Garlic isn’t just a kitchen hero — it can do so much for your garden, too!
Beyond its bold flavour, garlic’s pest-repelling and disease-fighting abilities make it a companion planting must-have.
Garlic also thrives in various Australian climates, so it’s a reliable choice no matter where you are.
Pair it with the right plants, and watch your garden thrive. Let’s explore the best companion plants for garlic.
Growing Conditions | Garlic Companion Plants List | Herbs | Flowers | Fruits | Vegetables | Native Australian Plants | Tips for Success | Bad Garlic Companions
Benefits of Garlic Companion Planting
Companion planting involves growing different plants that support and benefit each other.
It’s an easy way to create a healthier garden, and garlic is one of the best plants for the job!
Garlic is a pest-repelling powerhouse.
Its pungent bulbs scare off common garden pests, such as:
- Aphids
- Cabbage loopers
- Japanese beetles
- Onion flies and maggots
- Spider mites
Even rabbits, rodents, and snails can’t handle garlic’s bold scent.
And beyond pest control, garlic also boosts soil health.
It releases a sulphur-packed compound called allicin into the soil. This serves as a natural fungicide that keeps nearby plants disease-free.
Growing Conditions for Garlic Companion Plants
When growing garlic with other plants, remember: matching conditions means thriving plants.
Here are the ideal growing conditions for garlic and its companions:
- 6-8 hours of full sun daily
- Moist but not waterlogged soil
- Well-draining, nutrient-rich soil
- Slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0-7.0)
Tip: For the best results, choose garlic varieties and companion plants that are well-suited to your region’s climate.
What to Plant With Garlic in Australia
Garlic is the ultimate Allium ally, teaming up beautifully with many herbs, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and even native Aussie plants.
To get you started, here are some of the best garlic companion plants:
| Herbs | Flowers | Fruits | Vegetables | Native Plants |
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Just remember, some plants — like yarrow — are considered invasive in certain Australian regions.
So check your local regulations first when choosing a companion plant for garlic.
If you want to explore more pairings, a gardening pro in your area can recommend the best additions to your garlic patch!
Herbs to Plant with Garlic
Growing garlic can be even more rewarding when paired with herbs.
Like garlic, some herbs repel pests, and a few can even enhance garlic’s flavour.
Aside from what’s listed below, other herbs that grow well with garlic include chamomile, rosemary, tarragon, and thyme.
Dill
Dill is an aromatic herb that works great in soups and salads.
In the garden, pair it with garlic to boost the flavour of your bulbs.
These two plants thrive in full sun and well-draining soil, so they’re a perfect match.
Dill’s feathery leaves also add a lovely ornamental touch to any garden — who wouldn’t love that?
Plant dill between garlic rows, and pinch off its yellow blooms in spring and summer to keep its leaves growing.
Rue
Rue is garlic’s bodyguard, warding off onion maggots with its potent aroma.
Its blue-green foliage is a head-turner, making it a garden favourite.
Like garlic, rue loves sunny areas and well-drained soil.
It’s hardy and adapts to various climates but won’t do well with excessive rainfall.
When used in the kitchen, less is more with this herb. Large doses of rue can be harmful to humans and pets!
Yarrow
Want your garlic to grow bigger, healthier bulbs? Plant yarrow near it!
Yarrow is a flowering herb that has been prized for centuries for its incredible medicinal uses.
Its blooms attract beneficial insects and pollinators that can improve your garden’s health.
Since yarrow spreads, plant it half a metre from garlic to give both plants enough space.
Flowers to Plant with Garlic
Flowers benefit your garlic by attracting pollinators and repelling pests.
In return, garlic shields flowers from fungal diseases. Many gardeners also say that garlic makes flowers smell even better.
But don’t just take their word for it — try and see for yourself!
Along with the flowers below, you can also plant lavender, nasturtiums, and tulips with garlic.
Geraniums
Garlic and geraniums protect each other from pests, making them great companions.
Geraniums are also relatively easy to care for. Like garlic, they love full sun and well-draining soil.
They grow well in most Australian climates, except those with extreme frosts.
Just remember to choose native species, like the Australian pelargonium, to avoid invasive ones.
Marigolds
If you live in warmer Aussie regions, grow marigolds with garlic to create a pest-fighting pair.
Marigolds are known for their pest-deterring abilities, which makes them popular among organic gardeners.
Together, garlic and marigolds drive away many pests like rabbits, snails, and spider mites.
Marigolds thrive in rich, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Roses
Planting garlic and roses together may sound odd, but it works wonders!
Plant 3-4 garlic cloves around your roses to protect them from serious diseases like black spot.
For the best results, keep your roses healthy with plenty of sun, well-draining soil, and good air circulation.
Fruits to Plant with Garlic
Garlic is the ultimate fruit guardian, shielding fruits from fungi and pests.
You can plant garlic cloves around young fruit trees or in alternating rows for larger batches.
Aside from those listed below, apricots, cherries, and pears love garlic nearby, too.
Apples
Garlic can help save apple trees from scab and codling moths.
Both plants thrive in well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0 and plenty of sunlight.
If you have very little space, try planting columnar apple varieties or dwarf apple trees.
Tip: Apple trees love a temperate cool or warm climate. In extremely hot weather, give them some afternoon shade to prevent fruit scald.
Peaches
You won’t go wrong with growing garlic with peach trees.
Both prefer full sun and fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH..
Even better, garlic helps prevent fungal diseases like leaf curl and deters peach tree borers.
Plant peach trees in regions with mild climates and cold winters in late winter or early spring.
