By Ethan BrooksUpdated November 2026
A companion herb planting chart shows you which herbs grow well side by side, how far apart to set them, and which combinations to avoid. Once you have one on paper or pinned above your bench, you can plan beds in minutes instead of guessing from memory. This guide walks through how to read the pairings, how to build your own chart for a raised bed or containers, and how to avoid the mistakes that cause crowding and disease.
What a Companion Herb Planting Chart Actually Tells You
Companion planting is the practice of placing plants together for reasons such as pest deterrence, pollinator attraction, shade or support, and better use of space. For herbs, the picture is more mixed than for vegetables. Some pairings are well documented, such as basil planted near tomatoes, while others rest on traditional gardening lore with limited controlled evidence. A good chart separates these two categories so you know where to place your confidence.
Shopping for one? See our guide: 6 Best Garden Layout Free Printable Printable Companion Planting Charts (2026): Our Picks.
Most charts record four things for each herb: its growth habit (upright, mounding, spreading or woody), its height and spread, its preferred conditions (sun, moisture and soil pH), and its listed friends and foes. If you are building a chart from scratch, record those four columns first. The companion notes are easier to add once you know how each herb behaves in your garden.
Step 1: Sort Your Herbs by Growth Habit and Water Needs
Before you match any pairs, group herbs that share conditions. Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage and lavender want full sun, sharp drainage and only moderate watering. Moisture-loving herbs such as mint, parsley, chives and cilantro tolerate more water and some afternoon shade. Mixing these two groups in one bed is the most common reason herbs decline, because the thirsty plants rot in soil that the drought-tolerant ones need to dry out.
Sort your list into three bins:
- Sun-lovers, drier soil: rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, lavender, winter savory
- Sun or part shade, even moisture: basil, parsley, chives, cilantro, dill, chervil
- Vigorous spreaders, contain them: mint, lemon balm, tarragon
Mint in particular should get its own container or a sunken pot in the ground. Its runners will take over any bed within a season.
Step 2: Match Herbs to Their Best Partners
With your bins set, you can add the companion relationships. The table below lists commonly cited pairings with a note on the reason. Treat the “reason” column as a working hypothesis to test in your own beds, not a guarantee.
| Herb | Commonly paired with | Reason cited | Keep apart from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Tomatoes, peppers, oregano | Pollinator visits and a shared sun and water schedule | Rue, sage (both suppress basil growth) |
| Dill | Cabbage family, cucumbers, lettuce | Attracts beneficial wasps and hoverflies | Carrots, tomatoes (dill can cross-pollinate or stunt them) |
| Chives | Carrots, tomatoes, roses | Strong scent may deter some pests | Peas and beans (alliums can slow legume growth) |
| Rosemary | Beans, cabbage, carrots, sage | Tall, woody form provides shelter; repellent aroma | Moisture-loving herbs in the same bed |
| Thyme | Cabbage, eggplant, strawberries | Low ground cover that shades soil and attracts pollinators | Basil (different water needs) |
| Parsley | Tomatoes, asparagus, chives | Attracts predatory insects when it flowers | Mint (competes and may stunt) |
For a closer look at specific pairs, see Herb Companion Planting Guide: Pairings, Spacing and Pitfalls and Basil and Oregano Companion Planting: A Step-by-Step Guide for Better Herbs. If you want to pair herbs with fruiting crops, Tomatoes and Parsley Companion Planting: 5 Best Picks for 2026 goes deeper on that combination.
Step 3: Set Spacing From Mature Size, Not Seed Packet Size
Spacing mistakes are the most common reason herb beds look crowded by midsummer. Plan for the mature width of each plant. Use these general starting distances, then adjust for your climate and soil fertility:
- Basil: 12 to 18 inches apart
- Dill: 12 inches apart, and sow in succession because it bolts quickly
- Rosemary and sage: 18 to 24 inches apart
- Oregano and thyme: 10 to 12 inches apart
- Chives and parsley: 8 to 10 inches apart
- Mint: give it its own space or a container; it does not need a companion
On a chart, write these spacing numbers next to each herb so you can sketch the bed on graph paper at true scale. A 4-by-4-foot raised bed holds roughly four basil plants at 18-inch spacing, which is usually enough for a household.
