Cilantro is a versatile and fast-growing herb commonly used in salsas, salads, and rice dishes. The right cilantro companion plants are fantastic in vegetable and herb gardens, where they can encourage growth and keep pests away. As a cold-hardy herb, cilantro companion plants are often grown with other cool-weather crops, including carrots, broccoli, spinach, and radishes, since its scent keeps insects from destroying plants. Because of its pretty flowering leaves and pleasant aroma, cilantro is a top choice for growing in small-space gardens and containers, where it can be easily picked to store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, freeze, or dry for future use.
Anise
Anise has a licorice-like flavor, and it’s often used to elevate the taste of roasted dishes and baked goods. While anise is less commonly grown than many other culinary herbs, it makes a good cilantro companion plant because it has similar growing needs. Grow anise and cilantro in container gardens or larger herb beds. Even better, growing cilantro near anise plants enhances the anise growth.
Basil
Basil is an excellent cilantro companion plant since it has similar growing needs. They grow beautifully together in both large herb gardens and small patio planters. These two herbs are top choices for small-space growers and urban gardeners since basil and cilantro don’t take up a lot of space, and they’re easy to fit into balcony gardens and windowsill herb gardens. You can also grow basil and cilantro in light shade, which gives you more planting options for these two tasty herbs.
Beans and Peas
Beans, peas, and other plants in the legume family fix nitrogen in the soil, which improves its health and makes more nutrients available for nearby plants. Since nitrogen is particularly important for supporting leafy growth, planting legumes near cilantro can help you grow a lusher crop of fresh cilantro leaves. On top of that, cilantro is slower to bolt when it’s grown in the cool shade of vining beans and peas.
Brassicas
Brassica vegetables, like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage, are some of the most pest-prone veggies in the garden, but companion planting can help. Many strongly scented herbs, including cilantro, repel some of the most common brassica pests and reduce the need for other pest prevention measures. Moreover, if you allow cilantro to flower, cilantro blooms attract parasitic wasps, syrphid flies, and other predatory insects that feed on brassica pests.
Dill
Like cilantro, dill doesn’t grow well in the heat and tends to bolt in summer. Growing dill as a cilantro companion plant in spring and autumn gardens is a great way to streamline your gardening tasks and add fresh herbs to your dinner table. These two herbs have similar growing needs, and they thrive in moist, rich soil and full sun to light shade.
Lettuce
Lettuce is another cool-weather crop that’s typically grown in spring and autumn. Growing lettuce and cilantro together makes sense because these two plants have similar care requirements and don’t take up a lot of space in garden beds. Plus, cilantro attracts beneficial insects that naturally keep lettuce pests in check.
Parsley
Parsley and cilantro are similar-looking plants with similar care requirements. Both cilantro and parsley grow best in cool weather, although parsley is more heat tolerant and less likely to bolt in summer. Grow parsley as a cilantro companion plant in herb gardens or pots to simplify your gardening tasks and allow you to water these moisture-loving herbs at the same time.
Sweet Alyssum
Famed for its darling clusters of purple and white flowers, sweet alyssum is commonly grown in flower gardens. It makes a charming flowering groundcover and container plant as well. Aside from its ornamental appeal, sweet alyssum is one of the best cilantro companion plants you can grow for natural pest control. When sweet alyssum is planted near cilantro or other herbs and vegetables, its scented flowers attract beneficial insects and keep pests at bay.
Swiss Chard
Swiss chard and other leafy greens like kale and collard greens thrive in cool weather. Planting small cilantro companion plants between leafy greens is a clever way to put underutilized soil to use and fit more edibles in your garden beds. Cilantro keeps common pests like aphids and spider mites from feasting on your greens.
Tomatoes
Many home growers sow cilantro seeds in their gardens in spring, but cilantro is quick to bolt as soon as temperatures rise in summer. Growing cilantro in the shade of taller plants, like tomatoes, keeps the cilantro plants cool and prolongs the harvest. In addition, if you grow cilantro with your tomato plants, you’ll have the freshest homemade pico de gallo ingredients.