Kale Companion Plants
Kale is a cool-season member of the cabbage family, so companion planting usually aims to confuse or draw away the pests that target brassicas, such as aphids and cabbage worms. Pairing kale with strongly scented herbs and alliums, low-growing greens, and flowers that pull in pollinators and beneficial insects can help the whole bed stay balanced. Keep in mind that companion planting is a traditional practice and results vary with your climate, soil, and pest pressure.
Good companions for Kale
| Plant | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Onions, garlic, and chives | Their strong scent is thought to mask kale and discourage aphids and other brassica pests. |
| Dill | Its flowers attract beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and ladybugs that feed on aphids. |
| Nasturtium | Often used as a trap crop that lures aphids away from kale while drawing in pollinators. |
| Bush beans | As a legume it helps enrich the soil with nitrogen and stays low so it does not shade the kale. |
| Beets | Their deeper roots use a different layer of soil, so the two crops compete very little for space. |
| Lettuce and spinach | These shallow, quick greens fill open ground and share kale's cool-season timing without crowding it. |
| Marigold | A traditional favorite that brings in pollinators and beneficial insects to the bed. |
| Cilantro | When allowed to flower it draws hoverflies and other helpers that prey on soft-bodied pests. |
Keep Kale away from
| Plant | Why to separate them |
|---|---|
| Other brassicas like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower | They share the same pests and diseases, so grouping them can concentrate problems and competition. |
| Tomatoes | Both are heavy feeders that compete for the same nutrients, and their needs pull in different directions. |
| Strawberries | Traditional guidance holds that they can attract shared pests and compete for space near brassicas. |
| Pole beans | Some gardeners find tall climbing beans and brassicas do not pair well and can shade the kale. |
| Fennel | It is known to inhibit the growth of many nearby vegetables and is best kept in its own spot. |
Tips
Tuck aromatic herbs and a few flowering plants among your kale rather than in a single block, so their scent and the beneficial insects they attract are spread through the bed. Rotate kale and its brassica relatives to a new spot each year to avoid building up soil-borne pests and diseases. Since companion planting outcomes vary, treat these pairings as a starting point and keep notes on what works in your own garden.
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Companion planting is a traditional practice; results vary with your climate, soil, and garden. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.