Cumin Companion Plants

Herbs

• Cumin grows well with other herbs. Choose species that thrive in warm climates and well-drained soil. Annuals include sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), which has aromatic, edible leaves. Basil grows to 2 feet tall and requires 6 to 12 inches of space. Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) also thrives in sunny, warm sites. Give this annual 6 inches of space. It grows to 6 inches tall and has ruffled foliage that can be used to flavor or garnish a variety of foods. Perennial companions include sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana), which grows to 8 inches tall and requires 12 inches of space. Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) grows to 4 feet tall and attracts hummingbirds with its red, tubular flowers. Pineapple sage requires 2 feet of space.

Ground Covers

• Planting ground covers around cumin plants helps to prevent soil erosion and runoff. Evergreen species provide year-round color and texture. Sun-loving ground covers for well-drained soils include woolly yarrow (Achillea tomentosa), a fast-growing evergreen that blooms with clusters of bright yellow flowers. It produces a thick mat of gray-green foliage and attracts pollinators with its blossoms. Hardy ice plant (Delosperma cooperi) also thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It forms a 7-inch-tall mat of glossy, dark evergreen foliage and blooms with bright purple flowers from summer through autumn.

Perennials

• Perennials, or plants that live for at least three years, add color to planting beds. Choose low-growing species that won't create shade near the cumin plants. Bearded tongue (Penstemon spp.) blooms from spring through summer with spikes of red, pink, white and orange flowers. It prefers sunny sites with well-drained soil and grows from 18 to 36 inches tall. Black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia fulgida) thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. They grow from 18 to 30 inches tall and bloom in late summer with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers with dark centers.

Annuals

• Unlike perennials, annuals live for only one growing season. They compensate with much longer bloom times; some species produce colorful flowers almost all season long. Cumin companions include the cockscomb (Celosia argenta var. crista), a 1- to 3-foot-tall annual that blooms with red flowers from summer through fall. It requires 12 inches of space and tolerates some drought. Globe amaranths (Gomphrena globosa) also tolerate dry soil. These hardy annuals grow to 1 to 2 feet tall and bloom from spring through fall with spherical flowers in a range of colors, from purple to orange. They need 12 inches of space.