Complete Gardening
Growing artichokes can be a rewarding experience, not just for their delicious flavor but also for their striking appearance in the garden.
To maximize their growth, it’s beneficial to pair them with companion plants that enhance their development and deter pests.
Here’s a list of the 15 best companion plants for artichokes, each offering unique benefits to help your garden thrive.
1. Sunflowers
Sunflowers make excellent companions for artichokes. Their tall stalks provide much-needed shade for the artichokes, helping to regulate temperature and moisture levels. This natural canopy can prevent soil from drying out too quickly.
Furthermore, sunflowers attract pollinators, which can benefit artichoke flowers. Their strong stems also act as a windbreak, reducing the risk of damage to the more delicate artichoke plants.
Plant sunflowers around the perimeter of your artichoke patch for optimal protection and beauty. Together, they create a visually stunning and symbiotic garden arrangement.
2. Thyme
Thyme is an aromatic herb that pairs wonderfully with artichokes. Its scent is known to deter common garden pests, providing a natural form of pest control. Thyme can be planted around the base of artichokes to act as a living mulch.
This helps in retaining soil moisture and suppressing weed growth. The herb’s low-growing nature means it won’t compete with artichokes for sunlight. Additionally, thyme attracts beneficial insects like bees, enhancing pollination.
Its culinary uses are a bonus, making it a practical choice for any artichoke grower.
3. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are not just beautiful but also functional companion plants for artichokes. Their vibrant flowers attract pollinators, while their peppery leaves deter pests such as aphids. Nasturtiums are known for their ability to act as a trap crop, drawing pests away from artichokes.
They thrive in similar soil conditions, making them easy to grow alongside artichokes. Additionally, all parts of the nasturtium are edible, adding color and spice to salads. By planting nasturtiums, you also encourage biodiversity in your garden, creating a balanced ecosystem.
4. Lavender
Lavender’s soothing aroma is more than just pleasant; it acts as a pest deterrent in gardens. Planting lavender near artichokes can help repel insects like moths and fleas. Its strong scent masks artichokes, making them less attractive to pests.
Lavender also attracts pollinators, boosting the overall health of your garden. The beautiful purple flowers add a splash of color, enhancing the garden’s visual appeal.
Lavenders are low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, thriving in similar conditions to artichokes. Their presence ensures a harmonious and aromatic garden environment.
5. Marigolds
Marigolds are well-known for their pest-repelling properties, making them ideal companions for artichokes. Their bright flowers attract beneficial insects like ladybugs, which prey on aphids and other pests.
Marigolds also release a natural chemical that deters nematodes in the soil. This helps protect artichoke roots from potential damage. Plant marigolds in clusters around your artichoke plants to maximize their protective benefits.
Their cheerful blooms add color and life to any garden space. This symbiotic relationship enhances both the health and aesthetics of your garden.
6. Borage
Borage is an excellent companion plant for artichokes, known for its ability to attract pollinators and improve soil health. The star-shaped blue flowers are a magnet for bees, ensuring the pollination of artichoke flowers.
Borage also accumulates minerals from deep in the soil, enriching the topsoil as the leaves decompose.
This natural fertilization boosts the growth of surrounding plants. Additionally, borage can deter pests like tomato hornworms, providing an extra layer of protection for artichokes. Its edible leaves and flowers make it a versatile addition to your garden.
7. Chamomile
Chamomile is more than just a soothing tea ingredient; it’s a beneficial companion for artichokes. This herb enhances the growth and flavor of neighboring plants through its natural plant hormones. Chamomile’s scent helps deter pests, while attracting beneficial insects like hoverflies.
Its dainty flowers add a touch of elegance to the garden. Plant chamomile near artichokes to promote a healthy growing environment. As a bonus, chamomile is easy to harvest and dry for use in homemade teas and remedies, adding multifunctionality to your garden.
