14 Blueberry Companion Plants for a Better Harvest

There is something extremely appealing about growing your own produce. Whether it’s the warmth and sweet flavor of a tomato just picked off the vine or a tree that produces fruit for homemade pies, relishing the benefits of growing your own food is innately human. But as most gardeners know, the idea of growing a bounty for the dinner table is sometimes easier said than done. So it’s smart to go into your visions of a backyard harvest with a clear head and lots of expert guidance—but you can also get a helping hand from companion plants, nearby plants that work to complement each other.

If blueberries are part of your garden plans, you'll want to consider the right blueberry companion plants that will help ward off pests, retain soil moisture, and offer many other benefits. Ahead, we spoke with experts to weigh in with their recommendations for the best blueberry companion plants.

Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed’s From Seed to Spoon app
Linda Vater, plant expert for the Southern Living Plant Collection

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Thyme

Thyme is wonderfully fragrant—and it's that strong fragrance that naturally repels pests that might feed on blueberries. Plant thyme near your blueberries and take care to give it fertilizer in both spring and fall for optimal growth, says Carrie Spoonemore, co-founder of the Seed to Spoon app.

Zone: 5 to 9
Mature size: 6 to 12 feet high x 12 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, sandy loam soil; weekly watering

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Strawberries

Other types of berries can be ideal companions for blueberry plants. A great example is strawberry plants because of their "non-compete" status, says Spoonemore. The strawberry’s shallow root system does not intrude on or impact blueberry bush growth. Both blueberries and strawberries also share a love of acidic soil and full sun, and require frequent watering, making them ideal companions.

Zone: 4 to 9
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches high x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, slightly acidic soil; weekly watering with more watering in hot and dry weather

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Rhubarb

A lover of acidic soil, rhubarb can thrive alongside blueberries, says Spoonemore. Just make sure you don’t plant rhubarb too close to blueberry bushes—both of these plants require adequate room to grow.

Zone: 3 to 8
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet high x 3 to 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; rich, well-drained soil; maintain consistently moist soil

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Spinach

An ideal blueberry plant match, spinach can grow in partial shade and, when grown underneath blueberry bushes, can help gardeners maximize their planting space while minimizing blueberry water loss, says Spoonemore,

Zone: 2 to 9
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches high x 6 to 12 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; rich, well-drained soil; keep soil consistently moist

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Basil

Spoonemore recommends this culinary herb as an ideal blueberry companion. For one thing, its bushy growth can help shade blueberries at their base, which helps the blueberry bush retain moisture. Basil is also a light feeder and won't compete with blueberries for essential nutrients. Like thyme, its strong scent can also repel many pests.

Zone: 10 to 11
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil and light and consistent watering

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Azalea

Azalea makes a great companion plant for blueberries, says Linda Vater, plant expert for Southern Living Plant Collection. It features pretty white blossoms, deep green foliage, and cold resistance. And like blueberries, azaleas thrive in acidic soil and plenty of sun. Azalea blossoms are also appealing to the pollinators they attract, which will also benefit your blueberries as well.

Zone: 6 to 10
Mature size: 4.5 feet high x 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Full to part sun; slightly acidic soil; medium water; optimal flowering in daytime temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees

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Parsley

This aromatic herb pairs nicely with blueberries in a kitchen garden, says Spoonemore. Parsley does very well in tight spaces and will help repel insects, a decided benefit for any of their blueberry companions.

Zone: 4 to 9
Mature size: 12 to 24 inches tall x 12 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil; water regularly and maintain constant moisture level

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Sage

A wonderful addition to your culinary garden, sage is also ripe for blueberry companionship, says Spoonemore. With stunning purple flowers, sage attracts pollinators to the garden and offers natural pest control.

Zone: 4 to 8
Mature size: 1 to 2 feet high x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, sandy or loamy soil; weekly watering

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Chives

Another edible companion plant, Spoonemore recommends chives as a blueberry plant neighbor. Their appeal is twofold—chives attract both pollinators and beneficial insects and keep away other pests like destructive Japanese beetles and aphids.

Zone: 3 to 9
Mature size: 12 to 18 inches high x 12 to 18 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil; moderate and consistent watering

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Marigold

Marigolds make great companions for myriad plants because their scent repels many pests, including those that prey upon blueberries. Spoonemore recommends using an all-purpose fertilizer when planting marigolds to keep them healthy and thriving.

Zone: 2 to 11 (annuals)
Mature size: 6 inches to 4 feet high x 6 to 24 inches wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained soil; consistent moisture

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Elderberry

Along with lingonberries and cranberries, elderberries prefer acidic soil and plenty of water, making them natural blueberry companions, says Spoonemore. They are also not particularly prone to pests or disease and can attract beneficial pollinators.

Zone: 3 to 9
Mature size: 5 to 12 feet high x 6 to 12 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil; regular watering, keep moist

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Other Blueberry Varieties

Bless your heart blueberry plant — Credit:
Getty Images

Don't restrict yourself to only one cultivar of blueberries, says Vater. For example, she recommends planting DownHome Harvest blueberry varieties together—like I Declare, Take the Cake, Hello Darlin’, Heaven’s Sake, and Bless Your Heart. Planting different blueberry varieties will yield more and bigger blueberries all around.

Zones: 7 to 9
Mature size: 4 to 5 feet high x 3 to 4 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun; well-drained, slightly acidic soil and medium water

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Lupine

Lupine makes an excellent companion plant for blueberries because it naturally adds nitrogen to the soil. Lupines also add vibrant color to the garden, and their tall flower spikes help attract bees and other pollinators.

Zone: 3 to 8
Mature size: 2 feet tall x 1 to 2 feet wide
Care requirements: Full sun to part shade; well-drained, slightly acidic soil

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Bee Balm

Another plant that encourages pollinators near your blueberries is bee balm. Bee balm's colorful blooms attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, all of which help boost blueberry production. Like blueberries, bee balm does well in full sun and slightly acidic soil.