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It has always been extremely popular to cultivate herbs in your own garden or on the balcony. No wonder, after all, the growing plants are a feast for the eyes and also welcome guests in the kitchen. But which varieties go well together and which genera do not get along well or not at all? Our herb table and the detailed guide provide you with information on how best to design your herb garden, so that each representative can thrive and give you a lot of pleasure!

theory

Before we get to the plants table, we would like to give you some basic information about planting herbs (together). The tips and hints will help you make the right decisions when building your herb garden.

Herbs fit, don't fit

Why do certain herbs get along and others don't?

The fact that certain types of herbs go particularly well together can have various reasons, such as the following.

  • they prefer the same location (sunny, partially shaded or shaded)
  • they encourage each other

Abstract Example One

Plant type A has a deterrent effect on plant pests, bacteria or fungi that like to attack plant type B. If plant species A and plant species B are planted next to each other, plant species B benefits from the "protective" properties of plant species A.

Abstract Example Two

Plant type A releases substances through its roots that it does not need itself in order to grow and thrive. Plant type B, on the other hand, urgently needs these substances - and can thank its neighbor for the good gifts.

There are also some herbal combinations that interfere with each other. Potential causes for this are as follows.

  • they place different demands on the location
  • they inhibit each other

Abstract Example One

Plant type A dominates and overgrows its less vigorous neighbour. Plant type B cannot develop properly and, in the worst case, dies.

Abstract Example Two

Plant species A and plant species B have such divergent nutrient requirements that the soil is depleted and neither herb gets what it needs.

planting of herbal species

Basic instructions for planting multiple types of herbs.

mixed cultures

  • Mixed cultures are always preferable to monocultures
  • This is due to the fact that monocultures are a paradise for certain pests

Annual and perennial herbs

  • Annual and perennial herbs should not be planted next to each other
  • it is better if each category keeps to itself
  • Perennial plants don't like having to greet a new neighbor every year
  • annual herb varieties thrive better if they get a new location the following year
  • Herbs are generally weak consumers, which means that they get by with relatively few nutrients and still grow very well
  • some types of herbs are real loners that absolutely don't want neighbors, so you should avoid combinations with the corresponding varieties

practice

After the theory, get straight into practice. In the following sections you will find out which types of herbs work well together and side by side and who prefer to avoid each other or even claim the whole space for themselves.

Tip: The detailed descriptions are followed by the clear plant table, which quickly provides you with the information you need.

Which annual herbs fit

Which annual herbs go well together.

Annual herbs include:

  • Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
  • Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum)
  • Borage (Borago officinalis)
  • Dill (Anethum graveolens)
  • Garden cress (Lepidium sativum)
  • Garden mustard (Eruca sativa)
  • Large nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
  • Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
  • Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
  • Small burnet (Sanguisorba minor)
  • Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
  • Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
  • Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
  • Paracress (Acmella oleracea)
  • Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
  • Summer savory (Satureja hortensis)

Basil is something of a jack of all trades among herbs. On the one hand, it is used in many cold and warm dishes. On the other hand, basil protects its annual neighbors in the flower box or bed from powdery mildew (diseases caused by fungi) and from whiteflies. In addition, the delicious plant repels fruit flies and mosquitoes. For this reason, experienced gardeners also use basil on the balcony or terrace.

Tip: Rosemary promotes the growth of basil. It is therefore extremely practical to plant the two herbs as neighbors - especially since rosemary is also an important part of many delicious recipes.

rosemary

The following annuals go so well together that you can even plant them next to each other in a pot:

  • borage
  • dill
  • garden cress
  • chervil
  • marjoram
  • Parsely
Parsely

Tip: Any combination is possible here.

What perennial herbs fit

Which perennial herbs are particularly well tolerated.

Perennial herbs include:

  • Barbara weed (Barbarea vulgaris)
  • wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
  • Bärwurz (Meum athamanticum)
  • Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
  • Blood Sorrel (Rumex sanguineus)
  • Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
  • Curry herb (Helichrysum italicum)
  • Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
  • Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
  • Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
  • Sweet flag (Acorus calamus)
  • Cumin (Carum carvi)
  • Garlic (Allium sativum)
  • Spoonwort (Cochlearia officinalis)
  • Mint (Mentha)
  • Melissa (Melissa officinalis)
  • Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
  • Saffron (Crocus sativus)
  • Sage (Salvia officinalis)
  • Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
  • Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
  • Plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
  • Cut celery (Apium graveolens)
  • Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)
  • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
  • Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
  • Winter savory (Satureja montana)
sage

Some of the perennials mentioned are not only used in the kitchen, but are also considered medicinal herbs. Thyme and sage received a special honour: both have already won the title of “medicinal plant of the year” (thyme in 2001, sage in 2003). If you want to plant perennial herbs together, it is best to use the following groups as a guide.