8. Cilantro
Cilantro serves as a great companion plant for artichokes, offering both pest control and culinary benefits. The strong aroma of cilantro leaves confuses and repels pests such as aphids and spider mites.
When in bloom, cilantro’s small flowers attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps. These wasps help manage pest populations naturally.
Cilantro grows quickly and can be planted in-between artichokes as a space-efficient intercrop. Its leaves can be regularly harvested for cooking, adding flavor and freshness to your dishes. This makes cilantro a practical and dynamic garden choice.
9. Spinach
Spinach is a leafy green that complements artichokes well, both in the garden and on the plate. Its broad leaves provide a natural ground cover, reducing weed growth and retaining soil moisture.
Spinach’s quick growth makes it an ideal companion, as it can be harvested before artichokes mature. This maximizes garden space and productivity. Additionally, spinach helps improve soil structure and adds organic matter when its leaves decompose.
By planting spinach with artichokes, you create a mutually beneficial environment where both plants can thrive. Enjoy the nutritious harvest from this efficient pairing.
10. Yarrow
Yarrow is a hardy perennial that works well alongside artichokes. It attracts a host of beneficial insects, including ladybugs and lacewings, which help control pest populations.
Yarrow’s deep roots break up compacted soil, improving aeration and water drainage around artichokes. The plant’s leaves can be used to make a nutrient-rich fertilizer tea, enhancing soil fertility.
Yarrow is easy to grow and requires little maintenance, making it a great addition to any garden. Its feathery foliage and delicate flowers add texture and beauty, creating a dynamic garden space.
11. Mint
Mint is a fragrant herb that offers several benefits when planted with artichokes. Its strong scent deters pests such as ants and aphids, providing a natural form of protection.
Mint also attracts beneficial insects and improves soil quality through its extensive root system. However, mint can be invasive, so it’s best planted in containers near artichokes.
This allows you to control its spread while still gaining its benefits. Enjoy fresh mint leaves in your culinary creations, adding a refreshing touch to dishes. This makes mint a versatile and aromatic garden ally.
12. Chives
Chives are a compact and easy-to-grow herb, ideal for pairing with artichokes. Their mild onion scent deters pests such as aphids and Japanese beetles. Chives’ purple flowers attract pollinators, enhancing the overall health of your garden.
These plants also improve soil health by adding nutrients as they decompose. Chives can be planted at the edges of artichoke patches, providing a neat and edible border. Regularly harvest chive leaves for culinary use, enjoying their subtle onion flavor in various dishes.
This makes chives a practical and attractive choice for gardeners.
13. Dill
Dill is a delightful addition to artichokes, with its feathery leaves and fragrant aroma. It attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and butterflies, which aid in pollination and pest control. Dill’s presence in the garden can improve the growth of nearby artichokes.
Its tall, airy structure adds vertical interest without overshadowing the artichokes. Dill is easy to grow and can be harvested for culinary use, bringing fresh flavor to dishes.
Plant dill near artichokes to create a lively and productive garden environment that benefits both plants.
14. Garlic
Garlic is a powerhouse plant known for its pest-repelling properties. When planted with artichokes, it helps ward off harmful insects such as aphids and spider mites. Garlic’s strong aroma acts as a natural barrier, reducing pest attraction to artichokes.
Additionally, garlic can enhance the flavor of artichoke harvests. Its presence in the garden also aids in soil health, as garlic’s roots break up compacted soil and improve drainage.
This tough and resilient plant is easy to grow, making it a valuable ally in any artichoke garden.
15. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a fun and functional companion for artichokes. Their trailing vines can be trained to grow between artichoke plants, maximizing space and creating a lush garden look.
Cucumbers and artichokes enjoy similar growing conditions, thriving in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. The broad leaves of cucumbers provide shade, helping to retain moisture in the soil.
Both plants benefit from each other’s presence by attracting beneficial insects and enhancing soil health. This pairing can lead to a productive and visually appealing garden space that offers a bountiful harvest.