Sunflower Companion Plants – Discover The Top 15 (+7 Flops)

One of those cheerful plants that shout: “summer is here!” is the sunflower. One of the few plant species that solar track, they are tall and majestic and produce huge flower heads. These flower heads revolve around the sun. This is one of the reasons why there are many sunflower companion plants!

Sunflowers are also excellent partners for many other reasons. Their size makes them great shade providers. Also, their capacity to draw pollinators is fascinating! Let’s have a look at the best sunflower companion plants.

Lettuce: Edible Green Companions

When it comes to selecting the perfect companion for your sunflowers, few options offer the dual benefits of visual appeal and practical utility quite like lettuce. This edible green not only adds a delightful touch to your plate but also contributes to the overall well-being of your garden.

Why Lettuce?

Lettuce is an ideal companion plant for sunflowers due to its low-growing nature and lush foliage. When strategically planted around the base of sunflowers, lettuce serves as a natural ground cover. This has several advantages:

• Shade Creation: The broad leaves of lettuce create a protective canopy around the soil, providing shade to the sunflower’s root system. This shade helps retain soil moisture, preventing rapid evaporation, especially in sunny and arid conditions.
• Weed Suppression: The dense growth of lettuce helps suppress the emergence of weeds. This is particularly beneficial as it reduces competition for resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients, allowing your sunflowers to thrive without unnecessary hindrance.
• Soil Enrichment: As lettuce leaves decompose, they contribute organic matter to the soil, enhancing its fertility. This natural decomposition process promotes a healthy soil structure, supporting the growth and development of sunflowers.

Planting Tips:

For optimal results, consider planting lettuce in a circular pattern around the base of your sunflowers. This not only maximizes the shading effect but also creates an aesthetically pleasing arrangement. Ensure that the lettuce is spaced appropriately to allow both plants to access essential resources without overcrowding.

Squash: Ground-Covering Companions for Sunflowers

Introduce a dynamic partnership in your garden by embracing the dual benefits of sunflowers and squash. These ground-covering companions not only enhance the visual appeal of your garden but also contribute to the overall health and productivity of your outdoor space.

Why Squash?

Squash proves to be an excellent companion for sunflowers, offering a range of advantages:

• Natural Ground Cover: The sprawling and bushy growth habit of squash plants acts as natural ground cover. This suppresses weeds, reduces soil moisture evaporation, and creates a protective layer around the base of sunflowers.
• Soil Moisture Retention: Squash leaves provide shade to the soil, reducing water evaporation and maintaining consistent soil moisture levels. This is particularly beneficial for sunflowers, especially during hot and dry periods.
• Complementary Growth Patterns: The low-lying nature of squash complements the towering presence of sunflowers. This harmonious arrangement maximizes the use of vertical and horizontal space, creating a well-balanced and visually appealing garden bed.
• Organic Matter Contribution: As squash plants mature, their leaves and vines contribute organic matter to the soil. This organic matter enriches the soil, providing essential nutrients for the growth of sunflowers.

Planting Tips:

Interplant squash strategically around the base of your sunflowers, ensuring proper spacing to allow for the sprawling growth. Consider the orientation of the garden bed to optimize sunlight exposure for both plants.

Nasturtium: Ornamental and Beneficial

For a garden that combines aesthetic charm with practical benefits, look no further than the vibrant presence of nasturtium alongside your sunflowers. These ornamental companions not only elevate the visual appeal but also play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and balanced garden ecosystem.

Why Nasturtium?

Nasturtiums bring a unique blend of beauty and functionality to your sunflower bed. Here’s why they make exceptional companions:

• Colorful Pest Deterrent: The vibrant flowers of nasturtium serve as more than just an aesthetic delight; they act as a natural pest repellent. The peppery scent emitted by nasturtiums can help deter certain pests, protecting your sunflowers from potential harm.
• Edible Delight: Beyond their visual appeal, both the flowers and leaves of nasturtium are edible, adding a delightful and peppery flavor to salads. This dual-purpose makes them a versatile addition to your garden.
• Beneficial Insects Attraction: Nasturtiums attract beneficial insects like bees and hoverflies, contributing to pollination in the garden. This increased pollination can enhance the overall productivity of your sunflowers and other nearby plants.
• Enhanced Soil Health: As nasturtium plants mature, they contribute organic matter to the soil through their fallen leaves. This organic matter enriches the soil, promoting a healthier growing environment for your sunflowers.

