What Plants Complement Each Other?

Basic Design

• Trees form the backdrop or structural frame of a garden and yard. They can be focal points, grouped in a mass or used to block unwanted views. Evergreens are suitable for backdrops complementing deciduous foreground trees. Lower growing shrubbery is typically used to fill in, create hedges or provide flowers and leaf color. Combining various colors and textures in leaf and bloom results in complementary gardens that appeal to the senses. Geometric design of planting beds complements the overall landscape.

Flowers

• Plant a bed of rose bushes within a ground cover of clover, vinca minor, alyssum or forget-me-nots. A perennial garden, such as the English cottage garden style, uses lilies, dahlias, poppies, tulips, daffodils, delphinium, foxglove, stock, phlox and many others -- all of which are set to different heights or grouped for color combinations. An all-white flower garden against an evergreen hedge can be dramatically complementary.

Herbs

• The world of herbs allows for quite a variety of options. Mints, oregano, marjoram and lemon balm are taller growers that complement a bed of low-growing or creeping thyme. Parsley, sage and rosemary always complement one another. Place borage and comfrey to far edges of the herb garden where they have plenty of room to spread out. Rue should not be planted with basil, but can be placed with cucumbers, roses or raspberries.

Vegetables

• Chives, garlic and onions can be spread among the vegetable garden rows to help deter some insects. Corn, beans and squash are an age-old complementary trio. Nasturtiums and marigolds can be planted around vegetable gardens to repel beetles or cabbage moths. Basil and tomatoes are complementary, as are radishes and cucumbers and squash. Add lavender plants around the perimeter to help deter slugs. Combining the strong scents of herbs throughout a vegetable garden helps in several ways, but be sure to learn the differences between welcome garden insects and those you don't want eating your crops.