Companion Plants For Cilantro and What To Avoid

Companion planting is a time-tested gardening method that enriches and protects vulnerable crops. These companion plants are added as specific crops near each other to date pests, attract beneficial insects, and stimulate growth.

These plants can either help a specific crop grow or will grow better beside a specific crop and can do more support in the garden.  Many companion plants like marigold, catnip, and rue repel specific pests and are planted near certain crops to make them pest-free.

Also, other companion plants like calendula and nasturtiums attract certain pests and are planted a distance away from the garden to lure pests away from the vegetables. Other benefits include:

• Improve Soil Nutrients
• Attract Beneficial Insects
• Encourage Faster growth and better taste 
• Provide ground cover
• Provide necessary shade
• Serve as markers

Cilantro thrives in environments with some shade, particularly when planted during the summer or in hotter conditions. Tall flowers and plants with thick foliage are ideal for ensuring this herb can withstand high temperatures.

Also, it thrives next to nitrogen-fixing plants, as this nutrient is significant for cilantro to develop its bushy and leafy appearance.

Basil is an excellent cilantro companion plant with similar growing needs. These plants grow beautifully together in large and small herb gardens.

These two plants are a preferred choice for small-space growers and urban gardeners since both plants don't take up too much space and are easy to fit into balcony gardens. You can grow basil and cilantro in the light shade, which provides you with more planting options for these two tasty herbs. Also, Basil's strong aroma may help deter some pests that love cilantro, creating a more protected environment for both herbs.

Anise has a licorice-like flavor and is often used to elevate the taste of roasted dishes and baked goods. Although a less popular herb, anise and cilantro go great together since cilantro can accelerate and improve the germination of anise seeds. 

While anise is less grown than other culinary herbs, it makes a good companion plant with its similar growing needs. Grow both plants together in container gardens or larger herb beds. Also, the cilantro helps to enhance the anise growth.

Brassicas are leafy green vegetables like cabbage, spinach, lettuce, and many more. They can greatly benefit from being planted as a companion next to cilantro as it attracts pests and insects like spiders, mites, beetles, and others. 

Many strongly scented herbs, including cilantro, repel some of the most common brassica pests and reduce the need for other preventive measures. If you allow cilantro to flower, their blooms attract parasitic wraps, syrphid flies, and other predatory insects that feed on brassica pests.

Beans, peas, and other plants in the legume family help fix nitrogen in the soil, improving its health and making more nutrients available for nearby plants as nitrogen is crucial for supporting leafy growth. 

Planting legumes near the cilantro can help you grow a lusher crop of fresh cilantro leaves. Also, the cilantro is slower to bolt when it's grown in cooler shades of vining beans and peas. 

Dill, like cilantro, doesn't grow well in heated conditions and tends to bolt in summer. These plants produce umbrella-shaped flowers to attract beneficial insects.

Growing dill as a companion to cilantro in spring and autumn gardens is a great way to streamline your gardening works and add fresh herbs to your culinary dishes. Cilantro and Dill have similar growing needs and thrive in moist, rich soil and full sun to light shade. Planting these plants together in your garden can increase the natural pest control.

Lettuce is another cool-weather crop, typically grown in the spring and autumn season. Growing lettuce with cilantro makes sense because these plants have similar growing and care requirements and don't take ample space in garden beds. 

In addition to that, cilantro umbrella-shaped flowers can attract beneficial insects that naturally keep leaf-eating pests away. Both plants can be sown from the seed at the same time, which makes this companion planting informal.

Sweet Alyssum is famous for its darling clusters of purple and white flowers and commonly grows in flower gardens. These plants also make a flowering groundcover and container plant as well. 

Aside from its ornamental appearance, these plants are considered among the best cilantro companion plants, you can grow nearby for natural pest control. When the sweet alyssum is planted near cilantro or any other herbs and vegetables, its scented flowers help attract the beneficial insects and keep pests at the edge. 

