Companion Plants for Rhubarb

Annual Vegetables

• Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) is an annual vegetable from the Brassicaceae plant family. This cool-season plant grows from seeds to form thick leaves and a white floral head. Cauliflower grows well alongside rhubarb and Allium plants, which help repel cabbage worms and loopers. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is a hardy winter annual vegetable also belonging to the Brassicaceae plant family. This calcium-enriched plant develops a green flower head with dense green stalks. Broccoli is a companion plant for rhubarb and Allium plant species that help deter cabbage maggots.

Perennial Flowers

• Columbine (Aquilegia x hybrida) is an herbaceous perennial flower from the Ranunculaceae family. This 1 1/2- to 3-foot-tall plant blossoms from midspring until early summer with showy flowers in hues of red, yellow, white, blue, purple and pink. Columbine enjoys well-draining soils with full sun to partial shade. Rhubarb helps repel spider mites from columbine flowers. Sedum (Sedum) is a perennial flowering plant from the Crassulaceae family that enjoys well-draining soil and full sun. This drought-tolerant plant grows to heights of 4 to 24 inches with a spread of 8 to 24 inches. Sedum assists rhubarb by detracting rabbits, which eat and destroy rhubarb crops.

Perennial Herbs

• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are the smallest edible pieces of an onion. These herbaceous perennial herbs originate from Asia, Europe and North America. Chives grow in thick clusters and consist of tubular hollow leaves with pale purple flowers. This hardy drought-tolerant plant aids in repelling aphids from rhubarb. Garlic (Allium sativum) is a hardy perennial herb that forms from a bulb. A soft neck variety of garlic does not have a seed stalk. This Amaryllidaceae family plant thrives in full sun with well-draining, loamy soils treated with large amounts of fertilizer. Garlic helps in deterring aphids, ants and rabbits away from rhubarb.

Perennial Vegetables

• Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a perennial vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae plant family. This hardy plant develops from a dense yellow to white taproot and prefers well-draining, fertile soils treated with organic matter. Horseradish helps deter many types of pests from the garden. Onion (Allium cepa) is a perennial vegetable that grows from seeds, sets or transplants. These bulb plants from the Amaryllidaceae family like fertile, well-draining loamy soils. Onions along with rhubarb require proper weed control to maintain healthy plants. This hardy plant helps repel aphids and carrot flies from rhubarb.