Ethan BrooksBy Ethan Brooks

Updated November 2026

A herb companion planting chart PDF gives you a quick reference for which herbs grow well beside each other, how far apart to space them, and which combinations to avoid. Print one, tape it inside your garden shed or to a bed frame, and you can plan a herb section in an afternoon instead of guessing. This guide explains what a useful chart should include and how to build or use one.

What a Useful Herb Companion Chart Should Include

Many free charts online list pairings without any spacing or growth-habit detail, which makes them hard to act on. A chart worth printing lists five things for each herb: its height and spread, sun and water needs, good partners, poor partners, and whether it is a perennial or annual. Without spacing data, a pairing that looks good on paper can end up with basil shaded out by a rosemary bush within a month.

Shopping for one? See our guide: 6 Best Garden Layout Free Printable Printable Companion Planting Charts (2026): Our Picks.

How to Build Your Own PDF Chart

You can make a usable chart in a spreadsheet or word processor in about thirty minutes. Start with a simple grid and fill it in using the sources you trust, such as your local cooperative extension office or university horticulture pages.

  1. List your herbs down the left column, including the ones you actually plan to grow.
  2. Add columns for mature height, spacing in inches, light needs, and water needs.
  3. Add a “Good partners” column and a “Keep apart” column.
  4. Mark perennials separately, since they should not be moved around each season.
  5. Export the file as a PDF and print it at 100 percent scale so the spacing numbers stay accurate.

Spacing and Placement Rules That Matter Most

Spacing is where most herb gardens go wrong. Companion benefits rarely matter if the plants are crowded, because competition for light and root space outweighs any chemical or pest-deterrent effect. As a general starting point, plan for the mature width of each plant, not the size it is when you buy it.

Herb Typical spacing Good neighbors Keep apart from
Basil 10 to 12 inches Tomatoes, peppers, oregano Rue, sage
Dill 12 to 18 inches Cabbage family, cucumbers Carrots, tomatoes
Parsley 8 to 10 inches Tomatoes, asparagus, chives Mint (competes heavily)
Rosemary 18 to 24 inches Beans, cabbage, sage Basil, cucumbers
Mint Grow in a container Cabbage family Almost everything else

Mint is the classic example of why containers matter. Its roots spread aggressively, so sink it in a pot with the bottom cut out, or keep it in a separate bed. Treat the table above as a planning starting point and check the mature size of the specific variety you buy.

Using the Chart Through the Growing Season

Pull out your chart at planting time and again in midsummer. Plants that looked well spaced in May can crowd each other by July, especially fast growers like basil and dill. If you plant succession crops of dill or cilantro, remember that bolting plants shift their habit, so a spot that worked in spring may need adjusting later. Keep notes on what actually performed well in your beds and add those observations to the printed copy.

Common Mistakes

  • Planting herbs at the spacing shown on the seed packet instead of the mature size.
  • Letting mint and other spreading herbs share a bed with delicate plants.
  • Treating companion pairings as a guarantee against pests rather than one factor among many.
  • Printing the chart without checking the scale, so the spacing numbers come out wrong.
  • Forgetting to separate perennials like rosemary and thyme from annual rotation plans.

A sturdy clipboard or a weatherproof sheet protector keeps a printed chart readable when you are working outdoors and it gets damp. View on Amazon

Plant markers with pencil-writable surfaces make it easy to label each herb bed and match it to the chart. View on Amazon

For broader planning, you can compare this chart with a full Companion Herb Planting Chart: 6 Pairings and Spacing Rules (2026) and the Herb Companion Planting Guide: Pairings, Spacing and Pitfalls. If you grow tomatoes alongside herbs, the Tomatoes and Parsley Companion Planting: 5 Best Picks for 2026 article covers spacing in detail. Container growers may find the Container Companion Planting Chart: 8 Pairings That Work (2026) more useful than a bed-based layout.

FAQ

Is there a free herb companion planting chart PDF I can download?

Several extension services and gardening sites publish free charts, but check that the spacing numbers match the mature size of the herbs. Building your own spreadsheet lets you customize it for your local climate and the varieties you grow.

Do companion planting charts actually improve yields?

Results vary. Good spacing, sun exposure, and water management usually matter more than pairings, though some combinations may help with pest pressure or pollinator visits.

Should I keep the chart after the season ends?

Yes. Your notes on what grew well and where crowding happened are the most valuable part of the chart, and they will save planning time next year.

Conclusion

A herb companion planting chart PDF is most useful when it includes mature spacing, growth habit, and clear notes on which herbs to keep apart. Build or download one that fits your garden, print it at full scale, and update it with what you learn each season. Consistent spacing and sensible placement will do more for your herbs than any single pairing.

Ready to choose one?

Ethan Brooks

About Ethan Brooks

Ethan Brooks is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our vegetable & edible gardening guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.