Discover the Best Sunflower Companion Plants to enhance the beauty and growth of your garden in this guide.
Sunflowers are a cheerful and iconic addition to any garden, with their bright yellow petals and towering stalks. Whether you’re looking to attract pollinators or repel pests, choosing the right sunflower companion plants can make all the difference. Here are the Best Sunflower Companion Plants that can help your garden thrive and create a stunning display that will turn heads all summer long!
Here are the Best White Sunflower Varieties
Best Sunflower Companion Plants
1. Marigolds
Botanical Name: Tagetes
One of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants, Marigolds are known for their pest-deterrent properties and are effective in driving away harmful insects that can damage sunflowers, such as nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies.
Learn a Super Trick to Grow Marigolds here
2. Zinnias
Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans
Zinnias are colorful flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies, which are essential for pollinating sunflowers.
Learn about Growing Zahara Zinnias here
3. Cosmos
Botanical Name: Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos attract beneficial insects such as hoverflies and lacewings, which feed on aphids and other harmful pests.
4. Nasturtiums
Botanical Name: Tropaeolum majus
Nasturtiums are easy to grow from seed and are one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants. They are low-growing plants that can help protect the soil around sunflowers from erosion and weed growth.
Find out the Benefits of Nasturtiums here
5. Sweet Alyssum
Botanical Name: Lobularia maritime
Sweet alyssum can help improve soil health by attracting beneficial insects such as ground beetles and predatory mites.
6. Purple Coneflowers
Botanical Name: Echinacea purpurea
They’re excellent for attracting pollinators to the garden. Coneflowers are one of the best choices when choosing the Best Sunflower Companion Plants and provide support for sunflowers.
Look at the Best Coneflower Varieties here
7. Salvia
Botanical Name: Salvia
Salvias are versatile plants that come in a range of colors, from deep purple to bright red. With their distinctive, tube-shaped flowers, they are loved by hummingbirds and bees.
Find out the Common Problems and Their Solutions to Growing Salvias here
8. Cleome
Botanical Name: Cleome hassleriana
Cleomes are unique, spidery flowers that have a wild and whimsical appearance with their long, spindly stems and clusters of pink or white blooms. These are excellent for attracting beneficial insects to the garden, and their pink and white complements the sunflowers beautifully.
9. Dahlias
Botanical Name: Dahlia
Dahlias are showy flowers that range from small, ball-shaped blooms to large plate-sized flowers and make for excellent companion plants for sunflowers as they not only provide a splash of vibrant color but also attract a wide range of pollinators.
Look at the Best Red Dahlia Varieties here
10. Liatris
Botanical Name: Liatris spicata
This flowering plant boasts slender spikes of fluffy, purple blooms that add height and texture to any garden bed, besides serving as one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants.
11. Nicotiana
Botanical Name: Nicotiana
With its trumpet-shaped flowers and lush green foliage, Nicotiana exudes a sweet, intoxicating fragrance that’s hard to resist. It is a great companion plant for sunflowers as its scent helps to repel pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
12. Bee Balm
Botanical Name: Monarda
Known for its bright, showy flowers and aromatic leaves, Bee Balm attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden.
Learn the Benefits of Bee Balm here
13. Rudbeckia
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia
Rudbeckia, or Black-Eyed Susan, is an ideal companion plant for sunflowers as it attracts a diverse range of beneficial insects, such as hoverflies, ladybugs, and lacewings, which help to control pests and improve soil health.
14. Goldenrod
Botanical Name: Solidago
Goldenrod is a wonderful companion plant for sunflowers as it produces a profusion of bright yellow flowers that provide a rich source of nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, helping to increase the yield of both plants.
15. Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula
Lavender, with its fragrant purple flowers, is a great companion plant for sunflowers as it repels pests such as mosquitoes, moths, and fleas. Additionally, the beautiful color complements yellow, red, and white sunflowers beautifully.
Find the Best Lavender Varieties here
16. Chamomile
Botanical Name: Matricaria chamomilla
Chamomile’s small, daisy-like flowers and delicate, fern-like foliage make it a popular choice for soothing teas and natural remedies. It makes a great sunflower companion, too, as its roots help to improve soil quality.
Learn about Growing Chamomile in Pots here
17. Sage
Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis
With its velvety, gray-green leaves and fragrant purple, or blue flowers, Sage is a natural pest repellent that can help to protect sunflowers from common garden pests, earning it a rightful place in the Best Sunflower Companion Plants list.
Look at the Best Sage Companion Plants here
18. Dill
Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens
Dill adds a distinctive flavor and aroma to many culinary dishes, making it one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants that you can also relish. It also attracts beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and hoverflies.
Learn about Growing Dill in Pots here
19. Chives
Botanical Name: Allium schoenoprasum
These slender, grass-like plants are prized for their mild, onion-like flavor and delicate, pink-purple blooms that boost the vibrancy of yellow sunflowers. Chives are a great companion plant for sunflowers as they repel pests such as aphids and thrips.
