Chives: 20 Good Neighbors

Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are one of the most popular kitchen herbs and should not be missing in any garden. The following 20 garden plants are good neighbors of the perennial herb and are suitable for a mixed or subsequent crop.

In the herb bed

As a general rule, you can socialize both annual and perennial herbs with each other, ie annual species harmonize well with each other as well as perennial ones. However, there are also combinations that fit together better or worse than others. The following species are good neighbors for chives:

Tip: A combination of tarragon, sage, thyme, lemon balm and one (or more) types of chives in a bed or herb spiral is particularly recommended. The species mentioned have very similar requirements in terms of location and care: it should be sunny and warm so that the respective aroma can develop well.

In the vegetable patch

All Allium species keep pests and pathogens (especially fungicidal nature) away, so that a mixed culture in the vegetable patch has positive effects. The sharp, ethereal vapors of the chives reliably keep the carrot fly away, so you can plant the herb as a border planting in the carrot bed. Planted around or directly in the strawberry bed, Allium schoenoprasum reduces the likelihood of gray mold (botrytis) infection. Cucumbers and other vegetables are quite well protected from downy mildew with the leek plant as a bed partner.

With these vegetables, the herb has proven itself as a protective bed partner:

Note: When planning the planting, you should note that all types of chives are perennial and therefore remain in their place. When combining with annual vegetables or herbs (e.g. for plant protection reasons), we recommend planting around the edge so that you can clear and work the bed completely if necessary.

In the flower bed

But not only other herbs and vegetable plants, some flowers also benefit from a mixed culture with the kitchen herb – this reliably keeps away the downy mildew and aphids, which are a problem especially with roses. For this effect, you can use conventional kitchen chives, but also the attractive types of ornamental leeks.

These flowers are good neighbors:

  • Nasturtium : due to its susceptibility to aphids
  • Marigolds: to keep downy mildew away
  • Roses: due to their susceptibility to aphids
Idea: Different types of chives such as ‘Forescate’ (large, pink flowers) or ‘Elbe’ (white flowers) provide variety in the ornamental bed. Most other varieties have purple flowers. They are all usable in the kitchen.

frequently asked Questions

Although chives and cabbage are classified as good neighbors in various mixed culture tables, you should better keep your hands off them. Alliums (which include onions and garlic in addition to the popular herb) don’t mix well with cruciferous vegetables. You can combine cabbage with rosemary, sage or peppermint, as these herbs keep the cabbage white butterfly away. Basil is also a suitable bed partner, as the herb keeps whiteflies away from cabbages.

This combination is also rather unfavourable. Chives produce an acidity that parsley doesn’t tolerate well, making it poorly growing and more susceptible to disease. Borage, dill, chervil or marjoram go very well with parsley.

Chives are very suitable as underplanting for fruit trees and, for example, reduce scab infestation on apple trees and repel aphids on cherry trees and other types of stone fruit. To do this, you do not have to plant the herb directly on the tree disc, but can also plant it in the immediate vicinity as a plant neighbor. Other Allium plants such as garlic or onions also keep pests and pathogens away.

All Allium plants are not compatible with each other and should therefore not be planted or sown in the bed next to or one after the other. Garlic, onions, pearl onions, leeks, wild garlic, chives, etc. hinder each other’s growth, so that probably not even the seed will sprout or will have a poor germination rate. Incidentally, ornamental leeks such as ball leeks (Allium cristophii) or giant leeks (Allium giganteum) also belong in this category.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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