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Growing strawberries sounds easy until pests start eating the leaves, weeds take over the bed, or the plants produce fewer berries than expected. I’ve seen many gardeners spend time watering and feeding their strawberries, only to feel disappointed with the results. One of the biggest mistakes is overlooking the plants growing nearby. The right companions can naturally attract pollinators, discourage pests, and help strawberries grow stronger without making your gardening routine more complicated.
Over the years, I’ve found that companion planting is one of the simplest ways to build a healthier strawberry garden. After growing strawberries with herbs, flowers, and vegetables in different garden beds, I noticed that certain combinations consistently performed better than others. In this guide, I’ll share the best strawberry companion plants that I’ve found to be reliable, along with practical tips to help you create a productive and beautiful garden.
Borage
Borage is one of the best companion plants for strawberries. Its bright blue flowers attract bees and other pollinators, helping strawberry flowers produce more fruit. It also attracts beneficial insects that feed on harmful garden pests.
Many gardeners believe borage helps improve strawberry flavor, although research is limited. Even without that benefit, it is widely grown beside strawberries because it creates a healthier garden environment.
Why It Works
- Attracts bees and butterflies
- Brings helpful insects into the garden
- May improve strawberry flavor
- Adds nutrients to the soil as leaves break down
Growing Tip
Plant one or two borage plants around your strawberry bed instead of placing them too close together. The plants can spread, so give them enough space to grow.
Marigolds
Marigolds are a favorite flower for vegetable gardens, and strawberries benefit from them too. Their bright blooms attract pollinators while their roots help reduce certain soil pests, including harmful nematodes.
They also add beautiful color, making your strawberry patch look more inviting.
Why It Works
- Helps reduce soil pests
- Attracts bees and other pollinators
- Adds colorful flowers around strawberry beds
- Supports a healthier growing space
Growing Tip
Plant marigolds around the edges of your strawberry bed. This creates a colorful border while helping protect nearby plants.
Garlic
Garlic is an excellent companion for strawberries because its strong smell helps keep many insects away. Its natural sulfur compounds may also help reduce some fungal problems when grown nearby.
Since garlic grows upright, it takes up very little space and fits easily between strawberry rows.
Why It Works
- Helps discourage aphids and spider mites
- May help reduce some fungal problems
- Uses very little garden space
- Easy to grow beside strawberries
Growing Tip
Plant garlic between rows or around the outside of your strawberry bed. Leave enough room so both plants receive good air circulation.
Chives
Chives are another herb that pairs well with strawberries. Their mild onion scent helps keep aphids and other small pests away while their purple flowers attract bees during bloom.
Chives stay compact, making them perfect for raised beds and small gardens.
Why It Works
- Helps repel aphids
- Attracts pollinators
- Fits well in small spaces
- Returns every year in many climates
Growing Tip
Plant small groups of chives throughout your strawberry patch instead of placing them all in one area.
Onions
Onions grow well beside strawberries because they share very little root space. Their strong scent can help discourage insects while allowing strawberries plenty of room to spread.
This pairing also makes good use of garden space.
Why It Works
- Helps keep some garden pests away
- Grows upright without blocking sunlight
- Makes efficient use of planting space
- Easy to harvest without disturbing strawberries
Growing Tip
Alternate rows of onions and strawberries to create a simple companion planting layout.
Thyme
Thyme is a low-growing herb that works like a living mulch around strawberries. It covers bare soil, helps hold moisture, and slows weed growth.
Its tiny flowers also attract bees and other helpful insects during the growing season.
Why It Works
- Helps reduce weeds
- Keeps soil cooler for longer
- Attracts beneficial insects
- Makes a fragrant ground cover
Growing Tip
Plant thyme along the borders of your strawberry bed instead of directly between every strawberry plant.
Sage
Sage is a fragrant herb that grows well with strawberries. Its strong aroma may help discourage certain garden pests, while its flowers attract bees and other pollinators during the growing season.
This herb prefers full sun and well-drained soil, making it an easy addition to most strawberry beds.
Why It Works
- May help discourage some garden pests
- Attracts bees and other pollinators
- Adds fragrance and beauty to the garden
- Easy to grow in raised beds and containers
Growing Tip
Plant sage near the back or sides of your strawberry bed so it doesn’t shade smaller strawberry plants.
Spinach
Spinach is a fast-growing leafy vegetable that fits nicely between strawberry plants. Its broad leaves help shade the soil, reducing moisture loss and slowing weed growth.
Since spinach has shallow roots, it usually grows well without competing heavily for nutrients.
Why It Works
- Helps keep the soil cool and moist
- Reduces weed growth
- Makes better use of garden space
- Provides an extra harvest
Growing Tip
Sow spinach between strawberry rows early in the season for the best results before hot summer weather arrives.
Lettuce
Lettuce is another excellent companion because it grows quickly and stays compact. It fills empty spaces in the garden without crowding strawberry plants.
This pairing works especially well in raised beds and small gardens.
Why It Works
- Doesn’t compete much for nutrients
- Helps cover bare soil
- Makes good use of available space
- Easy to harvest alongside strawberries
Growing Tip
Plant leaf lettuce around the edges of your strawberry patch for an easy harvest and a tidy garden.
