The Beautiful Flower That Makes The Perfect Companion For Tomatoes

When deciding which companion plants to put next to your tomatoes, the options can seem overwhelming — French marigolds help keep nematodes at bay, while trap crops such as nasturtium draw damaging aphids away from your plants. But there's another flower to consider that doesn't get as much hype as it should: the fragrant and edible calendula (Calendula officinalis).

Calendula, a daisy-like member of the Asteraceae family, is an annual flower native to Mediterranean regions in Europe. Medics and tea makers have cultivated the plant for centuries, using its fragrant petals to make tinctures, medicines, and dyes. The delicate edible flowers – which have a mild, peppery flavor — are sometimes added to fresh salads.

But calendula's true superpower is paradoxical: it both repels pests and attracts beneficial insects at just the right time. Plus, its yellow and orange flowers add a bright pop of color that looks great beside your tomatoes. Despite its status as an annual, this vigorous self-seeder may return to your garden year after year.

Practiced for centuries in gardens, both residential and commercial, companion planting uses creative combinations to benefit harvests. Some companion plants repel damaging insects, while others increase soil nutrition. Tomato growers have no shortage of companion plant options. But if you're looking for something that also has a few of its own perks, consider calendula.

Calendula's benefits are two-fold. First, the plant repels insects like whiteflies by emitting the chemical limonene, similar to marigolds. Although it's not a true marigold, calendula is commonly referred to as pot marigold and holds many of the same characteristics. It also repels tomato hornworms, a pest that can devastate tomato plants.

Second, and perhaps most confusingly, calendula is valuable because it also attracts beneficial insects. And not just bees and butterflies, although they will undoubtedly love your calendula, too. The flowers attract predatory insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, and wasps, which can help control tomato hornworm and aphid populations.

Luckily, calendula is fairly easy to grow. Reaching about 1 to 2 feet tall, this compact, mounding annual grows quickly and flowers profusely, making it a great addition to any tea, pollinator, or vegetable garden. Its bright orange or yellow flowers, usually only a few inches tall, continue blooming into fall, and the plant responds well to frequent deadheading.

Calendula prefers full sun environments, but will tolerate partial shade. It's not picky about soil type or acidity, and its versatility has made it a popular addition to gardens across the country. Although it's not winter-hardy, its seeds are often spread by wind and birds, so it's common to see new shoots pop up far from your plant's original location.

Calendula's uses and benefits don't stop in the garden. Its edible flowers can be added to soups, stews, and salads or placed in cut flower arrangements. Its vivid petals can be dried and used to make tea or mixed to create yellow dye. Its fragrance, along with its appeal to pollinators, makes calendula a rewarding plant for gardeners and their tomatoes.