Planting Tips:

Plant nasturtium seeds or seedlings near the base of your sunflowers, allowing them to weave a colorful tapestry around the towering stems. Consider interspersing them strategically to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional arrangement.

Impatiens: Colorful Ground Cover

When envisioning a garden that radiates color and charm beneath your sunflowers, consider the inclusion of impatiens. These vibrant and low-maintenance companions not only add a burst of color but also serve practical purposes in creating a visually appealing and thriving garden.

Why Impatiens?

Impatiens stand out as an excellent choice for sunflower companions due to their unique qualities:

• Colorful Diversity: The wide range of hues available in impatiens allows you to create a visually stunning garden palette. Choose colors that complement or contrast with your sunflowers, adding a delightful layer of diversity to your outdoor space.
• Ground Cover Benefits: The spreading habit of impatiens creates an effective ground cover, helping to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. This not only enhances the overall aesthetics but also provides practical advantages for the health of your sunflowers.
• Shade and Sun Balance: Impatiens thrive in partial shade, making them an ideal choice for planting around the base of sunflowers. This balance ensures that both plants coexist harmoniously, each receiving the optimal amount of sunlight for their growth.

Planting Tips:

Integrate impatiens in clusters around your sunflowers, creating pockets of vibrant color. Ensure they are spaced adequately to allow for optimal growth without overcrowding, and consider planting them in areas that receive dappled sunlight to partial shade.

Onion: Natural Pest Repellent

Embrace the dual benefits of flavor and functionality by welcoming onions as companions to your sunflowers. Beyond their culinary use, onions contribute to a pest-resistant and thriving garden environment.

Why Onions?

Onions offer a multitude of advantages, making them an excellent choice as sunflower companions:

• Natural Pest Repellent: The strong aroma of onions acts as a natural deterrent for pests, helping to protect your sunflowers from common garden invaders. Planting onions strategically around sunflowers can create a barrier that discourages pests from approaching.
• Companion Planting Synergy: Onions are known to enhance the flavors of neighboring plants and can contribute to improved pest resistance for sunflowers. This synergy fosters a healthier and more resilient garden ecosystem.
• Compact Growth: The relatively compact size of onion plants allows for easy integration around the base of sunflowers without overshadowing or competing for resources. This makes them a practical choice for smaller garden spaces.
• Seasonal Overlap: Onions can be planted alongside sunflowers to provide a seasonally staggered harvest. This maximizes the use of garden space and ensures a continual supply of fresh produce throughout the growing season.
• Improved Soil Structure: As onions grow, their roots help break up compacted soil, improving drainage and aeration. This enhanced soil structure benefits not only the onions but also the sunflowers by creating a more conducive growing environment.
• Edible Rewards: Beyond their pest-repellent properties, onions offer a practical and flavorful reward. Harvested onions can be used in various culinary creations, adding both taste and nutritional value to your meals.

Planting Tips:

Interplant onions strategically around your sunflowers, ensuring a balanced distribution for maximum pest-repelling effectiveness. Consider the growth patterns and space requirements of both plants to promote a synergistic relationship in your garden.

Garlic: Aromatic Defender in the Garden

Enrich your sunflower garden with the aromatic and protective presence of garlic. This versatile herb not only adds flavor to your dishes but also serves as a natural defender, contributing to the overall health of your garden ecosystem.

Why Garlic?

Garlic proves to be an exceptional companion for sunflowers, offering a range of benefits:

• Natural Pest Repellent: The pungent aroma of garlic acts as a potent deterrent for various garden pests. Planting garlic around sunflowers creates a protective barrier, reducing the risk of pest infestations and promoting the health of your sunflower bed.
• Soil Enrichment: As garlic grows, it contributes organic matter to the soil through its decomposing leaves. This organic matter enhances soil fertility, providing essential nutrients for the optimal growth of sunflowers.
• Space Optimization: The upright growth habit of garlic allows for efficient use of garden space. Planting garlic strategically around the base of sunflowers ensures both plants coexist harmoniously, each benefitting from the other’s presence.
• Companion Planting Synergy: Garlic has been known to enhance the flavors of neighboring plants and can help deter pests that might target sunflowers. This synergy creates a balanced and resilient garden environment.

Planting Tips:

Interplant garlic bulbs or cloves near the base of your sunflowers, ensuring a uniform distribution for maximum pest-repelling effectiveness. Consider the growth patterns and spacing requirements of both plants to encourage a symbiotic relationship in your garden.

