Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a culinary herb grown for its pungent, fragrant leaves. There are three main types of parsley: French (curly leaf), Italian (flat-leafed), and Hamburg (grown for its parsnip-like root). If you're planting this biennial herb in your garden, consider adding some companion plants, which bring out the best in each other and can help prevent common pest and disease issues. When allowed to go to seed, parsley will attract hoverflies to your garden, which are known to eat aphids, thrips and other destructive insects. What Is Companion Planting? Companion planting is the strategic planting of a crop with another crop to gain a mutual advantage in production, flavor, or protection from pests. Like most herbs, parsley grows best in full sun, and can tolerate some light shade. When looking for companion plants, it's best to look for ones that thrive in the same conditions. Learn which herbs, vegetables, fruits, and flowers make the best parsley companion plants. 15 Best Parsley Companion Plants 01 of 15 Asparagus When planted with parsley, asparagus grows much more vigorously. Parsley helps stimulate foliage growth in asparagus, which is a perennial plant that will grow back and can be harvested every year if properly cared for. Parsley's strong aroma also deters asparagus beetles, helping to reduce infestations. Name: Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10 Light: Full sun Soil: Sandy, loamy 02 of 15 Tomatoes Parsley and tomatoes make a great pair in any garden. Parsley attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that feed on aphids, luring them away from tomatoes. Name: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-10 Light: Full sun Soil: Sandy, loamy 03 of 15 Peppers Pepper plants tend to attract pests such as earworms, aphids, beetles, and more, but planting parsley nearby can help to combat them. When parsley flowers, its white blooms attract parasitic wasps, ladybugs and other beneficial insects that feed on the unwanted insects. Name: Pepper, capsicum(Capsicum annuum) USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Loamy, well-drained 04 of 15 Basil Both common culinary herbs, basil and parsley also require the same growing conditions—full sun and well-drained soil—making them ideal companions. Parsley attracts beneficial insects, while basil is known to repel unwanted ones such as mosquitoes and flies. Name: Basil, sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) USDA Hardiness Zones: Perennial in 7-9; annual elsewhere Light: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Loamy, rich, well-drained 05 of 15 Chives Chives are an easy-to-grow allium that produces attractive purple flowers that, like the rest of the plant, are edible. Parsley repels the onion maggot, a common pest that feeds on plants in the onion family below the ground, affecting their root networks. Name: Chives, common chives (Allium schoenoprasum) USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Light: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Loamy, sandy 06 of 15 Nasturstium Planting flowers like nasturtium near parsley not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your garden, it can help boost parsley's pest-deterrent properties. Plus. both plants are edible. Name: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.) USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Moist, well-drained 07 of 15 Beans Beans of all kinds grow well with an array of plants. Legumes, including bean plants, fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits parsley and helps intensify its green color. In return, the scent of parsley helps deter bean pests. Name: Common bean, green bean, snap bean, string bean, French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Loamy, sandy, well-drained 08 of 15 Corn Corn attracts cutworms, earworms, and armyworms that wriggle through the corn husks to get to the kernels inside. Planting parsley throughout rows of corn can help attract beneficial insects that feed on these worms and prevent damage to the crop. Name: Corn, maize (Zea mays) USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-9 Light: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Loamy, sandy, well-drained 09 of 15 Apples Apple trees attract the destructive codling moth that feeds inside apples and ruins the tree's fruit crop. To keep these unwanted pests away, plant a ring of parsley around the trunk of your apple tree. Parsley attracts tachinid flies, which will attack the codling moth in its pupa stage. Name: Apple (Malus domestica) USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8 Light: Full sun Soil: Moist, well-drained 10 of 15 Pears Like apple trees, pear trees can also be affected by codling moths and spongy moths. Both of these pests can be deterred by parasitic wasps and parasitic flies that flowering parsley attracts. Name: Pear, common pear, European pear (Pyrus communis) USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9 Light: Full sun Soil: Loamy, sandy, clay, well-drained 11 of 15 Peas Peas are a nitrogen-fixing crop that will make parsley grow fuller, lusher, and greener. Parsley flowers attract tachinid flies, which feed on cutworms, a common legume pest. Name: Pea, garden pea (Pisum sativum) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Moist, well-drained 12 of 15 Cabbage Parsley is a great cabbage companion plant, as the herb's flowers attract beneficial insects that prey on cabbage worms and cutworms, which can cause substantial damage to cabbage. When harvested together, they