Raspberries
Garlic helps raspberries grow tastier fruits!
Meanwhile, decaying raspberry leaves act as mulch that enriches the soil.
Raspberries prefer fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.5-7.0. They grow best in full sun but can tolerate some shade.
Plant raspberry canes in late autumn or winter.
Since they spread, space them away from garlic and prune regularly.
Vegetables to Plant with Garlic
Growing garlic with veggies isn’t just great for your garden. It’s a win for your health, too!
Discover some of the best garlic and veggie pairings below.
Brassicas
Brassicas like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale are loaded with nutrients that boost immunity. And they’re garlic’s best friends!
Brassicas attract pests like caterpillars and cabbage loopers, but garlic’s sharp scent keeps them away.
In return, brassicas act as ground cover, keeping the soil moist for garlic.
Plant them together in autumn. Surround your brassica bed with garlic or plant them in alternating rows.
Leafy greens
Leafy greens like arugula, lettuce, and spinach act as living mulch that suppresses weeds so garlic can grow freely.
In return, garlic repels aphids and snails that feast on their leaves.
A cold-hardy bunch, leafy greens are best planted in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.
Here’s how to plant them with garlic:
- Arugula: Space them 30-45cm apart between two or three garlic plants.
- Lettuce: Plant lettuce between garlic rows to make the most of space.
- Spinach: Sow spinach seedlings between double rows of garlic in autumn or spring.
Nightshades
Nightshades like eggplant and capsicum are prone to diseases that garlic can prevent.
Garlic protects nightshades from blight, mould, and verticillium wilt while keeping slugs at bay.
Grow garlic between rows of eggplants. Meanwhile, cloves may be planted around the base of capsicum plants for extra protection.
Root vegetables
Plant root veggies like carrots and beetroots with garlic!
Carrots love loose soil and grow low, so it won’t block garlic from the sun. In return, garlic drives away the dreaded carrot root maggots.
Beetroots share similar care needs with garlic. They also grow at different soil depths, so they won’t compete with each other.
Plant your root vegetables between garlic rows, leaving at least 20-30cm between them.
Australian Native Plants to Grow with Garlic
Companion planting garlic with Australian natives creates a pest-resistant, thriving garden.
Native plants like kangaroo paw and lemon myrtle benefit from garlic’s protective properties.
Kangaroo paw
Kangaroo paw has fuzzy blooms resembling (surprise!) a kangaroo’s paw.
Taller kangaroo paw varieties thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, while shorter ones need more care and are better suited for pots.
Garlic repels pests like snails and helps prevent fungal problems on your kangaroo paw.
Tip: When planting them together, make sure the kangaroo paw’s tall leaves don’t block garlic from sunlight.
Lemon myrtle
Lemon myrtle is a Queensland-native rainforest tree.
It’s a star in Australia’s native foods scene with its sweet citrus flavour used in biscuits, syrups, and teas.
It thrives in warm, subtropical climates and slightly acidic soil. However, avoid planting it in areas that experience frost.
Plant garlic cloves around the base of a young lemon myrtle tree to fend off aphids and spider mites.
Tips for Companion Planting with Garlic
Whether you’re planting in garden beds or pots, ensure garlic and its companion plants get enough sunlight.
Keep space between garlic and taller plants so everyone gets their share of sun.
Also, not all of garlic’s companions get along.
For example, spinach and potatoes both pair well with garlic, but they’re not ideal together. So always check compatibility first.
Lastly, you can grow herbs, flowers, and veggies with garlic in a container as long as it’s large enough.
Don’t forget — garlic bulbs need plenty of space to grow!
What Not to Plant with Garlic
While garlic pairs well with many plants, it can harm a few others.
The following are bad garlic companion plants:
- Asparagus: Garlic competes with asparagus for nutrients. It can also alter the soil and affect asparagus’s flavour.
- Beans and peas: Garlic may kill off beneficial bacteria that legumes rely on, leading to stunted growth.
- Parsley and sage: Garlic vies with these herbs for nutrients, resulting in smaller bulbs and weaker herbs.
Also, avoid plants that require shade or highly alkaline and acidic soil. Garlic won’t grow well in these conditions.
FAQs about Garlic Companion Plants
Wondering what else grows well with garlic? We’ve got the answers to your questions!
Can you plant onions and garlic together?
Yes, garlic and onions can grow together. They both have natural pest-repellent properties that can shield your garden.
As Allium family members, they share similar needs, so caring for them is easier.
Just watch out — they attract the same pests. Also, space them well to give their bulbs enough room to grow.
Make the most out of this pairing by planting brassicas and leafy greens nearby.
Can you plant garlic with tomatoes?
Yes, tomatoes are good garlic companions.
Garlic protects tomatoes from pests and fungal diseases.
In warmer Australian regions, plant both in autumn. In cooler climates, plant garlic in autumn and tomatoes in spring.
Can you plant garlic with strawberries?
Definitely! Garlic and strawberries are great companion plants.
Garlic repels pests and helps reduce fungal issues like grey mould.
Plant garlic around your strawberry bed or mix it in with your strawberry plants.
Can you plant garlic and potatoes together?
Yes! Grow your garlic next to potatoes or around potato hills to prevent late blight.
Garlic also repels pests common to potatoes, such as aphids and beetles.
Can you plant garlic and cucumber together?
Yes, companion planting garlic and cucumber is an excellent choice.
Garlic increases the soil’s nutrients, which cucumbers love.
In return, cucumber plants benefit your garlic by keeping weeds down and retaining soil moisture.
It’s best to plant cucumbers in spring. Grow them between garlic rows to make the most of the space.