Learn How to Grow Chives Year-Round here
20. Borage
Botanical Name: Borago officinalis
Borage is an ideal companion plant for sunflowers as it attracts beneficial insects to control garden pests such as tomato hornworms.
21. Calendula
Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis
Another of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants, the Calendula, helps to control garden pests such as aphids and whiteflies by attracting pollinators.
22. Phlox
Botanical Name: Phlox paniculata
Phlox is a great companion plant for sunflowers as it produces a profusion of colorful flowers that attract butterflies and moths.
23. Celosia
Botanical Name: Celosia argentea
With its striking, flame-shaped blooms and velvety foliage, Celosia adds drama and texture to any flower bed or container garden. It is undoubtedly one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants on our list.
Look at the Stunning Types of Celosia here
24. Nigella
Botanical Name: Nigella damascene
This delicate flower, also known as “love-in-a-mist,” features intricate, lacy foliage and whimsical blue or white flowers that resemble delicate pom-poms. It also attracts beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies.
25. Yarrow
Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium
Yarrow is a hardy perennial with feathery, fern-like foliage and clusters of tiny, flat-topped flowers in shades of pink, white, and yellow. Yarrow is a great companion plant for sunflowers as it attracts ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps.
26. Verbena
Botanical Name: Verbena
Another of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants, Verbena is a low-growing, spreading plant that produces clusters of fragrant, purple, or pink flowers that attract bees and butterflies to your garden to aid sunflower pollination.
Do Deer Eat Verbena? Learn here
27. Mexican Sunflower
Botanical Name: Tithonia diversifolia
With its vibrant orange blooms and tall, branching stems, Mexican Sunflower adds a splash of tropical color to any landscape. These vibrant blooms also attract a ton of pollinators beneficial for sunflowers.
28. Milkweed
Botanical Name: Asclepias
Growing milkweed and sunflowers together is beneficial for both species. Milkweed provides food and shelter for monarch butterflies, while sunflowers provide nectar for many types of pollinators.
Best Sunflower Companion Vegetables
29. Beans
Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
The nitrogen-fixing properties of beans make them a great companion for sunflowers, which require nitrogen to grow. These are one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants.
Learn about Growing Cluster Beans here
30. Spinach
Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea
Sunflowers can provide shade for spinach plants, which prefer cooler temperatures, and can also attract beneficial insects to the garden.
Learn the Secret to Grow Sweeter Spinach here
31. Cucumbers
Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus
Cucumbers benefit from the shade provided by sunflowers, and they also attract pollinators to the garden.
Find some DIY Cucumber Trellis Ideas here
32. Squash
Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo
Sunflowers can provide support for squash vines to expand on, and the large leaves of the squash help to shade the soil. These are one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants.
Get the Best Fig Leaf Squash Care Guide here
33. Tomatoes
Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum
Sunflowers can attract pollinators to the garden, which can help to increase the yield of tomato plants that are nearby, as birds or bees can aid in pollination.
Learn about Growing Spoon Tomatoes here
34. Peppers
Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum
Sunflowers can help to provide shade for pepper plants, which prefer a slightly cooler environment.
Learn the Best Pepper Growing Tips here
35. Lettuce
Botanical Name: Lactuca sativa
The shade provided by sunflowers can help to prevent the lettuce from bolting or going to seed too quickly.
Find some DIY Lettuce Garden Ideas here
36. Radishes
Botanical Name: Raphanus sativus
Sunflowers can attract beneficial insects to the garden, which can help to control pests that may damage radish plants. These are one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants.
Are Radish Leaves Edible? Learn here
37. Melons
Botanical Name: Cucumis melo
Sunflowers can provide shade for melon plants, and their tall stalks can be used as a trellis for the vines to grow on.
Learn about Growing Kajari Melons in Pots here
38. Peas
Botanical Name: Pisum sativum
Sunflowers can provide support for pea plants to grow on, and their tall stalks can also provide shade for the soil. These are one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants.
39. Carrots
Botanical Name: Daucus carota
Sunflowers can attract beneficial insects to the garden, which can help to control pests that may damage carrot plants, making them one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants.
Learn about Growing Carrots in Pots here
40. Broccoli
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea
Sunflowers can provide shade for broccoli plants, which prefer cooler temperatures, and can also attract beneficial insects that prey on pests that may damage the broccoli.
Learn about Broccoli Sprouts here
41. Kale
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Sunflowers can provide shade for kale plants, which can help to prevent them from bolting too quickly in hot weather. These are one of the Best Sunflower Companion Plants.
Learn about Best Kale Varieties here
42. Corn
The sunflowers provide shade for the corn that keeps it from drying out and gives it a more even temperature. The sunflower also provides a windbreak, which keeps the corn from getting damaged by the wind.