can both be used in an array of recipes. Name: Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Loamy, well-drained 13 of 15 Cauliflower Similar to cabbage, cauliflower is a member of the brassica family, and can easily become affected by cabbage worms and cutworms. Planting parsley nearby lessens the risk of an infestation. Name: Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Well-drained 14 of 15 Marigolds Many flowers make great companion plants for parsley. Marigolds are a popular choice for gardens, as they deter common garden pests like nematodes, tomato hornworms, cabbage worms, squash bugs, and more. When paired with parsley, they make quite the pest-fighting duo. Name: Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-9 Light: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Loamy, sandy, well-drained 15 of 15 Roses A flowering rose bush might seem like a strange addition to an herb or vegetable garden, but their blooms can attract an array of pollinators. However, roses are prone to an array of pests, including aphids, wasps, flies, and beetles. Planting parsley near roses can help deter these unwanted insects, and roses are believed to benefit parsley by making the scent of its flowers sweeter. Name: Rose (Rosa spp.) USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11 Light: Full sun Soil: Loamy, well-drained Plants You Shouldn't Plant With Parsley Not all plant combinations will thrive together. To keep your parsley healthy and thriving, avoid planting the following, considered to be the worst companion plants for parsley. Mint (Mentha spp.) Carrot (Daucus carota) Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Dill (Anethum graveolens) Cilantro (Coriander) (Coriandrum sativum) Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Move than mums and gourds, there is another fall ornamental gracing our containers and arrangements! Biologist and gardener Lindsay Miller introduces the fresh and fabulous ‘Coral Prince’ ornamental cabbage. The fall garden is not exactly one of longevity. With pumpkins becoming squirrel food almost immediately upon reaching the porch and most mum cultivars fading by the start of October, horticulturists sought a long-lived, frost-tolerant plant that could be used by home gardeners and landscapers. Imagine their delight when they bred ornamental cabbage! Ornamental cabbages and kales (also known as “flowering” cabbages and kales) are grown for their colorful foliage and unusual, if not whimsical, shape. They are members of the Brassicaceae family, meaning they are the fancier, more eye-catching cousins to broccoli, cauliflower, and, of course, edible cabbages and kales. While technically edible, ornamental cabbages are really pretty bitter and unpleasant. There are many fun varieties of ornamental cabbage and kale to add to your garden. Read on, and let’s dive in to one of these beauties, ‘Coral Prince’. What Is It? ‘Coral Prince’ is a type of ornamental cabbage known for its colorful foliage and frost-tolerance. In the horticultural world, “ornamental kale” applies to types with curly or frilly foliage, while “ornamental cabbage” describes plants with broad, smooth-edged leaves. Botanically speaking, however, all ornamental cabbages and kale are considered kale, as they all produce leaves in tight rosettes. Ornamental cabbages and kale are biennials, meaning they complete their life cycle in two years. Leafy, vegetative growth occurs in the first year, followed by flowers and seeds in the second. However, home gardeners almost always grow ornamental cabbages as annual plants. Characteristics ‘Coral Prince’ presents compact rosettes of lacy, deeply incised leaves that almost appear feathery. Outer leaves are gray-green with white veining. Interior foliage is creamy white, with a touch of blush at the very center of the rosette. Occasionally, the white interior leaves are edged in gray-green as well, giving the whole plant a very attractive marbling quality. At maturity, plants are roughly 15 inches wide and no more than 12 inches tall, usually shorter. ‘Coral Prince’ is a relatively broad and flat ornamental cabbage, and doesn’t produce the tall central stalk that some other varieties do, like ‘Crane Red.’ Native Area Kale and cabbage originated in the Mediterranean region, where they have been grown for centuries. Some plants eventually made their way to China and Japan, where those with particularly ornamental leaves were selected for further breeding. They became popular in gardens sometime after the 17th century, although they did not make it to the United States until the 1930s, when the USDA sent horticulturists to Asia in search of new plants. Planting Ornamental cabbages, like ‘Coral Prince’, are cold-tolerant annuals that fit just about anywhere in the garden! The elegant green and ivory foliage complements all palettes, but looks especially fresh when paired with purples or dark pinks. Plant it en masse in a mixed perennial bed with fall-blooming asters and goldenrod. Or, pop single plants in planters, pots, and hanging baskets with other fall annuals like chrysanthemums, pansies, and ornamental grasses. They make an excellent replacement for fading summer annuals. How to Grow Like most other cabbages, both edible and ornamental, ‘Coral Prince’ is a low-maintenance plant that just wants regular watering and plenty of sun. Maintenance Ornamental cabbages and kales are no-fuss annuals. Prune away any older outer leaves if they become scraggly. Provided plants are sited in full sun and given plenty of water, ‘Coral Prince’ does not require much else.