Bush Beans
Bush beans are a valuable companion because they work with beneficial bacteria that help fix nitrogen in the soil. Healthier soil supports stronger plant growth throughout the season.
Unlike pole beans, bush beans stay short and won’t cast too much shade over strawberries.
Why It Works
- Help fix nitrogen in the soil
- Stay compact and easy to manage
- Support healthy plant growth
- Produce an extra vegetable harvest
Growing Tip
Choose bush bean varieties instead of climbing beans to keep your strawberry patch sunny.
Carrots
Carrots and strawberries grow well together because they use different parts of the soil. Carrots grow deep underground while strawberries spread their roots close to the surface.
This allows both crops to grow without competing for space.
Why It Works
- Uses garden space efficiently
- Has little root competition
- Great for raised beds
- Produces two crops from one area
Growing Tip
Leave enough room between strawberry plants so carrot roots have space to grow straight.
Asparagus
Asparagus is one of the most trusted companion plants for strawberries. Its roots grow deep into the soil while strawberries grow close to the surface, allowing both plants to share the same bed successfully.
Many gardeners grow these two crops together because they make excellent use of garden space year after year.
Why It Works
- Deep and shallow roots grow well together
- Makes efficient use of planting space
- Creates a productive perennial garden
- Provides two delicious harvests
Growing Tip
Plant asparagus in permanent rows and allow strawberries to spread between or beside them without crowding the crowns.
Yarrow
Yarrow produces clusters of tiny flowers that attract ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and other beneficial insects. These helpful insects feed on common strawberry pests and support a healthier garden.
Its long-lasting blooms also bring color and texture to your growing space.
Why It Works
- Attracts beneficial insects
- Supports natural pest control
- Increases garden biodiversity
- Adds attractive flowers
Growing Tip
Plant yarrow near your strawberry patch rather than directly among strawberry plants since it can spread over time.
Lupines
Lupines are beautiful flowering plants that help improve the soil by working with beneficial bacteria that fix nitrogen. They also attract bees and butterflies that improve pollination.
Their colorful flower spikes make strawberry gardens look even more attractive.
Why It Works
- Help fix nitrogen in the soil
- Attract bees and butterflies
- Add height and color
- Support a healthy garden ecosystem
Growing Tip
Grow lupines behind your strawberry bed so their taller flowers don’t block sunlight.
Calendula
Calendula is an easy-to-grow flower that attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. It also helps bring natural predators into the garden that feed on common pests.
Its bright yellow and orange flowers bloom for a long time, adding beauty throughout the growing season.
Why It Works
- Attracts pollinators
- Encourages beneficial insects
- Adds long-lasting color
- Easy to grow from seed
Growing Tip
Plant calendula around the borders of your strawberry patch to create a colorful edge that supports pollinators.
Quick Companion Plant Guide
If you’re planning your strawberry garden, this quick guide makes it easy to choose the right companion plants based on their biggest benefits.
| Companion Plant | Main Benefit |
|---|---|
| Borage | Attracts bees and beneficial insects |
| Marigolds | Helps reduce soil pests and attracts pollinators |
| Garlic | May discourage common garden pests |
| Chives | Helps repel aphids and attracts bees |
| Onions | Helps keep some insects away |
| Thyme | Acts as a living ground cover and helps reduce weeds |
| Sage | Attracts pollinators and may discourage pests |
| Spinach | Helps keep soil cool and moist |
| Lettuce | Makes good use of empty garden space |
| Bush Beans | Help fix nitrogen in the soil |
| Carrots | Grow below strawberries without competing for space |
| Asparagus | Deep roots pair well with shallow-rooted strawberries |
| Yarrow | Attracts beneficial insects for natural pest control |
| Lupines | Help fix nitrogen and attract pollinators |
| Calendula | Brings pollinators and beneficial insects into the garden |
Why These Companion Plants Help Strawberries Grow Better
Companion planting is a simple gardening method where different plants grow together to support one another. Instead of growing strawberries alone, adding herbs, flowers, and vegetables nearby creates a healthier garden that naturally attracts pollinators and beneficial insects.
Some companion plants help improve the soil, while others discourage common pests with their strong scent. Low-growing plants can also help hold moisture in the soil and reduce weed growth. Together, these natural benefits help strawberry plants stay healthier throughout the growing season.
Best Herbs to Grow With Strawberries
Herbs are some of the easiest and most useful companion plants for strawberries. Many herbs naturally help discourage pests while taking up very little space in the garden.
The best herbs to grow with strawberries include:
- Garlic
- Chives
- Thyme
- Sage
These herbs grow well in raised beds, containers, and traditional garden rows. They also make harvesting easier because they stay compact and don’t spread aggressively.
Best Flowers to Grow With Strawberries
Flowers do much more than add color to your garden. Many flowering plants attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects that improve pollination and help keep pest populations under control.
Some of the best flowers to plant near strawberries are:
- Borage
- Marigolds
- Calendula
- Yarrow
- Lupines
Plant these flowers around the borders of your strawberry bed or between garden rows to create a colorful space that supports healthy strawberry plants.