Pepper: Spice Up Your Garden

Elevate your sunflower garden with a touch of spice by introducing peppers as delightful companions. Beyond their culinary appeal, peppers bring unique attributes that contribute to a vibrant and well-balanced garden ecosystem.

Why Peppers?

Peppers emerge as excellent companions for sunflowers, offering a range of benefits:

• Natural Pest Deterrent: The pungency of peppers acts as a natural deterrent for certain pests, helping protect sunflowers from potential harm. Planting peppers strategically around sunflowers creates a zone of defense against unwanted garden visitors.
• Visual Harmony: The contrasting colors and shapes of peppers add visual interest to your sunflower bed. Choose pepper varieties that complement the vibrant hues of sunflowers, creating an aesthetically pleasing and harmonious garden space.
• Complementary Growth Habits: Peppers and sunflowers exhibit different growth patterns, allowing them to coexist without competition for sunlight. The upright stature of sunflowers pairs well with the bushier form of pepper plants, creating a balanced and visually appealing garden arrangement.
• Culinary Rewards: Beyond their ornamental value, peppers offer the added bonus of culinary delight. Harvested peppers can be used in a variety of dishes, enhancing the flavors of your culinary creations with a spicy kick.

Planting Tips:

Integrate pepper plants strategically around the base of your sunflowers, considering their growth habits and spacing requirements. Ensure a balanced distribution to create an attractive and functional garden setting.

Corn: Tall Companions for Sunflowers

Embrace the beauty of vertical diversity in your garden by introducing the majestic companionship of corn alongside your sunflowers. These tall and sturdy plants not only create a visually striking landscape but also offer numerous benefits to enhance the overall health of your garden.

Why Corn?

Corn stands out as an exceptional companion for sunflowers, providing a multitude of benefits:

• Vertical Harmony: The towering height of corn plants complements the majestic presence of sunflowers, creating a visually appealing and harmonious garden setting. This vertical diversity adds a dynamic element to your outdoor space.
• Shade and Sunlight Optimization: The upright growth habit of corn allows for efficient use of sunlight, while the broad leaves create shade beneath. This shade benefits sunflowers by preventing excessive soil moisture evaporation and fostering a more stable and favorable microclimate.
• Wind Protection: The sturdy stalks of corn provide a natural windbreak for sunflowers, helping to protect them from strong gusts that may otherwise cause damage. This protective barrier contributes to the overall resilience of your garden.
• Nutrient Cycling: Corn plants, with their extensive root systems, contribute to nutrient cycling in the soil. This helps maintain a nutrient-rich environment, supporting the growth and development of sunflowers and other companion plants.
• Complementary Growth Patterns: Sunflowers and corn exhibit complementary growth patterns, with sunflowers reaching for the sky and corn occupying the vertical space below. This allows for efficient space utilization and prevents overcrowding or competition for resources.

Planting Tips:

Interplant corn strategically among your sunflowers, ensuring adequate spacing to accommodate the growth of both plants. Consider the orientation of the garden bed to optimize sunlight exposure for all plants.

Marigold: Vibrant Blooms and Pest Control

Infuse your sunflower garden with a burst of color and functional benefits by including the radiant companionship of marigolds. These vibrant flowers not only add visual appeal but also contribute to the overall well-being of your garden ecosystem.

Why Marigolds?

Marigolds prove to be excellent companions for sunflowers, offering a range of benefits:

• Natural Pest Repellent: The strong scent of marigolds acts as a natural deterrent for many common garden pests. Planting marigolds strategically around sunflowers can help protect them from potential pest infestations, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
• Colorful Contrast: The vibrant and diverse colors of marigold blooms create a striking contrast against the backdrop of sunflowers. This adds a visually appealing and dynamic element to your garden, enhancing its overall beauty.
• Compact Growth: Marigolds exhibit a compact and bushy growth habit, making them suitable for planting around the base of sunflowers without overshadowing or competing for resources. This efficient use of space contributes to a well-organized garden bed.
• Soil Enrichment: As marigolds mature and their foliage decomposes, they contribute organic matter to the soil. This organic matter enhances soil fertility, promoting a healthy and nutrient-rich environment for the growth of sunflowers.

Planting Tips:

Integrate marigold plants strategically around your sunflowers, considering their growth habits and spacing requirements. Ensure a balanced distribution to create an attractive and functional garden setting.

