Cilantro, also known as coriander is a versatile herb popular in various cuisines worldwide. Its distinct flavor adds a refreshing and tangy zest to dishes, making it a staple ingredient in many kitchens. When it comes to gardening, cilantro is not only valued for its culinary uses but also for its ability to thrive alongside certain companion plants.
Companion planting involves strategically placing different plant species together to maximize their growth, deter pests, and enhance flavor. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best companion plants for cilantro, offering insight into how they can mutually benefit each other in the garden.
Best Cilantro Companion Plants
1. Anise
Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a fragrant herb that pairs exceptionally well with cilantro in the garden. Both plants share similar growing conditions, preferring well-drained soil and ample sunlight. Planting anise alongside cilantro can help attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, which prey on aphids and other common garden pests. Additionally, the licorice-like aroma of anise may help mask the scent of cilantro, potentially deterring pests that are attracted to the herb’s strong fragrance.
2. Basil
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is another herbaceous companion that complements cilantro in both the garden and the kitchen. These two herbs share similar cultural requirements, thriving in warm, sunny locations with moist, well-drained soil. Basil’s strong aroma can help deter pests such as mosquitoes and flies, while also enhancing the flavor of nearby cilantro plants. When planted together, basil and cilantro create a visually appealing and aromatic herb garden bed.
3. Beans and Peas
Legumes like beans and peas (Phaseolus spp. and Pisum spp.) are excellent companions for cilantro due to their nitrogen-fixing abilities. These plants form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form that can be readily absorbed by nearby plants. Cilantro, like many other herbs and vegetables, benefits from increased nitrogen levels in the soil, promoting lush foliage and vigorous growth. Planting beans or peas near cilantro can help improve soil fertility while providing structural support for the herbaceous plants to climb.
4. Brassicas
Brassicas, including cabbage, broccoli, and kale, are compatible companions for cilantro in the garden. While cilantro prefers partial shade during the hottest part of the day, many brassica crops thrive in full sun. Interplanting cilantro with brassicas can help provide shade and shelter for the young brassica seedlings, protecting them from intense sunlight and heat stress. Additionally, cilantro’s strong fragrance may help deter pests that commonly afflict brassica crops, such as cabbage worms and aphids.
5. Chives
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) make excellent companions for cilantro, offering both culinary and garden benefits. Like cilantro, chives are easy to grow and prefer well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade. In the garden, chives can help repel pests such as aphids, thrips, and mites, reducing the risk of damage to nearby cilantro plants. Furthermore, both herbs can be harvested and used together in a variety of dishes, adding fresh flavor and aroma to salads, soups, and sauces.
6. Dill
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a natural companion for cilantro, sharing similar cultural requirements and growth habits. Both herbs prefer well-drained soil and full sun, making them ideal companions in the garden. Planting dill alongside cilantro can help attract beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which prey on aphids, caterpillars, and other common garden pests. Additionally, dill’s feathery foliage provides a visually striking contrast to cilantro’s broad, flat leaves, creating a visually appealing herb garden bed.
7. Garlic
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a versatile companion plant that pairs well with cilantro in the garden. Both plants are known for their pungent aroma and robust flavor profiles, making them popular choices in culinary dishes worldwide. Planting garlic near cilantro can help deter pests such as aphids, spider mites, and cabbage worms, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Additionally, garlic’s underground bulbs release sulfur compounds into the soil, which may help suppress soil-borne diseases and promote overall plant health.
8. Lettuce
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a cool-season vegetable that can be interplanted with cilantro to maximize garden space and productivity. While cilantro prefers cooler temperatures and partial shade during the hottest part of the day, lettuce thrives in similar conditions. Planting lettuce between rows of cilantro can help conserve moisture in the soil and provide shade for the herbaceous plants, reducing the risk of bolting in hot weather. Additionally, harvesting lettuce leaves regularly can help create airflow around cilantro plants, reducing the risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
9. Legumes
Legumes such as beans, peas, and lentils are beneficial companions for cilantro in the garden. These nitrogen-fixing plants form symbiotic relationships with bacteria in the soil, enriching it with nitrogen that can be readily absorbed by nearby plants. Cilantro, like many other herbs and vegetables, benefits from increased nitrogen levels in the soil, promoting healthy foliage and vigorous growth. Intercropping cilantro with legumes can help improve soil fertility while providing structural support for the herbaceous plants to climb.