Group 1

  • tarragon
  • lemon balm
  • sage
  • chives
  • thyme

group 2

  • oregano
  • sage
  • Winter savory

Notice: The plants in a group harmonize perfectly with each other.

Tip: As picky as most types of herbs are, lemon balm is well tolerated. She maintains a good relationship with (almost) any herb. But not only that: Lemon balm also supports the growth of its neighbors. She is only skeptical about the basil. However, the kitchen favorite is one of the annuals anyway and is therefore not a sensible partner for perennial lemon balm.

Herbs that don't fit

Which herbs do not go together at all. Aside from lemon balm and basil, there are a few other couples who don't get along at all. These include those listed below.

enemies 1

  • dill
  • tarragon

enemies 2

  • fennel
  • coriander

enemies 3

  • chamomile
  • peppermint

enemies 4

  • thyme
  • marjoram

Notice: The attentive reader will notice that it is in any case a combination of annual and perennial plants. Apart from this counter-indicator, the herbs in the pairs mentioned do not go together for other reasons - for example, due to different preferences in terms of location and soil conditions.

Herbs without neighbors

Which types of herbs prefer to stand alone. Now we come to the loners among the herbs, which prefer to stay alone because they need a lot of space around them.

These include:

  • Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum)
  • Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
  • Clove Tree (Syzygium aromaticum)
  • Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
  • Lavender (Lavandula officinalis)
  • Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
  • Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
  • Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
  • Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
  • Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
lavender

Tip: All of these expansive herbs are ideally planted in a bucket. Alternatively, it is advisable to place the loners next to plants that they get along with and that do not overgrow them.

Two examples:

  • Lavender goes well with roses
  • Wormwood protects currants from diseases

herb table

Table of herbs - these plants go well together

Our practical herb table shows which plants get along well and which genera should be kept away from each other. Print out the table and hang it in the kitchen or on the balcony so that you can always see who is allowed to plant with whom.

Download table of herbs

herbal spiral

Recommendation: herb garden as a herb spiral

Herb spirals for the home garden are becoming more and more popular. The space available for this does not even have to be particularly large. Just a few square meters are enough to conjure up a three-dimensional, decoratively curved bed that houses herbs with different location requirements.

Four different climate zones are created:

  1. water zone
  2. wet zone
  3. normal zone
  4. Mediterranean zone

We show you in a clear table which types of herbs can be planted together within a zone.

Water zone (with mini pond and moist to wet substrate)

  • Watercress (Nasturtium officinale)
  • Sweet flag (Acorus calamus)
  • Water mint (Mentha aquatica)

Moist zone (with humic, nutrient-rich substrate)

  • Borage (Borago officinalis)
  • Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
  • Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
  • Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
  • Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Normal zone (with penumbra)

  • Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
  • Blood Sorrel (Rumex sanguineus)
  • Small burnet (Sanguisorba minor)
  • Cumin (Carum carvi)
  • Melissa (Melissa officinalis)
  • Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
  • Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
lemon balm

Notice: Be careful not to plant basil and lemon balm next to each other.

Mediterranean zone (with full sun and poor, dry soil)

  • Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
  • Sage (Salvia officinalis)
  • Summer savory (Satureja hortensis)
  • Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Notice: Here the garden lover has to decide between marjoram and thyme. Both together do not work.

herbal spiral

If you would like to build the herb spiral from natural stones, you can also plant the spaces in between - for example with wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum). Wormwood should be avoided. The herb is and remains (also in connection with the herb spiral) a loner - mainly because the root excretions of the wormwood damage the other herbs. But: There is nothing wrong with planting woodruff at the foot of the spiral - in the shady area.

In general, only annual or perennial herb plants should be brought together within the zones.

Herbs that harmonize visually

A lush harvest is not always the first priority when planning your herb garden. Aesthetics plays an important role, especially when the herbs are cultivated on the terrace, on the balcony or on the window. The following types of herbs do not necessarily go together "functionally" next to each other, but in combination they create a beautiful picture with a high ornamental value.

