The Fragrant Flowering Companion That Will Give Your Basil A Boost In The Garden

The more flavorful your garden's basil is, the more delectable your homemade pesto and pasta sauces will be. Boosting basil's flavor is easy if you plant the right helper nearby, leveraging the benefits of companion planting. One taste-enhancing companion is chamomile, a flowering herb from the daisy family. In addition to emitting a sweet scent, it helps basil produce more of the essential oil that fuels its flavor. It also supports the health of its neighbors by bringing vitamins and minerals from the soil's depths to its surface layers, providing nourishment to basil and other plants with superficial roots. 

What's more, chamomile enhances the soil's structure and airflow, which makes it easier for nearby basil to access water and promotes root growth. Creeping varieties of chamomile can be useful for crowding out weeds that compete with basil for sunshine, food, and water. Just be sure to monitor them so they don't overtake your herbs!

Supercharging your soil isn't the only way chamomile helps basil thrive. Helpful insects love chamomile's white and yellow flowers. Bees and butterflies visit them, as do insects that prey upon common garden pests. Chamomile is especially attractive to ladybugs, which feast on basil-munching aphids. However, it also draws parasitic wasps, which combat the flea beetles; left unchecked, these pests decimate herbs, eggplants, cabbages, and more. For the strongest chamomile scent — and maximum pest-repelling power — maintain a light watering schedule. And, as long as you're not allergic to ragweed, you can upgrade your bedtime routine by turning chamomile blossoms into a calming tea.

Like many companion plants that will thrive alongside basil in your garden, chamomile craves full or partial sun and a growing medium that drains efficiently. It isn't fussy about the soil's nutrient content, unlike tomatoes, peppers, and other heavy-feeding basil companions that often need multiple applications of fertilizer. The two plants' soil, sun, and water preferences are similar, which is one of the reasons growing basil plants with chamomile for a companion is a great idea. 

Chamomile and basil plants can add visual interest and pleasant aromas to an in-ground vegetable patch filled with fellow companions, such as carrots, beets, and radishes. Also consider planting oregano nearby. Like chamomile, it enhances basil's flavor. Basil returns the favor by shading heat-sensitive oregano and deterring pests with its scent. 

Chamomile and basil are also good choices for raised beds and container gardens. For extra aesthetic appeal, showcase the color variations these species offer. Most basil varieties, including the popular Genovese type, have green leaves and stems, and chamomile blossoms with white petals are common. Look for purple basil and yellow chamomile flowers to mix things up.