10. Okra
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a warm-season vegetable that pairs well with cilantro in the garden. Both plants thrive in full sun and warm temperatures, making them ideal companions in hot climates. Planting okra near cilantro can help provide shade and shelter for the herbaceous plants, reducing the risk of heat stress and sunburn. Additionally, okra’s tall, upright growth habit can help support cilantro plants that may become leggy or top-heavy as they mature.
11. Oregano
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a perennial herb that complements cilantro in both the garden and the kitchen. Both herbs prefer well-drained soil and full sun, making them suitable companions in the garden. Oregano’s strong aroma can help repel pests such as aphids, spider mites, and thrips, reducing the risk of damage to nearby cilantro plants. Furthermore, both herbs can be harvested and used together in a variety of culinary dishes, adding depth of flavor and aroma to soups, stews, and sauces.
12. Parsley
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a biennial herb that pairs well with cilantro in the garden. Both herbs share similar cultural requirements, preferring well-drained soil and ample sunlight. Planting parsley near cilantro can help attract beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which prey on aphids, caterpillars, and other common garden pests. Additionally, parsley’s bright green foliage provides a visually striking contrast to cilantro’s broad, flat leaves, creating an attractive herb garden bed.
13. Potatoes
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are compatible companions for cilantro in the garden, offering both culinaryand garden benefits. While cilantro prefers partial shade during the hottest part of the day, potatoes thrive in full sun. Planting cilantro near potatoes can help provide shade and shelter for the young potato plants, protecting them from intense sunlight and heat stress. Additionally, cilantro’s strong fragrance may help deter pests that commonly afflict potato crops, such as potato beetles and aphids.
14. Sunflowers
Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) make excellent companions for cilantro in the garden, offering both aesthetic and practical benefits. Sunflowers are tall, upright plants that can provide shade and support for nearby cilantro plants, particularly in hot climates. Planting sunflowers near cilantro can help create a microclimate with reduced temperatures and increased humidity, which is beneficial for the herbaceous plants. Additionally, sunflowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which can enhance the overall health and productivity of the garden.
15. Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is a low-growing annual flower that can be interplanted with cilantro to attract beneficial insects and enhance pollination. The tiny white flowers of sweet alyssum produce a sweet fragrance that attracts predatory insects like hoverflies, lacewings, and ladybugs, which prey on aphids, caterpillars, and other common garden pests. Planting sweet alyssum near cilantro can help create a diverse ecosystem in the garden, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting overall plant health.
16. Swiss Chard
Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) is a leafy green vegetable that pairs well with cilantro in the garden. Both plants prefer well-drained soil and partial shade during the hottest part of the day, making them suitable companions in the garden. Planting Swiss chard near cilantro can help provide shade and shelter for the herbaceous plants, reducing the risk of bolting in hot weather. Additionally, harvesting Swiss chard leaves regularly can help create airflow around cilantro plants, reducing the risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew.
17. Tomatoes
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are popular companions for cilantro in the garden, offering both culinary and garden benefits. While cilantro prefers partial shade during the hottest part of the day, tomatoes thrive in full sun. Planting cilantro near tomatoes can help provide shade and shelter for the young tomato plants, protecting them from intense sunlight and heat stress. Additionally, cilantro’s strong fragrance may help deter pests that commonly afflict tomato crops, such as aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.
18. Zinnias
Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) make vibrant companions for cilantro in the garden, adding a pop of color and attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. These colorful annual flowers can be interplanted with cilantro to create a visually appealing and diverse garden bed. Zinnias attract pollinators that help enhance the fertility of nearby cilantro plants, leading to increased seed production and overall plant health. Additionally, the presence of zinnias may help deter pests that are attracted to cilantro’s strong fragrance, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
