Lavender is one of those plants that seems to embody the essence of a peaceful garden.
With its fragrant blooms, soothing color, and drought-tolerant nature, it’s no wonder so many gardeners—myself included—love to plant it.
But lavender isn’t just a beautiful standalone plant; it also makes a fantastic companion to many other plants in the garden.
Over the years, I’ve experimented with various plant combinations and found that pairing lavender with the right companions not only enhances the beauty of the garden but also promotes healthier growth for all the plants involved.
In this guide, I’ll share with you the 14 best lavender companion plants, based on my own experiences and what I’ve learned from fellow gardeners.
These plants will not only look great alongside your lavender but will also benefit from growing near this fragrant herb.
1. Rosemary
Rosemary and lavender are like best friends in the garden.
Both plants thrive in similar conditions—full sun, well-drained soil, and minimal water once established.
I’ve always loved the way these two look together, with rosemary’s dark green, needle-like leaves providing a beautiful contrast to lavender’s silvery foliage.
Not only do they look good together, but rosemary also helps deter pests like cabbage moths, which can be a nuisance in the garden.
Plus, the fragrance of rosemary complements lavender perfectly, making for a delightful sensory experience when you walk by.
2. Thyme
Thyme is another herb that pairs beautifully with lavender.
Both plants share a love for sunny spots and well-drained soil, making them ideal companions.
I often plant thyme at the base of my lavender bushes, where it acts as a low-growing ground cover, helping to keep the soil cool and reducing weed competition.
Thyme’s tiny, aromatic leaves and delicate flowers create a lovely textural contrast with lavender’s more robust appearance.
And like lavender, thyme is drought-tolerant, so you won’t need to worry about overwatering either plant.
3. Sage
Sage is another Mediterranean herb that makes an excellent companion for lavender.
Both plants prefer similar growing conditions, and their complementary colors create a stunning visual display.
I particularly love planting purple sage alongside lavender for a monochromatic color scheme that’s anything but boring.
The varying shades of purple, from lavender’s soft lilac to sage’s deeper hues, add depth and interest to the garden.
Plus, sage’s slightly fuzzy leaves add a different texture that contrasts nicely with lavender’s slender spikes.
4. Echinacea (Coneflower)
If you want to add some height and color variety to your lavender bed, Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a fantastic choice.
These tall, sturdy perennials produce large, daisy-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white that complement lavender’s blooms perfectly.
I’ve found that planting Echinacea behind lavender creates a lovely layered effect in the garden, with the taller coneflowers providing a backdrop to the shorter lavender.
Both plants attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, making your garden a haven for beneficial insects.
5. Sedum
Sedum, or stonecrop, is another great companion for lavender, especially if you’re looking for a plant that can handle tough conditions.
Sedum is incredibly hardy and drought-tolerant, just like lavender, making them a perfect match.
I love how sedum’s fleshy, succulent leaves contrast with lavender’s more delicate foliage.
In late summer, when sedum starts to bloom, its clusters of tiny flowers add a burst of color that complements lavender’s fading blooms.
Sedum also attracts pollinators, so planting it alongside lavender helps create a garden that’s not only beautiful but also buzzing with life.
6. Alliums
Alliums, with their striking globe-shaped flowers, make a bold companion for lavender.
These ornamental onions produce tall, sturdy stems topped with spherical blooms in shades of purple, pink, and white.
I’ve planted alliums among my lavender plants to add vertical interest and create a dramatic effect in the garden.
Alliums are also great for deterring pests like aphids and slugs, which makes them a practical as well as an attractive companion.
Their late spring to early summer bloom time coincides nicely with lavender’s flowering period, ensuring your garden is full of color for weeks on end.
7. Yarrow
Yarrow is a tough, drought-tolerant plant that’s well-suited to growing alongside lavender.
Its flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers come in a variety of colors, from white to yellow to pink, providing a cheerful contrast to lavender’s purple blooms.
Yarrow’s feathery, fern-like foliage also adds a different texture to the garden, making the combination visually interesting.
I’ve found that yarrow’s ability to thrive in poor soil and its resistance to drought make it an ideal partner for lavender, especially in low-maintenance gardens.
Additionally, yarrow attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and predatory wasps, which can help keep pest populations under control.
8. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint, or Nepeta, is a hardy perennial that pairs wonderfully with lavender.
Its soft, gray-green leaves and spikes of lavender-blue flowers create a harmonious blend with lavender’s own blooms.
I love planting catmint alongside lavender because both plants have similar growing requirements—full sun, well-drained soil, and low water needs.
Catmint’s long blooming season means it continues to add color to the garden even after lavender’s peak flowering period has passed.
Plus, catmint is known for attracting bees and other pollinators, making it a valuable addition to any garden.
9. Roses
Roses and lavender are a classic pairing that never goes out of style.