Basil: Aromatic Herb Enhancing Your Sunflower Garden

Transform your sunflower garden into a fragrant and flourishing haven by incorporating the aromatic companionship of basil. This versatile herb not only delights the senses but also serves practical purposes, contributing to the overall health and harmony of your garden.

Why Basil?

Basil emerges as an exceptional companion for sunflowers, offering a diverse array of benefits:

• Herbaceous Aroma: The aromatic foliage of basil fills the air with a delightful fragrance, enhancing the sensory experience of your garden. This aromatic quality is not only pleasant for humans but can also help deter certain pests.
• Natural Pest Repellent: Basil contains compounds that act as natural insect repellents. Planting basil around sunflowers can help protect them from potential pest infestations, promoting a healthier garden ecosystem.
• Complementary Growth Patterns: The compact and bushy growth habit of basil complements the tall and upright stature of sunflowers. This complementary arrangement allows for efficient use of garden space and prevents overcrowding.
• Culinary Delight: Beyond its ornamental value, basil offers the practical reward of culinary delight. Harvested basil leaves can be used in various dishes, adding flavor and freshness to your culinary creations.
• Soil Enrichment: As basil plants mature, their fallen leaves contribute organic matter to the soil. This organic matter enhances soil fertility, providing essential nutrients for the optimal growth of sunflowers.
• Beneficial Insects Attraction: Basil attracts beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies, contributing to pollination in the garden. This increased pollination can enhance the overall productivity of your sunflowers and other nearby plants.

Planting Tips:

Integrate basil plants in clusters around the base of your sunflowers, considering their growth habits and spacing requirements. Ensure a balanced distribution to create an aromatic and visually appealing garden setting.

Tomato: Fruitful Partnership in the Sunflower Garden

Cultivate a symbiotic relationship in your garden by pairing the majestic presence of sunflowers with the fruitful companionship of tomatoes. This dynamic duo not only creates a visually stunning landscape but also offers a range of benefits for a thriving and productive garden.

Why Tomatoes?

Tomatoes prove to be excellent companions for sunflowers, providing a myriad of benefits:

• Complementary Growth: The upright stature of sunflowers and the vining nature of tomatoes create a visually dynamic and harmonious garden setting. This complementary growth pattern allows for efficient use of vertical space and enhances the overall aesthetics.
• Vegetable and Ornamental Fusion: Tomatoes offer a dual-purpose presence, combining both ornamental and edible qualities. This fusion not only adds visual interest to your garden but also provides a harvest of fresh, homegrown tomatoes for culinary delights.
• Shade and Sun Balance: Sunflowers provide a natural trellis for tomatoes, allowing them to climb and receive optimal sunlight. The shade created by sunflower leaves benefits tomatoes by reducing the risk of sunscald, especially during hot and sunny days.
• Companion Planting Synergy: Tomatoes and sunflowers exhibit companion planting synergy, with tomatoes potentially deterring certain pests that might affect sunflowers. This natural collaboration fosters a healthier and more resilient garden environment.
• Soil Enrichment: As tomato plants contribute fallen leaves and organic matter to the soil, they enhance soil fertility. This enrichment provides essential nutrients for the optimal growth of sunflowers and contributes to a well-nourished garden ecosystem.

Planting Tips:

Interplant tomato seedlings or young plants strategically around your sunflowers, considering their growth habits and spacing requirements. Ensure a balanced distribution to create an attractive and fruitful garden setting.

Peas: Climbing Companions for Sunflowers

Elevate your sunflower garden with the charm of climbing companions by introducing the delightful partnership of sunflowers and peas. This dynamic duo not only enhances the vertical aesthetics of your garden but also provides several benefits for a harmonious and productive outdoor space.

Why Peas?

Peas emerge as excellent companions for sunflowers, offering a range of benefits:

• Vertical Harmony: The climbing nature of peas complements the towering height of sunflowers, creating a visually captivating and harmonious garden landscape. This vertical arrangement maximizes the use of space and adds a dynamic element to your outdoor setting.
• Nitrogen Fixation: Peas are known for their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This natural process enhances soil fertility, providing a nutrient-rich environment for the optimal growth of sunflowers.
• Beneficial Insects Attraction: Pea flowers attract beneficial insects, such as bees, which contribute to pollination in the garden. This increased pollination can enhance the overall productivity of your sunflowers and other nearby plants.
• Shade and Sun Balance: The climbing vines of peas can create a light shade beneath the sunflowers, offering protection against intense sunlight. This balance ensures that both plants coexist harmoniously, each receiving the optimal amount of sunlight for their growth.