Barbara weed (Barbarea vulgaris)

  • grows 30 to 60 cm high
  • has a bright yellow corolla
  • blooms from May to June

wild garlic (Allium ursinum)

  • grows 15 to 50 cm high
  • has dense white flowers
  • blooms from April to June

Blood Sorrel (Rumex sanguineus)

  • grows 20 to 60 cm high
  • has green leaves with deep red veins and red-brown flowers
  • blooms from May to June

Dill (Anethum graveolens)

  • grows 30 to 75 cm high
  • has star-shaped flowers in yellow
  • blooms from May to August
chives

Large nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

  • grows to a height of 15 to 30 cm (as a creeping and climbing plant, it develops shoots up to 300 cm long)
  • has yellow, orange or red flowers
  • blooms from June to October

Ginger Mint (Mentha gentilis 'Variegata')

  • grows up to 50 cm high
  • has yellow-green variegated leaves and light purple flowers
  • blooms from July to September

Lavender (Lavendula officinalis)

  • grows up to 100 cm high
  • has purple inflorescences
  • blooms from May to June

Paracress (Acmella oleracea)

  • grows up to 30 cm high
  • has spherical flowers with a red center
  • blooms from May to September

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

  • grows 10 to 30 cm high
  • has spherical flowers of purple or blue
  • blooms from June to July

Scented Cushion Thyme (Thymus hybrid 'Scented Cushion')

  • grows 10 to 15 cm high
  • has an abundance of pink flowers
  • blooms from June to August

Small spice thyme (Thymus vulgaris 'Compactus')

  • grows 10 to 20 cm high
  • has a splendor of light purple flowers
  • blooms from June to July

White Sand Thyme (Thymus serpyllum 'Albus')

  • grows up to 5 cm high
  • has white flowers
  • blooms from June to August

Tip: White thyme makes a beautiful ground cover.

Blue hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

  • grows 40 to 60 cm high
  • has deep blue flowers
  • blooms from July to August
herb snail

Lemon hyssop (Agastache mexicana 'Sangria')

  • grows 80 to 120 cm high
  • has bright red-violet flowers
  • blooms from July to October

Create a gorgeous herb garden with your favorite plants that will provide you with fresh ingredients for varied dishes throughout spring and summer. In addition, it adorns terraces, balconies and beds with an incomparable splendor of flowers that can easily keep up with the sea of colors of classic summer flowers.

Types of herbs that act as good partners for vegetables

Herbs can also be combined with vegetables. This is particularly useful when there is not enough space in the garden to plant herbs and vegetables separately. Apart from the fact that many vegetable and herb plants promote each other and look wonderful next to each other. In short, there is nothing wrong with a mixed culture, on the contrary.

The following overview - consisting of selected herbs - shows who works best with whom.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

  • Basil and tomatoes go well together (not just on the plate)
  • also promotes cucumbers and kohlrabi

Dill (Anethum graveolens)

  • goes well with lettuce, cucumber, carrots, zucchini, cabbage and beetroot
  • absolutely does not want to be thrown together with tomatoes

Garlic (Allium sativum)

  • is good against aphids
  • goes particularly well with tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce and strawberries
  • is simply planted between the other cultures

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

  • plant only with potatoes and radishes
  • generally prefers to stay with suitable herbs (see herb table)

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

  • goes well with carrots and tomatoes

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

  • is good for the earth
  • repels aphids and ants
  • goes well with any vegetable

frequently asked Questions

Which neighbors are suitable for basil?

Basil is a grateful herb. It gets along with almost all plants. Although basil is actually an annual herb, it also gets along well alongside perennial plants. In doing so, it protects its neighbors from mildew and insects such as mosquitoes and whiteflies. The following herbs are particularly good as basil neighbors: Rosemary, it promotes the growth of - basil - oregano - savory - parsley - chervil - borage - garden cress Vegetables also like to accompany basil. Tomatoes go well with basil, not only in the kitchen. Cucumbers and kohlrabi also promote basil. But there are also plants that basil do not get along with. This includes the lemon balm. As compatible as it is with other types of herbs, it is not good for basil.

Can you plant basil and mint together?

Basil is an annual herb while mint is a perennial. In principle, you should not plant annuals and perennials next to each other.However, basil is an exception, because the popular herb feels right at home next to almost any plant. It ensures that powdery mildew and whiteflies stay away from neighboring plants. Basil can therefore be cultivated alongside mint without any problems. The two herbs can also be used for the same purpose. Basil also tastes good in cocktails or jam. Give it a try! Note: Do not confuse mint with lemon balm. The two plants look very similar and both exude an intense smell. One of the few herbs that basil doesn't get along with is lemon balm.

Which herb neighbors are good for sage?

Sage is a perennial herb and should therefore preferably be planted next to perennial herbs. Within the perennial herbs, the sage prefers the following neighbors.
- Tarragon
- Melissa
- Chives
- Thyme
- oregano
- Winter
- Savory
- Lemon balm
- Hyssop

Do coriander and parsley get along in the herb bed?

Coriander and parsley are not only similar in appearance, they are both annual herbs. Within the annual herbs, all herbs can be combined with each other. The joint planting of coriander and parsley is therefore possible without any problems. On the other hand, you should never combine coriander with fennel. The two herbs are not good neighbors and will not bring you any joy in the long run.

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Vegetable garden