Swiss chard and other leafy green vegetables like kale and collard greens thrive in cooler weather. Having cilantro as a companion can benefit in killing common pests like aphids and spider mites from feasting on their greens. 

Planting the small cilantro companion plants between these leafy green vegetables is a smart way to put underutilized soil to use and fit more edibles in your garden beds. 

Many home gardeners and growers add cilantro seeds to their gardens during the spring season, but they quickly bolt as soon as the temperature increases in summer. Cilantro will protect tomatoes by deterring pests, and tomatoes will provide much-needed shape and cool soil during summer. 

Growing cilantro in the shade of taller plants keeps them cooler and prolongs the harvest. Adding to that, if you grow cilantro with your tomato plants, you can have the best pico de Gallo ingredients, which are freshly prepared.

Parsley and cilantro are similar-looking plants with similar care requirements. They both are green leafy herbs with twin appearance but possess different flavors and culinary uses. Parsley seems to be more volatile whereas the fresh cilantro brings a strong and citrus flavor to various recipes.

Both these plants grow best in cooler weather conditions even though parsley seems to be more heat tolerant and less likely to bolt in summer. You can grow parsley as a companion to cilantro in herb gardens or pots to ease your gardening tasks and allow to water both these herbs at same time. 

Similar to the leafy green vegetables, potato crops will be protected when planted next to cilantro, which keeps away pests from the crops naturally. Cilantro's delicate flowers, when allowed to bloom, attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, hoverflies, and lacewings. 

Also, cilantro being a fast-growing herb, it can be planted in between the potato plants as cilantro won't fight for sunlight as the potato crops start growing taller. It also provides efficient use of space in the garden and protects cilantro from warm direct sunlight due to the potato's taller height.

Chervil is another aromatic culinary herb that can keep pests away. This herb will not compete with cilantro and protect it from cilantro-preying pests. It is often considered the best cilantro companion plant.

Including other herbal plants like mint, anise, dill, and parsley, Chervil also requires similar growing conditions to cilantro as they are close relatives. 

Coreopsis is a famous flat that can grow easily. Insects like aphids, beets, and lacewings can get attracted to these plants. They can kill these pests and won't let the plant go spoiled.

Also, these flowering species give way to yellow flowers favored by pollinators. These plants have thread-like foliage that casts the perfect shade on the slightly shorter cilantro plants. Furthermore, coreopsis can adapt to herbal needs and is tolerant to a range of growing conditions.

Not all plants will like to grow next to one another in a close space so it is crucial to know what not to plant as a companion near cilantro, which is considered bad companions. 

Several plants should not be planted near cilantro as they don't do well. Some herbs like more water and some don't. Cilantro does well with plenty of water due to its shallow roots, so it shouldn't be planted near herbs that like well-drained and drier soil.

Plants such as lavender, thyme, and rosemary prefer drier conditions, so they won't thrive around cilantro, with regular watering. Also, fennel is another edible plant that should be avoided as a companion plant for cilantro as it hinders fennel seed formation. 

Planting the beneficial plants next to each other and avoiding damaging ones is not what you need for your guaranteed success. Some of the rules you need to know for companion planting with cilantro include:

1. Enough Space To Grow 

Cilantro is a quick-growing plant and can outcompete weeds, but other veggies like brassicas can grow taller and space them out enough so they don't have to compete for space later. 

2. Soil Amending

In general, fruit-bearing plants may not benefit from cilantro as this herb requires a lot of nitrogen in the soil, which can negatively affect fruit production and lead to increased leaf production instead. You can avoid them altogether or have enough space between them, so you can use soil amendments without any harm to one another.

3. Providing Shade

Although cilantro grows in full sun, these cool-weather plants are non-resistant to high temperatures during the summer season. Therefore, it is crucial to provide shade and keep soil moisture consistent. Tall plants and flowers can provide shade, and wind protection, and attract pollinators and good insects.