Planting Tips:

Interplant peas at the base of your sunflowers, providing a support structure for the climbing vines. Consider the growth patterns and spacing requirements of both plants to encourage a synergistic relationship in your garden.

Zinnia: Colorful Blooms Enhancing Sunflower Gardens

Embark on a journey of vibrant hues and visual delight by introducing the lively companionship of zinnias to your sunflower garden. These colorful blooms not only elevate the aesthetic appeal but also contribute to the overall vibrancy and health of your outdoor space.

Why Zinnias?

Zinnias stand out as fantastic companions for sunflowers, offering a myriad of benefits:

• Colorful Diversity: Zinnias come in a wide array of colors, adding a burst of diversity and vibrancy to your sunflower garden. This visual spectacle creates a lively and captivating atmosphere in your outdoor space.
• Attracts Pollinators: The brightly colored blooms of zinnias act as a magnet for pollinators, including butterflies and bees. This attraction enhances the overall pollination in your garden, benefiting not only sunflowers but also other nearby plants.
• Continuous Blooms: Zinnias are known for their long flowering season, providing a continual display of blooms throughout the growing season. This extended bloom period ensures a constant source of visual delight in your garden.
• Complementary Growth: The compact and bushy growth habit of zinnias complements the towering presence of sunflowers. This harmonious coexistence allows for an efficient use of garden space, creating a well-balanced and visually appealing layout.

Planting Tips:

Integrate zinnias strategically among your sunflowers, considering their diverse colors and growth habits. Ensure a balanced distribution to create a harmonious blend of colors and heights in your garden.

Chamomile: Soothing Presence in the Sunflower Garden

Infuse a sense of tranquility and natural beauty into your sunflower garden by embracing the calming companionship of chamomile. This herbaceous plant not only adds a touch of serenity but also provides several practical benefits for a harmonious and thriving outdoor space.

Why Chamomile?

Chamomile proves to be an excellent companion for sunflowers, offering a range of soothing benefits:

• Calming Aroma: The gentle and soothing aroma of chamomile creates a relaxing atmosphere in your garden. This aromatic quality not only benefits human senses but can also have a calming effect on nearby plants.
• Natural Pest Repellent: Chamomile is known for its ability to repel certain pests. Planting chamomile around sunflowers can act as a natural deterrent, helping to protect your garden from potential insect infestations.
• Ground Cover Benefits: The low-growing and spreading habit of chamomile provides effective ground cover. This not only suppresses weeds but also helps retain soil moisture, creating a conducive environment for the health of sunflowers.
• Medicinal Uses: Chamomile has medicinal properties and is often used for herbal remedies. Having chamomile in your garden not only adds to its visual charm but also provides a source for natural remedies.

Planting Tips:

Integrate chamomile strategically around the base of your sunflowers, considering its low-growing nature. Ensure a balanced distribution to create a serene and well-balanced garden setting.

Cucumber: Refreshing Pairing with Sunflowers

Create a refreshing and fruitful alliance in your garden by introducing the delightful companionship of cucumbers alongside your sunflowers. This dynamic pairing not only adds diversity to your garden but also offers several practical benefits for a thriving and bountiful outdoor space.

Why Cucumbers?

Cucumbers emerge as excellent companions for sunflowers, providing a range of benefits:

• Vertical Harmony: The climbing nature of cucumbers allows them to grow vertically, making them ideal companions for the tall stature of sunflowers. This vertical harmony not only maximizes garden space but also creates a visually appealing and dynamic landscape.
• Complementary Growth Patterns: Cucumbers and sunflowers exhibit complementary growth patterns, with cucumbers utilizing vertical space and sunflowers providing a natural trellis. This symbiotic relationship ensures efficient use of resources and promotes a balanced garden ecosystem.
• Shade Benefits: The broad leaves of sunflowers provide partial shade beneath, creating a favorable microclimate for cucumbers. This shade helps prevent soil moisture evaporation and supports the healthy growth of cucumber plants, especially during hot and sunny days.
• Edible Rewards: Cucumbers offer a delicious and refreshing harvest, adding a culinary delight to your garden. The combination of sunflowers and cucumbers not only enhances the visual appeal but also provides a source of fresh produce for your culinary creations.
• Beneficial Insects Attraction: Cucumber flowers attract pollinators, contributing to increased pollination in the garden. This enhanced pollination benefits not only cucumbers but also supports the overall productivity of your sunflowers and other nearby plants.

