#1: Basil
- Improves bud flavor
- Masks cannabis smell
- Repels harmful insects
- Attracts beneficial insects
The ‘prince of plants’ serves as a wonderful cannabis companion plant. For one, its sweet scent is a fantastic facade for flowering weed colas.
It also repels aphids, mites, whiteflies, slugs, snails, and mosquitos. At the same time, the little green leaves attract pollinators for increased biodiversity.
The perks don’t end there, either. Your weed gets tastier with basil. Cultivators report increased terpene production and smoother, sweeter buds.
Tip: If you’re after the most flavorful yield possible, use dill and basil as marijuana companion plants.
#2: Lavender
- Masks cannabis smells
- Attracts pollinators
- Repels fleas, mice, and ticks
Like basil, blooming lavender is a highly valuable cannabis companion plant. Its color and scent attract beneficial pollinators for natural diversity.
Many pests hate the smell of lavender. You don’t have to use chemical sprays to deter ticks, moths, mice, or fleas with some violet flowers in your garden.
Lavender is also useful for indoor companion planting. It replaces a carbon filter for those tell-tale cannabis scents filling the grow room.
Tip: As the summer ends, trim the lavender heads to make soothing tea or balm infusions.
#3: Marigold
- Visually hides cannabis
- Keeps away pests
- Repels insects
A look at the gorgeous golden flowers already tells you why marigolds work as cannabis companion plants. Nobody would even notice your blooming White Widow next to their beauty.
Many insects, including moths and whiteflies, can’t stand these florets. On the other hand, aphids and wasps thrive on them, steering clear of your buds.
Marigolds have another perk, and it spans garden-wide. Their roots produce insecticide, which enters the soil and spreads to other plants. Before you know it, creepy crawlers stay far away from your entire growing patch.
Tip: Plant marigolds between cannabis plants to optimize visual and insecticide coverage.
#4: Chamomile
- Prevents fungus infections
- Supplies potassium and calcium
- Deters mosquitos and flies
- Returns annually
Chamomile is an amazing companion plant for weed in outdoor environments. For one, it repels whiteflies and mosquitoes. It also attracts hoverflies, which eradicate harmful insects.
The chemicals from chamomile can prevent fungal infections in seedlings and vegging plants. As it decomposes and turns to mulch, the flowers release yummy nutrients to the soil.
The help lasts for over a year with these flowers, as chamomile blossoms annually. It’ll spring up again each year, setting you up with a regular cannabis companion plant.
Tip: Plant a chamomile border around your marijuana for optimal insect blockage.
#5: Lemon balm
- Turns away pests
- Disguises cannabis smell
- Improves cannabis flavors
- Returns annually
We can’t discuss companion plants for indoor growing without mentioning lemon balm. These therapeutic herbs are amazing on their own, and the benefits double when you keep them next to budding weed.
The powerful scents of this herb disguise the aroma of flowering buds. Growers say that the citrusy smell could even carry over to your smokable flowers.
The citrus smell also repels gnats and mosquitoes, especially as it enters full bloom. The leaves dry and fall in October, only to return next year.
Tip: Keep lemon balm in pots. Otherwise, it might over-spread and leave very little room for a new weed growing season.
#6: Sunflowers
- Disguises crops
- Provides weather protection
- Deters insects
- Improves soil drainage
Sunflowers are the perfect way to use marijuana companion plants as physical shields for your baby weed. These beauties grow to 9 feet tall, protecting crops from wind, prying eyes, and unwanted shrubs.
These beautiful flowers attract beneficial buds that have spider mites for breakfast. Aphids, slugs, and whiteflies find it much more interesting than cannabis.
Sunflowers improve soil, too. Water drainage is no match to their powerful root networks.
Tip: Plant your sunflowers around the garden edge or each cannabis plant. Leave around 2 feet of space between the two species.
#7: Clovers
- Increase nitrogen supply
- Improve soil drainage
- Attract bees and butterflies
- Visually hide cannabis
Even if you have the best soil for growing marijuana, nitrogen availability can be an issue. That’s where clovers enter the picture.
Clovers drag nitrogen from the deeper parts of the soil, increasing availability for vegging weed. They also capture the nutrient from the air, storing supplies in their roots. As a result, decaying leaves a fresh source of nitrogen-rich mulch in the soil.
What’s more, the extensive root system aerates the dirt and improves drainage. Water, air, and nutrient flow become easier after the clovers break apart the texture.
Colorful clover heads attract butterflies, bees, and the human eye. You get additional biodiversity and discretion, all with one cannabis companion plant.
Tip: Clover multiplies rapidly, but you shouldn’t kill it. Allow the leaves to mulch to preemptively treat next year’s soil.
#8: Peppermint
- Repels most pests
- Masks cannabis smells
- Improves bud flavor
Like other aromatic marijuana companion plants, peppermint primarily brings scent-based benefits. The powerful aroma keeps cultivation hidden from nosy noses. Some of the minty essence might translate into the flavor of your buds.
The tasty minty flowers repel aphids, ants, roaches, and mice. It attracts butterflies and other pollinators, though, helping with biodiversity.
Peppermint works best for indoor companion planting, where you reap the benefits without running the risk of its invasive nature.
Tip: Peppermint is a fantastic medicinal companion, but only if you can manage its tricky nature. Plant in isolated pots to control its spread.
Honorable mentions
Remember when we said there are hundreds of cannabis companion plants at your disposal? That still holds.
Instead of making a hundred-item list, we’ll mention excellent plants to grow with cannabis that didn’t make it to the final lineup:
- Comfrey prevents powdery mildew and pulls nutrients
- Sweet peas stop unwanted weeds and make excellent mulch
- Alfalfa is an insect repellant that also increases nitrogen contents
- Borage supplies the soil with vitamins and minerals
- Thyme promotes biodiversity and shelters against fungi
In a nutshell, most herbs help weed thrive. Use our list as a starting point, but conduct further research if you’re not finding the ideal option here.
Herbs helping herbs
Our main takeaway is simple. Looking for a way to avert pests without artificial repellents? Use cannabis companion plants. Need to make your plants discreet? Use cannabis companion plants.
Looking for a way to cultivate holistically? Use. Companion. Plants.
Sow one of the species we mentioned and see the perks in practice. Build a self-sustainable ecosystem and take your eco-friendly cultivation journey to a completely new level.
Check our article about marijuana lookalikes and stay tuned to our blog for more guides on stepping up your gardening game.
About the author: Parker Curtis
Parker Curtis has around a decade of cannabis-growing experience, specialising in soil-less and hydro grows. He’s mastering outdoor, greenhouse, and indoor grows.
