Not Basil: The Summer-Blooming Herb That Pollinators Love & Gives You Thriving Pepper Plants

Basil can make a great companion plant, especially for peppers, but it's not your only option. Instead, there are several plants that can create an herb-filled pollinator garden and pull double-duty by helping your pepper plants thrive, including this summer-blooming herb: Oregano.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare) is a common culinary herb that blooms through the summer and fall with small tubular flowers in a variety of eye-catching colors. These flowers, along with adding a bit of visual appeal to your garden, also attract pollinators, which are essential for a healthy, thriving garden. Just keep in mind that, when oregano is allowed to bloom, its flavor can change. As a result, if you want to keep your pepper-friendly herb garden multi-functional, you may wish to only allow a portion of your oregano to bloom to preserve flavor for cooking. 

When it comes down to helping your pepper plants, oregano, when used as a companion plant for peppers, functions similar to basil. This means that although its flowers attract the pollinators needed for a fruitful garden, the fragrance of this plant's leaves often helps repel unwanted insects pests who would turn the fruits of your labor into a quick meal.

One of the reasons that oregano works so well as a companion plant for peppers is that these plants have similar care requirements. Of course, there are several different types of peppers, so it's important to brush up on your exact varieties before committing to oregano as your chosen companion plant. As a side note, oregano is also hardy in USDA growing zones 4 through 10, which means that it'll come back year after year in your garden for the right care, providing a perennial pepper companion plant.

Both oregano and bell peppers specifically benefit from full sun. Because of this, when choosing the right spot in your garden, ensure that neither plant is cast in the shade. Fortunately, oregano tends to be a low-growing plant, which means that you won't need to worry too much about these plants competing for sunlight in the garden. Along with providing the right sunlight, you also want to ensure that you give your oregano the proper soil and water it needs to thrive. Oregano is overall a hardy plant, and it holds up well to both drought and dry soil. Choosing a well-draining medium and maintaining consistent water without soggy or waterlogged conditions is often one of the best ways to help this plant thrive alongside your peppers.