When I first planted sage, I was kind of lost as to where to grow it. Was I supposed to plant them next to other herbs? Should I be growing them next to plants that attract beneficial insects for sage?
So I did a bunch of research to see which herbs grow best with sage, and which ones shouldn’t be planted near sage. This article is an aggregate of all of the plants I researched that do well next to sage.
Common Problems & Pests That Impact Sage
When I discovered companion planting, I quickly learned that some of the benefits involve attracting beneficial insects, making sure the plants near it aren’t sucking up all the nutrients (I’m looking at you Mr. Tomato!), and plants that deter unwanted insects and animals.
Let’s go through some of the common problems and pests sage plants are susceptible to, and the problems it causes to help us figure out what to plant nearby.
1. Slugs and Snails
I hate finding these suckers (ha!) in the garden. There are a few things you can plant nearby to help repel slugs and snails.
Plants that Repel Slugs and Snails
- Marigolds
- Black-Eyed Susan
- Rosemary
2. Spider Mites
I always thought spider mites wouldn’t be a big issue, but then I found them on my plants and realized very quickly they are NOT easy to get rid of.
Plants that Repel Spider Mites
3. Spittlebugs
I first found these on my sunflowers, and they are really gross. If you find parts of your plants that look like someone spit all over them (thus the name, spittle), you probably have a spittlebug problem.
Ways to Get Rid of Spittlebugs
There aren’t really plants that repel spittlebugs, but you can just keep weeds at bay in your garden, as they are a main food source for them. The other option is to just hose them off really well. Most “spray-on” solutions won’t work since the nymphs and eggs are inside of the liquid-like masses.
8 of the Best Sage Companion Plants
Which plants are great companions for sage? Well, of course, those ones that are mentioned above, but let’s walk through some others as well.
Sage can attract pollinators and other beneficial insects if you let it go to flower. It might be worthwhile to grow extra sage plants and let some of your plants go to flower so you can get those benefits as well.
1. Brassicas
Brassicas do great near sage. Sage helps repel pests that impact brassicas with their scents.
Examples of brassicas are:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Kohlrabi
I’ll explain these more separately below as well.
2. Collard Greens
Sage is a good companion plant for collard greens as they can suffer from flea beetles, which sage is said to help keep at bay.
3. Kohlrabi
Sage can help repel some pests when planted around your kohlrabi. Beetles can be a big issue for them, and sage can help keep them away.
4. Rosemary
Rosemary does not play well with many other plants, but when you plant sage nearby they both seem to do well.
5. Cabbage
If you’ve ever grown cabbage or other brassicas, you know the cabbage moth all too well. They create little holes in the leaves that can end up destroying a lot of the plants if left unchecked. If you check the underside of the leaves, you’ll see tiny green cabbage worms.
Sage can help deter cabbage moths, which are a huge issue for cabbage plants.
They are also said to help control black flea beetle populations.
6. Carrots
Carrot flies are one of the big problems with growing carrots in your garden. Luckily, sage is a great option to help control those flies.
7. Tomatoes
Sage is a good companion for tomatoes, as it can help keep flea beetles away, and attract beneficial insects to your tomato plants.
However, if you’re growing basil as well, basil is the best companion plant for tomatoes, so add some of that in there as well!
8. Strawberries
Not only do they taste great together, but strawberries and sage grow well together!
Strawberries are one of the plants that slugs LOVE, so keeping sage nearby can help repel them from your plants.
Herbs Like Thyme, Lavender, Oregano, and Marjoram
There are a lot of herbs that grow well together, but these 5 (including sage) are fantastic growing partners.
What NOT to Plant With Sage
Basil
While basil does well next to most vegetables, it does not pair well with other herbs. So make sure to keep your basil and sage far apart.
Rue
Rue seems to be a plant that does not do well next to quite a few herbs in your veggie garden. Sage is one of those things. So keep rue away from your sage plant if possible.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers don’t do well next to quite a few plants in the garden, and sage is apparently one of those.
Sage and other aromatic herbs (like basil and thyme) are said to stunt the growth of cucumbers.
Basil is not a good companion for sage, as the two plants stunt each other’s growth. Rue is another plant that doesn’t work well near sage. Cucumbers don’t work well near sage, because sage is known to stunt the cucumber’s growth.
So when you’re companion planting your sage, be sure to keep these plants in mind!
Keep in Mind That Sage Can Be Invasive
Some types of sage can be considered invasive, meaning it will grow like wildfire around your herb garden. I saw this happen with my mint plant as well, where you plant one little plant and you end up with 30+ spread all over your garden.
If you love that herb, then great! But it’s something to keep in mind.
What is Companion Planting?
Companion planting is the practice of growing certain plants together in order to improve one another’s growth. By having some plants close to each other, they can help negate issues that come with growing them on their own.
Companion plants are a pretty important consideration to make when planning a vegetable garden. Not only do they help to optimize the growing conditions for your desired plants, but they can also help to ward off pests and diseases.
When you’re planting sage, this definitely applies. There are a variety of different types of sage, each with its own unique benefits and uses. But in general, most companion plants for sage are the same regardless of the variety you’re growing.
For example, if your carrots are attacked by carrot flies, then plant dill near the patch of carrots because dill attracts the carrot flies away from the carrots, and it also repels them with its scent.
What Are the Benefits of Companion Planting?
Sage is known to repel cabbage moths and black flea beetles, which can be very helpful with certain plants, like cabbage and carrots. Dill attracts the flies away from the vegetables and also helps repel them with its scent.
Some people even say that planting sage near tomatoes will help improve their growth. So when you’re looking to companion plant your sage, think about what other vegetables you’re growing in your garden and what problems they might be facing.
Letting some of your sage plants flower allows can provide even more benefits in terms of attracting beneficial insects and repelling harmful insects.
Frequently Asked Questions About Companion Plants
Can You Plant Different Types of Sage Together?
Yes, you can grow different types of sage together. Since they require similar growing conditions, it would be a great pair – and you’ll probably double the companion benefits near things like tomatoes or carrots! That’s total speculation, but it makes sense 🙂
Sage Companion Planting Chart
Here is a companion planting chart you can use when determining what to plant near your sage.
When planning out your garden, make sure you’re keeping in mind certain pests that can cause issues and which plants can help keep those at bay.
While companion planting isn’t a “catch-all” where you can expect to see none of those pests, it can help keep populations small enough for you to come in and take care of them.
Can you grow different sage varieties next to each other.
Yes! They have the same growing conditions so you totally can. But sage grows almost like a weed, so they might need a little more room so they don’t crowd each other out. 🙂