Companion Planting Guide
How Companion Planting Works
Companion plants serve three roles: attracting pollinators, luring pests away (trap crops), and repelling pests with scent. Here are the best companions, especially for brassica-heavy gardens.
Pollinator Attractors
Borage
Attracts beneficial insects like bees and other pollinators. Plant near any crop that needs pollination.
Yarrow
Attracts pollinating butterflies, parasitoid wasps (which prey on caterpillars and aphids), hoverflies, ladybugs, and lacewings.
Dill
Allow dill to bolt and bloom to attract beneficial insects. The flowers draw pollinating bees, butterflies, hoverflies, ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitoid wasps that destroy brassica caterpillars and aphids.
Trap Crops
Marigolds
Attract pollinating bees. They lure pests like aphids and soilborne nematodes away from your vegetables — an excellent trap crop.
Nasturtium
The foliage appeals to aphids, flea beetles, and whiteflies, drawing them away from your main crops.
True Hyssop
Attracts pests that feed on cauliflower — brassica caterpillars, flea beetles, and slugs — pulling them away from your food crops.
Peppermint
Attracts brassica caterpillars, flea beetles, and nematodes as a trap crop. Also repels aphids and cabbage moths with its strong scent.
Pest Repellents
Geraniums
Repel cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, and flea beetles with their peppery, astringent scent. Also attract aphids away from Brussels sprouts. Plant alongside nasturtiums for maximum effect.
Quick Reference
| Plant | Attracts Beneficials | Trap Crop For | Repels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borage | Bees, pollinators | — | — |
| Yarrow | Butterflies, wasps, ladybugs | — | — |
| Dill (blooming) | Bees, wasps, hoverflies | — | — |
| Marigolds | Bees | Aphids, nematodes | — |
| Nasturtium | — | Aphids, flea beetles, whiteflies | — |
| True Hyssop | — | Caterpillars, flea beetles, slugs | — |
| Peppermint | — | Caterpillars, flea beetles | Aphids, cabbage moths |
| Geraniums | — | Aphids | Cabbage worms, loopers |