

Both marigolds and lavender repel pests, but in different ways. Marigolds suppress underground pests, while lavender attracts pollinators that benefit marigold flowers.

Here are some key characteristics of marigolds:

Marigolds are a great choice for a kitchen or herb garden, where they can repel pests and add a pop of color.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a great companion plant for lavender, and here's why. It's a Mediterranean herb that thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, just like lavender.

Rosemary has a bushy habit, with short spiky leaves and pastel-hued flowers that bloom late winter to fall, depending on the variety. It's a bit less hardy than lavender, but with winter protection, it can grow in zones 6-7.

Plant rosemary alongside lavender in a mixed border or use it as hedging, and you'll create a beautiful and fragrant combination. The flavors of lavender and rosemary pair well together in many culinary dishes.

Rosemary grows 2 to 6 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety, making it a great choice for a low-maintenance ground cover.

Choosing the right ground covers for your lavender plants is a great way to create a low-maintenance and visually appealing garden. Ground covers like creeping thyme or sedum are fantastic choices because they can fill in spaces around the lavender without competing for resources.

These plants have similar growing needs as lavender, requiring full sun and well-drained soil. Their low growth habit contrasts nicely with the height of lavender, and their ability to withstand full sun and well-drained soil aligns perfectly with lavender's requirements.

Creeping thyme, in particular, is a great option because it has a spreading growth habit that can be planted at the base of taller lavender plants. It's also a natural pest repellent for lavender, and its fragrance can help deter moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes.

Here are some key characteristics of creeping thyme and sedum that make them great ground covers for lavender:

By choosing the right ground covers for your lavender plants, you can create a beautiful and functional garden that requires minimal maintenance.

Plant lavender in a border or tiered garden with taller plants behind it. This layout helps prevent overcrowding and allows for good air circulation, which is essential for lavender's healthy growth.

Keep lavender away from waterlogged areas to prevent root rot. I've seen this happen in my own garden, and it's a real bummer when it does.

Consider the drainage and depth of the soil when planting lavender. Make sure the roots have enough room to breathe and don't get waterlogged.

Planting lavender with the right companions can enhance its aesthetics and productivity. For example, pairing lavender with taller plants in a border garden creates a beautiful visual effect.

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Lavender plants can grow quite large, up to 1-3 feet in both height and spread, so make sure to give them enough space to grow without competing for resources.

In a border, consider planting taller companions behind the lavender and shorter ones in front to create a tiered effect. This will not only add visual interest but also help prevent overcrowding.

To ensure good drainage and prevent root rot, plant the lavender in a border or tiered garden with taller plants behind it, and keep it away from waterlogged areas.

When choosing companion plants for lavender, consider their growing needs. Lavender prefers full sun exposure, good drainage, and drought tolerance, so select plants that share these characteristics.

Both plants should be useful in repelling certain pests, making them a strong duo in a pest-resistant garden. This is especially true for brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.

For border planting, lavender pairs well with perennial evergreens, creating a dynamic visual boundary. The contrast between lavender's soft purple and the deep greens is stunning.

Ground cover species like thyme work well with lavender, forming a lush carpet around the plant. Thyme has similar growing conditions to lavender and can benefit from its pest-repelling properties.

Consider plants with similar water requirements to lavender, such as sedum. Sedum has low watering needs and begins to flower late in the season, providing pollen and nectar for pollinators in autumn.

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Planting companion plants with lavender can be a great way to create a harmonious and flourishing garden, but it's essential to understand the needs of both plants. This means considering factors like sunlight, water, and soil requirements.

Lavender requires full sun exposure and well-draining soil, which is shared by many companion plants like coneflowers, geraniums, and marigolds.

Some plants, like oregano and sedum, also tolerate drought and low watering needs, making them suitable companions for lavender.

However, not all companion plants have the same needs as lavender. For instance, geraniums might require a bit more moisture than lavender, so ensure neither plant is over or under-watered.

Certain plants, like rosemary and thyme, might require more frequent watering than lavender, so it's crucial to consider their specific needs.

By understanding the needs of both plants, you can create a balanced and thriving garden that requires less effort to maintain.

Lavender companion plants can also benefit from its pest-repelling properties, making them a strong duo in a pest-resistant garden.

Artemisia is a versatile plant that can add background interest to the landscape with its deeply lobed silvery foliage.

Its soft feathery texture and subdued coloring complement the fine foliage and cool hues of lavender flowers.

You can grow Artemisia in zones 3-9, depending on the variety, or as an annual.

It's worth noting that some varieties of Artemisia can grow quite tall, up to 6 feet, so make sure to give it enough space.

Artemisia has a mounding or spreading habit, making it a great choice for curbside strips or waterwise borders.

Its flowers are often insignificant, but the foliage is definitely worth admiring.

Some varieties of Artemisia are grown for their flowers, but the Silver Bullet artemisia from Proven Winners is a popular choice for its foliage.

Catmint (Nepeta spp.) is a versatile and low-maintenance companion plant for lavender.

It's similar in appearance to lavender but is more cold hardy, tolerating different soils and drought conditions.

Catmint grows 1 to 3 feet tall and wide, making it an excellent choice for a curbside strip or low-maintenance border.

This herbaceous perennial plant blooms from late spring to fall, providing a beautiful contrast to lavender's spiky blooms.

Catmint is a tough plant that can thrive in full sun to partial shade, making it suitable for a variety of garden conditions.

It's an excellent choice for a companion plant because it's easy to grow and requires less maintenance than lavender.

Catmint's mounding or spreading habit complements the upright habit of lavender, creating a harmonious and visually appealing combination.

The 'Cat's Pajamas' catmint from Proven Winners is a popular variety that grows well with lavender.

Catmint attracts pollinators and repels pests, making it a valuable addition to a pest-resistant garden.

By planting catmint and lavender together, you can create a beautiful and thriving garden that requires less effort to maintain.

Lavender makes an excellent companion for many vegetables due to its strong scent, which repels harmful pests and attracts beneficial insects.

Planting lavender near vegetables like tomatoes can help deter pests that target those plants.