How to Plan a Strawberry Companion Garden
Planning your garden before planting makes it easier for every plant to receive enough sunlight, airflow, and growing space.
Place strawberries in the center of the bed and surround them with helpful companion plants. Grow herbs like garlic, chives, and thyme between rows or around the edges. Add flowers such as marigolds, borage, and calendula around the border to attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
If you’re growing asparagus, plant it in permanent rows and allow strawberries to spread alongside it. Since asparagus grows deep into the soil while strawberries stay near the surface, both plants can thrive together for years.
Common Companion Planting Mistakes
Even the best companion plants won’t help if your garden isn’t planned properly. Avoid these common mistakes to keep your strawberry patch healthy.
- Planting companion plants too close together
- Growing tall plants where they block sunlight
- Planting strawberries beside crops that share similar diseases
- Overcrowding raised beds with too many vegetables and flowers
- Forgetting to remove weeds before they spread
- Skipping crop rotation for annual vegetables like beans and lettuce
Giving each plant enough room to grow improves airflow, reduces disease problems, and helps strawberries produce better fruit.
Plants to Avoid Growing Near Strawberries
Some plants compete with strawberries for nutrients, while others increase the risk of pests and diseases. Keeping these plants in a separate area helps protect your strawberry patch.
Potatoes
Potatoes can carry soil-borne diseases that also affect strawberries. Growing them together increases the chance of disease spreading through the garden.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes belong to the nightshade family and share several diseases with strawberries. They are best planted in another part of the vegetable garden.
Peppers
Peppers have similar growing needs and may increase the risk of soil-borne diseases when planted close to strawberries.
Eggplants
Eggplants are another nightshade crop that should be kept away from strawberries to reduce disease problems.
Cabbage Family Crops
Vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts are heavy feeders. They compete with strawberries for nutrients and growing space, making them poor companion plants.
Fennel
Fennel is known for slowing the growth of many nearby plants. It grows best in its own separate garden bed instead of beside strawberries.
Simple Companion Planting Tips for Strawberries
Companion planting works best when every plant has enough space, sunlight, and airflow. These simple tips will help you build a healthy strawberry garden that produces better harvests year after year.
Give Every Plant Enough Space
Avoid planting strawberries and their companion plants too close together. Good spacing improves air circulation, reduces the risk of fungal diseases, and gives each plant room to grow.
Choose Plants With Similar Growing Needs
Most strawberry companion plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Growing plants with similar needs makes watering, feeding, and general care much easier.
Mix Flowers, Herbs, and Vegetables
A mix of flowers, herbs, and vegetables creates a balanced garden. Flowers attract pollinators, herbs may discourage pests, and vegetables help make the most of your growing space.
Add Mulch Around Strawberry Plants
A layer of mulch helps keep the soil moist, reduces weeds, and keeps berries cleaner. Straw, pine needles, or shredded leaves are all great mulch choices for strawberry beds.
Rotate Annual Crops
If you’re growing annual companion plants like beans, spinach, or lettuce, avoid planting them in the exact same spot every year. Crop rotation helps reduce pests and keeps the soil healthier.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best companion plant for strawberries?
Borage is one of the most popular companion plants because it attracts bees and beneficial insects. Garlic, marigolds, chives, thyme, and asparagus are also excellent choices for a healthy strawberry garden.
Can strawberries and garlic grow together?
Yes. Garlic grows very well with strawberries. Its strong scent may help discourage certain insects while taking up very little space in the garden.
Can I plant flowers with strawberries?
Yes. Flowers like borage, marigolds, calendula, yarrow, and lupines attract pollinators and beneficial insects that support healthy strawberry plants.
Do herbs help strawberries grow better?
Many herbs make excellent companion plants. Chives, thyme, sage, and garlic may help discourage pests while attracting pollinators during the growing season.
Can strawberries and asparagus grow in the same bed?
Yes. Asparagus and strawberries are one of the best companion planting combinations because asparagus grows deep underground while strawberries spread near the soil surface.
What plants should never be planted next to strawberries?
Avoid planting strawberries near potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, and fennel because these plants can compete for nutrients or increase the risk of diseases.
Can strawberries grow with basil?
Yes. Basil grows well with strawberries and may help discourage certain garden pests. It also fits nicely into small garden beds and containers.
Can I grow strawberries with companion plants in raised beds?
Yes. Raised beds are an excellent place for companion planting because they provide good drainage and make it easy to combine strawberries with herbs, flowers, and vegetables.
Which flowers attract pollinators to strawberries?
Borage, calendula, marigolds, yarrow, and lupines are some of the best flowers for attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to strawberry plants.
Conclusion
From my experience, growing healthy strawberries is about creating the right growing environment rather than relying on extra products or complicated methods. Choosing companion plants like borage, garlic, marigolds, thyme, and asparagus has helped create healthier plants, attract more pollinators, and reduce common garden problems naturally. Start with a few companion plants that fit your space, observe how they work together, and adjust as your garden grows. With thoughtful planning and a little patience, you’ll enjoy stronger strawberry plants, bigger harvests, and a garden that becomes more productive each season.