‘Jeana’ is the total package when it comes to perennials. This native cultivar has highly ornamental blooms that support pollinators and flowers for months. Superior disease resistance makes it a standout among more finicky varieties in the species. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores a new one to love among old garden favorites, ‘Jeana’ garden phlox. Garden phlox brightens the border with a profusion of domed clusters with starry blooms. In cultivation since the 1600s, the historic perennials are a beloved staple and form a showy backdrop among other summertime blooms and grasses. Most species are North American natives, particularly to the eastern United States, including Phlox paniculata. Phlox, from the Greek for “flame,” boasts an eye-catching floral display. ‘Jeana’ tall garden phlox is an award-winning cultivar that boasts months of blooming and superior cold hardiness. Trusses of lightly fragrant lavender-pink blooms are a magnet for butterflies and moths (their obligate pollinators), as well as hummingbirds. ‘Jeana’ brims with ecological and ornamental value; it’s just the multifaceted, hardworking, lovely perennial we need in our collections. What is ‘Jeana’ Garden Phlox? Phlox paniculata is the most popular of all the Phlox species. Tall garden phlox, or flowering phlox, has bundles of showy flowers atop upright stems. From pale pink to crimson, color-rich selections abound. Whether old-fashioned pass-along plants or newer cultivars, P. paniculata earns its spot in the border. The exceptionally sturdy and floriferous ‘Jeana’ selection is the 2024 Perennial Plant of the Year. The Perennial Plant Association awards those that grow across various climates, need little additional maintenance, and have good pest and disease resistance and landscape value. Taking top place in Mt. Cuba Center’s three-year phlox trials, ‘Jeana’ shows exceptional powdery mildew resistance, a long flowering time with a spectacular display, and a big pollinator draw. Of all the varieties in the trial, ‘Jeana’ attracted the most butterflies, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, in particular. They also attract hummingbirds with their tubular, nectar-rich blooms. ‘Jeana’ has a tall, sturdy habit that supports the big show of deep lavender-pink florets. Domed clusters top stiff stems that reach five feet tall. While each floret is smaller than other varieties, the number per bunch and extended flowering more than make up for their size. In addition to its ornament, ‘Jeana’ offers ecological value. The nectar-rich blossoms are a favorite among butterflies and other pollinators. As a native cultivar from a wildly growing selection, it’s a strong performer in optimal growing conditions. ‘Jeana’ is the backbone of borders, cottage gardens, pollinator themes, and naturalistic arrangements. Pair it with other natives and their cultivars like amsonia, monarda, switchgrass, Joe Pye weed, salvia, and hardy geranium. These are a match for pollinator support and a long season of visual interest. Characteristics The clump-forming perennial spreads up to four feet and has tall, five-foot stems. Showy trusses of pips (individual flowers) are smaller than other varieties at half an inch, but the six-inch flowerheads last into early fall. The floral show hits peak bloom in mid to late July and extends into October. ‘Jeana’ produces few seeds and won’t reseed in the landscape like older garden phlox varieties. The lack of seed production means a long-lasting floral display, with less energy directed to seed production and more into continual flowering. With excellent disease resistance to powdery mildew, ‘Jeana’s’ bright green, elliptical, and pointed leaves remain attractive all season. Native Area Phlox paniculata is native to the United States from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic and southward. It grows naturally along stream banks, riparian areas, and in moist low woodlands and meadows. ‘Jeana’ is a selection of a native wild phlox. Gardener Jeana Prewitt discovered it growing wildly in a large colony along the Harpeth River near Nashville, Tennessee. While others in the group showed powdery mildew, this strong selection was mildew-free. Planting Fall and spring are the best times to plant the perennials. If there is adequate moisture for strong root systems to develop, plant them at any time in areas with mild summers. Avoid planting phlox in stressful conditions, such as high heat, drought, or freezing soil. The cool, moist conditions of spring and fall present the least stress on new plantings. They’ll be able to develop roots before hot summers or cold winters, respectively. Good air circulation is essential for garden phlox and sets the foundation for health. Allow proper spacing at two to three feet apart to plan for the mature spread. At planting, dig a hole two to three times as deep and wide as the size of the root ball. Loosen any tightly wound, pot-bound roots so they can grow outward. Position crowns an inch-and-a-half below the soil surface. Water deeply after planting to settle the roots and soil.