Step 4: Adapt the Chart for Containers and Raised Beds
Containers change the math. Pot-grown herbs dry out faster, so group plants with similar water needs, not just the classic companions. A 12-inch pot can hold one basil, or a mix of thyme and oregano with similar sun exposure. Raised beds are more forgiving but still benefit from grouping by water needs. If you grow a mixed bed of vegetables and herbs, Raised Bed Garden Layout Companion Planting: A Step-by-Step Guide shows a workable block layout.
Step 5: Build Your Own Chart
A printed chart works best when it reflects your garden. Use this checklist to build one:
- List every herb you grow or plan to grow.
- Record growth habit, mature height and spread, and sun and water needs for each.
- Add two columns: “good neighbors” and “keep apart,” using the pairings above as a starting point.
- Note your last frost date and the sowing window for each herb.
- Mark which herbs are perennial, which are annual, and which need division every three to four years.
- Post the chart near your garden tools or tape it inside your garden journal.
If you prefer a ready-made starting point, Free Companion Planting Chart for Vegetables: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026) offers a format you can adapt to herbs, and Container Companion Planting Chart: 8 Pairings That Work (2026) covers pot-specific layouts.
Tools and Supplies for Setting Up Your Chart
You do not need specialized equipment, but a few basics make the planning and planting easier:
- Graph paper or a garden planner app for drawing bed layouts at scale
- A soil thermometer to confirm soil temperature before sowing warm-season herbs like basil
- Plant tags or a waterproof marker for labeling rows and containers
- A garden journal to record what grew well and where
Common Mistakes
- Mixing drought-tolerant and moisture-loving herbs. Rosemary rots in soil that suits parsley. Group by water needs first.
- Planting mint in the open bed. It spreads by runners and will take over. Use a pot.
- Trusting companion claims too far. Many pairings are traditional and not thoroughly tested. Watch your own plants and adjust.
- Spacing for the seedling, not the adult plant. Basil that looks small in May can fill a 12-inch circle by July.
- Letting dill and carrots share space. Dill cross-pollinates and can stunt carrot roots. Keep them apart.
Tips for Keeping Your Chart Useful
Update the chart at the end of each season. Mark which pairs thrived, which struggled, and where pests showed up. Over two or three years you will have a chart built on your own soil, light and climate, which is more reliable than any generic list. Rotate herb locations where possible, especially for basil and other annuals, to reduce soilborne disease buildup.
FAQ
Is a companion herb planting chart worth making if I only have a few herbs?
Yes. Even three or four herbs benefit from a chart that records spacing and water needs. It prevents the most common errors, such as crowding basil or planting mint in an open bed.
Which herbs are the most reliable companions for tomatoes?
Basil and parsley are the most frequently recommended. Basil is often planted nearby for pollinator attraction and shared growing conditions. Parsley is commonly listed as a good neighbor, though evidence is mostly traditional.
Should I keep rosemary and basil together?
Generally, no. Rosemary and sage are often cited as suppressing basil, and their water needs differ. Keep them in separate beds or containers.
Does mint need a companion?
No. Mint is best grown alone in a container or sunken pot because it spreads aggressively and competes with neighbors.
How far apart should I plant dill from carrots?
Keep them in separate beds if possible. Dill can cross-pollinate with other umbellifers and is often said to stunt carrot growth when planted close.
Can I use the same chart for indoor herbs?
Partly. Use the water-needs grouping and spacing numbers, but expect slower growth and less pest pressure indoors. Pollinator-based pairings do not apply to indoor pots.
How often should I update my herb chart?
Review it once a year, after the season ends. Add notes on what succeeded, what struggled, and any pest or disease patterns you observed.
Conclusion
A companion herb planting chart turns scattered garden lore into a practical plan. Group herbs by water needs, match them with their best-supported partners, and space them for mature size. Keep notes each season so the chart reflects your own garden. With a chart in hand, you will spend less time correcting crowding mistakes and more time harvesting.
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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.