Planting Tips:

Interplant cucumber seedlings or young plants strategically around your sunflowers, providing adequate spacing for their climbing vines. Consider the orientation of the garden bed to optimize sunlight exposure for both plants.

What Not to Plant with Sunflowers

While companion planting enhances the synergy in your garden, it’s equally crucial to be mindful of plants that may not thrive well alongside sunflowers. Here are seven plants to avoid planting together with sunflowers, along with reasons for the potential negative impact:

• Potatoes: Potatoes and sunflowers both require ample space and can compete for nutrients. The tall sunflowers may shade the potatoes, affecting their growth and yield.
• Radishes: Radishes release compounds that may inhibit the growth of sunflowers. Planting them in close proximity can hinder the overall health and development of sunflowers.
• Wheat: Wheat competes with sunflowers for nutrients and may overshadow them, leading to reduced sunlight exposure and stunted growth for both plants.
• Beans: Beans, particularly pole beans, can intertwine with sunflowers, potentially causing structural issues for the sunflowers. Additionally, both plants may compete for nutrients in the soil.
• Carrots: Carrots and sunflowers have different spacing requirements. Planting them together can result in overcrowding, affecting the development of both plants and reducing their overall productivity.
• Broccoli: Broccoli requires a relatively cool and shaded environment, while sunflowers thrive in full sunlight. Planting them together may lead to unfavorable growing conditions for one or both plants.
• Cabbage: Cabbage and sunflowers have different soil and nutrient preferences. Planting them in close proximity can lead to imbalances in soil composition, negatively impacting the growth of both plants.

By avoiding the planting of these incompatible companions, you ensure a more harmonious and productive garden, allowing your sunflowers to flourish without facing unnecessary competition or adverse effects from neighboring plants.

Sunflower Companion Planting Chart – A Quick Guide

Companion Plant	Benefits for Sunflowers	Planting Tips
Lettuce	Provides shade, moisture retention, and pest diversion.	Plant lettuce around the base of sunflowers, ensuring proper spacing.
Squash	Acts as a natural ground cover, suppressing weeds and retaining soil moisture.	Plant squash at the base of sunflowers, allowing for adequate spreading space.
Cucumber	Creates vertical harmony, provides shade, and attracts beneficial insects.	Interplant cucumber seedlings around sunflowers, considering climbing habits.
Nasturtium	Deters pests with its peppery scent and adds a splash of color.	Plant nasturtiums near sunflowers to repel pests and enhance visual appeal.
Impatiens	Attracts pollinators, adds vibrant color, and provides ground cover.	Plant impatiens strategically around sunflowers for a colorful and beneficial display.
Onion	Repels pests and may improve the flavor of sunflowers.	Interplant onions among sunflowers, considering their space and sunlight needs.
Garlic	Repels pests and has potential disease-preventing properties.	Plant garlic near sunflowers, ensuring proper spacing for both plants.
Pepper	Acts as a natural pest deterrent, adds visual interest, and offers culinary rewards.	Integrate pepper plants strategically around sunflowers, considering growth habits.
Corn	Provides vertical harmony, shade, wind protection, and nutrient cycling.	Interplant corn among sunflowers, optimizing sunlight and ensuring proper spacing.
Marigold	Acts as a natural pest repellent, adds colorful contrast, and enriches the soil.	Integrate marigold plants around sunflowers for pest control and visual appeal.
Basil	Offers herbaceous aroma, acts as a natural pest repellent, and enhances pollination.	Plant basil clusters around the base of sunflowers, considering growth habits.
Tomato	Provides complementary growth, vegetable, and ornamental fusion, and shade benefits.	Interplant tomato seedlings around sunflowers, optimizing sunlight and spacing.
Peas	Creates vertical harmony, fixes nitrogen, attracts beneficial insects, and provides shade.	Interplant peas at the base of sunflowers, providing support for climbing vines.
Zinnia	Brings colorful diversity, attracts pollinators, offers continuous blooms.	Integrate zinnias strategically among sunflowers for a lively and visually appealing garden.
Chamomile	Infuses a calming aroma, acts as a natural pest repellent, and provides ground cover benefits.	Plant chamomile strategically around the base of sunflowers, considering its low-growing habit.