Companion Plants for Dill

Ornamental Vegetables

• Ornamental kale and cabbage are attractive landscape plants. They are edible but not terribly tasty. Dill prevents cabbage moths from riddling the leaves of the ornamentals with little holes. Cabbage and kale are hardy plants that tolerate frost, and the chilly weather of late autumn enhances their color. They are often seen as edging plants along drives and garden borders. Place kale in the ground in early spring. Plant dill seeds in the background after frost danger has passed. The feathery textures of dill contrast nicely with the low ornamentals, giving the setting motion and balance.

Other Herbs

• Most herbs enjoy the same environmental conditions of dill. Herbs are divided into three groups. Plants such as dill, basil and tarragon are called accent herbs because they enhance the flavor of other foods. Strong herbs include plants such as winter savory, rosemary and sage. They are aromatic and crucial to recipes -- turkey with sage dressing, for example. The third group, blending herbs, are used in combination with others. Parsley, chives and lavender are blended together to flavor salads, poultry and other things. Herbs can be grown together in one section of the garden, or they can be interspersed with other plants. Their strong fragrance is offensive to deer and many other garden pests.

Cutting Gardens

• Florists use dill as filler in arrangements for a feathery green effect. Fernleaf dill is cultivated along with a variety of annual, perennial and woody-stemmed cutting flowers. Annuals such as aster, larkspur and snapdragons grow along side perennial favorites, including astilbe, bee balm, iris and daisy. Woody ornamentals provide sprigs for bouquets and shelter for butterflies and include lilac, hydrangea and summersweet.

Butterfly Gardens

• Dill serves as a larval host for the black swallowtail butterfly. Caterpillars feed on dill, fennel and other plants until they turn into butterflies. Flowers associated with butterfly gardens include nectar-producing plants such as Queen Anne’s lace, hollyhock, annual aster and Joe-Pye weed. Butterfly gardens need sheltered spots so that insects stay cool during the heat of the day and have a protected place during times of windy or inclement weather. Placing a few shrubs in the back of the garden should do the trick.