The contrast between the lush, romantic blooms of roses and the airy, fragrant spikes of lavender is simply stunning.
I often plant lavender at the base of my rose bushes, where it serves multiple purposes.
Not only does lavender help repel pests like aphids that can plague roses, but it also provides a soft, aromatic ground cover that complements the roses’ more upright growth habit.
The combination of rose and lavender fragrances is intoxicating, creating a garden that appeals to all the senses.
10. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Gaillardia, or blanket flower, is a cheerful, sun-loving perennial that makes a great companion for lavender.
Its bright, daisy-like flowers in shades of red, orange, and yellow add a pop of warm color to the garden, creating a striking contrast with lavender’s cool purple tones.
I’ve found that Gaillardia’s long blooming season, which extends from early summer to fall, helps keep the garden colorful even as lavender’s blooms start to fade.
Both plants are drought-tolerant and thrive in similar conditions, making them easy to care for and a joy to grow together.
11. Artemisia
Artemisia, with its silvery-gray foliage, is a natural companion for lavender.
Both plants share a love for full sun and well-drained soil, and their similar foliage colors create a cohesive look in the garden.
I particularly enjoy pairing lavender with ‘Silver Mound’ artemisia, which has finely textured, almost feathery leaves that contrast beautifully with lavender’s more structured form.
Artemisia’s foliage also provides a cool, calming backdrop that allows lavender’s blooms to really stand out.
And like lavender, artemisia is deer-resistant, making this duo a good choice for gardens plagued by these hungry visitors.
12. Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Echinops, or globe thistle, is another spiky plant that pairs well with lavender.
Its spherical, steely-blue flowers add an architectural element to the garden, and their color harmonizes perfectly with lavender’s purple blooms.
I like planting globe thistle behind lavender to create a layered effect, with the taller, more robust Echinops providing a backdrop to the shorter, more delicate lavender.
Both plants are drought-tolerant and prefer well-drained soil, making them easy companions to grow together.
Globe thistle is also a magnet for bees and butterflies, adding to the pollinator-friendly nature of the garden.
13. Coreopsis
Coreopsis is a bright, cheerful perennial that adds a splash of sunshine to any garden.
Its daisy-like flowers in shades of yellow and orange provide a vibrant contrast to lavender’s cooler tones.
I’ve found that planting coreopsis alongside lavender not only brightens up the garden but also creates a long-lasting display of color, as coreopsis blooms from early summer to fall.
Both plants are drought-tolerant and thrive in similar growing conditions, making them low-maintenance companions that are easy to care for.
Coreopsis also attracts butterflies, adding even more life to the garden.
14. Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are a great way to add texture and movement to your garden, and they pair beautifully with lavender.
The soft, billowy plumes of grasses like ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass or ‘Hameln’ fountain grass create a striking contrast with lavender’s more rigid form.
I love the way the grasses’ swaying blades add a sense of dynamism to the garden, especially when paired with the more static, upright spikes of lavender.
Both lavender and ornamental grasses are drought-tolerant and prefer well-drained soil, making them easy to grow together.
The combination of grasses and lavender also creates a pleasing mix of textures, with the grasses’ fine blades and the lavender’s more substantial foliage playing off each other beautifully.
Tips for Planting Lavender Companions
When planting lavender with companion plants, there are a few key things to keep in mind to ensure that all the plants thrive.
First, consider the soil.
Lavender prefers well-drained, slightly alkaline soil, so it’s important to choose companions that can tolerate similar conditions.
If your soil is heavy or clay-like, consider amending it with sand or gravel to improve drainage.
Next, think about water needs.
Lavender is drought-tolerant once established and doesn’t like to have its roots sitting in water.
Make sure to choose companion plants with similar water requirements to avoid overwatering or underwatering.
Finally, consider the spacing.
Lavender needs good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases, so be sure to give it and its companions enough space to grow without crowding.
I like to plant my companions in drifts or clusters around the lavender, leaving plenty of room for air to flow between the plants.
This not only helps keep the plants healthy but also creates a more natural, flowing look in the garden.
Final Thoughts
One of the things I love most about gardening is experimenting with different plant combinations and seeing how they interact.
Pairing lavender with the right companions has been a particularly rewarding endeavor, as these plants not only look beautiful together but also support each other’s growth.
Whether you’re planting a formal herb garden or a more relaxed cottage garden, lavender and its companions can help create a space that’s as functional as it is beautiful.
From the soft, silvery foliage of artemisia to the bold, bright blooms of Gaillardia, each companion plant brings something unique to the table, enhancing the overall effect of the garden.
And the best part?
With the right care, these plants will come back year after year, creating a garden that grows more beautiful with each passing season.
So if you’re looking to add some variety and vibrancy to your lavender bed, give these companion plants a try.
Not only will they make your garden more attractive, but they’ll also help you create a thriving, healthy ecosystem that benefits all the plants involved.
Happy gardening!