Steve Yoder
I'm Steve, a 30-something urban gardener fascinated by companion planting research. Growing up surrounded by greenery sparked my passion for gardening early on. I enjoy transforming my small backyard, experimenting with companion planting techniques and eco-friendly practices. Sustainability matters—I advocate for native plants and composting.
Table of Contents
Oregano thrives in sunny and warm places. For example, an herb snail grows best at the top in full sun. Oregano does particularly well in a herb spiral. Thyme and sage are good planting partners for the herb. But there are far more good oregano companion plants out there. If you’re looking for an easy way to boost your garden’s yield, companion planting is the answer.
Growing specific plants together can help them grow better than they would on their own. This is thanks to natural pest control or improved soil conditions. The best part? Companion planting is a method that anyone can use! Let’s see which are the best oregano companion plants and what advantages they bring with them.
Best Oregano Companion Plants
Planting Oregano with Marigold
Marigolds are great companions for oregano because they help repel whiteflies, which can be a common pest of oregano. Companion planting with marigolds will also attract butterflies, bees, and hoverflies. These insects are very helpful for your plants and spread seeds by also pollinating the neighbor plants.
More about marigold companion plants? Have a look at: Marigold Companion Plants – Definition of Beauty
Basil and Oregano
Basil is another good companion plant for oregano, as it helps deter flies and moths from your herbs.
Besides oregano, you can use basil as a companion for plenty of other plants. The following article tells you more: Basil Companion Plants – Choosing the Right Companions
Coriander as Oregano Companion Plant
Coriander is also an excellent neighbor to have around your garden. The smell of coriander deters pests like carrot flies and nematodes.
Companion Planting Mint and Oregano
Mint is another great herb that goes well with oregano. Mint is famous for its effet to repel rabbits and rodents.
Further mint companion plants: Mint Companion Plants – Do They Even Exist?
Companion Mix: Chives, Parsley, Peas, and Oregano
Chives, parsley, and peas all make great companions for oregano plants. These three herbs can also act as early-warning systems when something bad happens to one of their neighbors. Chives will grow tall when something nearby is in distress!
Parsley grows well among other herbs such as basil or cilantro. Due to its ability to fend off pests such as cucumber beetles, It is a fantastic choice.
Carrots – not always the best neighbors
Carrots tend not to do well growing next door to other vegetables because they need full sun. But they make excellent neighbors alongside an oregano plant. There is one thing to consider though. You should plant carrots every 2 feet apart so that both vegetables get enough sunshine!
A few more carrot companion plants: 5 Carrot Companion Plants for More Nutrients (+ 5 Bad Companions)
Thyme and Sage in Combination with Oregano
The last oregano Companion plants, we will have a look at are thyme and sage. As mentioned above, these two plants make great companions, because oregano grows very well in a herb spiral. But that’s not all! Lots of academic studies investigated a wide variety of companion plants to contain repellent properties against pests.1 Thyme and Sage are one of these helpful plants fighting pests in your garden.2
Thyme companion planting in a nutshell: 5 Thyme Companion Plants Doing a Great Job Together
What not to Plant with Oregano
As with any plant, oregano has its good neighbors and bad ones. It’s best to keep it away from members of the cabbage family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. On the other hand, rabbits and deer love these plants—and may even eat your oregano if you let them get too close!
References
- Harvey, C. T., & Eubanks, M. D. (2004). Effect of habitat complexity on biological control by the red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in collards. Biological Control, 29(3), 348-358.
- Talekar, N. S. (1992). Introduction of Diadegma semiclausum to control diamondback moth in Taiwan. Diamondback moth and other crucifer pests, 263-270.
