Flowers are more than just a pretty face in your vegetable garden; they can be powerful allies in boosting yields and deterring pests. Experts like Linda Vater from Southern Living® Plant Collection and Kelly Funk, President & CEO of Jackson & Perkins, agree that planting flowers alongside vegetables offers numerous benefits, including attracting pollinators and discouraging unwanted pests.
These blooms can be used in various ways, whether as border plantings, cascading flowers, or even as trap crops to lure harmful insects away from your vegetables. Here, we highlight the top flowers to plant in your veggie garden to create a more vibrant and resilient harvest.
Top 7 Flowers for Your Vegetable Garden
1.Astilbe
Astilbe, or false spirea, is an excellent companion for spinach and lettuce, which thrive in cool, shady spots. Its fluffy flower spikes deter pests throughout the summer and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. Astilbe prefers partial to full shade and moist soil.
2.Dianthus
The Scent First® Coconut Surprise Dianthus is a low-growing, clumping plant perfect for vegetable bed borders. Its spicy fragrance and white flowers attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies, making it ideal for cooler-weather veggies like kale and cabbage. It tolerates full sun to partial shade and requires well-drained soil, reaching up to 10” tall and wide when mature.
3.Echinacea
Echinacea is a great companion for tomatoes, as it doesn’t compete aggressively for nutrients. Its cone-shaped blooms attract pollinators without threatening tomato yields. Echinacea thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, requiring minimal upkeep once established.
4.Lavender
Lavender is a natural match for onions and garlic. Its vibrant purple blooms and soothing fragrance attract beneficial pollinators like bees, while its strong scent deters pests that harm alliums. Phenomenal™ Lavender is exceptionally fragrant and edible, requiring full sun, neutral pH, and well-drained soil.
5.Rosemary
Rosemary is more than just a culinary herb; it’s also a beneficial companion plant. Its aromatic needles deter pests that plague Brassica family plants, and its periwinkle flowers add visual interest. Plant it with Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage in well-draining loamy or sandy soil with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight.
6.Salvia
Salvia attracts pollinators and repels pests like aphids, making it a good addition near tomatoes, peppers, and beans. It thrives in hot and dry conditions once established, tolerating full sun and well-draining soil. Salvia is heat-tolerant to USDA Zone 10 and cold hardy to USDA Zone 4.
7.Yarrow
Despite its delicate appearance, yarrow is a hardy perennial that attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and predatory beetles, which help control pests like aphids. It performs best in dry, well-drained soil in full-sun locations, making it a great border or ground cover for cabbage, tomatoes, and carrots.
