Are you looking for companion plants to grow with your blueberry plants? Well, you have come to the right place. With the benefits of companion planting, you can maximize your Blueberry’s growth and health. But which plants to grow with blueberries?
That’s exactly what we are going to deliver in this article. We will have a brief look at which plants you can grow as a companion to Blueberry and which one’s to avoid. So let’s begin! But first, let’s give you a brief information about why you need companion plants to grow along with your blueberry.
Why Use Blueberry Companion Plants?
Blueberry companion plants are plants that are grown alongside blueberry bushes for the purpose of improving their growth, health, and productivity.
Planting blueberry companion plants can serve you the following benefits:
1. Improved Soil Health
Blueberry bushes thrive on acidic soil. And suppose you plant companion plants that thrive on the same soil. In that case, you can create a healthier soil environment that is more conducive to blueberry growth and development. It will also improve soil structure and drainage, which is important for preventing root rot and other soil-borne diseases.
2. Biodiversity
So when you plant a variety of companion plants alongside blueberry bushes, it can increase the biodiversity of your garden. It will give your garden a natural look and offer you a balanced ecosystem that is less vulnerable to pest outbreaks and other issues.
3. Pest Control
Another important benefit you get with companion planting is it repels pests and attracts all the beneficial insects that can control them. You can plant them alongside blueberry bushes, which will reduce the need for pesticides and other chemical treatments.
4. Improved Aesthetics
When you plant a variety of companion plants alongside blueberry bushes, it will increase the beauty and also add visual interest to your garden. It will make your garden look more attractive and vibrant if you plant flowers that bloom in spring.
In short, if you select compatible plants and plant them strategically, you can create a more healthy and more beautiful environment for your blueberry bushes to thrive.
Best Companion Plants For Blueberry
We have got for you all the top companion plants that you can grow alongside Blueberry bushes. We have also enlisted the benefits which you will get by planting them. Let’s have a quick look at them.
1. Azaleas
First on our list is Azaleas which are among the best companion plants for Blueberries. The ominous reason behind this is that both of them have similar soil and light requirements.
Along with this, they both are also members of the Ericaceae family, which means they thrive in acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5. These plants also offer much-required shade for blueberries during hot summers. It also adds a beautiful burst of color in the spring, and its shallow roots will also help to improve the soil structure and drainage, which is required for blueberry bushes.
2. Rhododendrons
Next is Rhododendrons which is another member of the Ericaceae family. It makes an excellent companion with blueberries. It has similar soil and light requirements as that of Blueberry and can help in improving soil acidity, structure, and drainage. Moreover, it will also act in offering shade for blueberry bushes during hot summers and prevent loss of moisture content.
The flowers of both Azaleas and Rhododendrons bloom at the same time as blueberries, which will give your garden a more aesthetic look.
3. Hostas
Hostas are another shade-loving plant that makes an excellent companion for blueberries. This plant has shallow roots and helps in improving soil structure and drainage. Also, its large leaves provide shade and moisture retention benefits. Hostas are also known for their ability to attract beneficial insects, such as bees and ladybugs. It will help in pollinating blueberry bushes and also control the pest.
4. Mint
This fragrant herb grows well alongside blueberries. Mints are known to repel pests, such as spider mites and aphids. Plus, it has shallow roots that help in improving the soil structure and drainage.
Plus, it also attracts beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, which help to pollinate blueberry bushes. But make sure you plant mint in a container, as it can become invasive and overtake other plants in the garden.
5. Ferns
You can plant Ferns alongside Blueberries, as they are an excellent companion to each other. Ferns thrive in acidic soil and offer natural shade to blueberries. It will also prevent erosion and improve soil structure, which is important for blueberry bushes.
Most importantly, Ferns are low-maintenance and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors. They will also make your garden look more attractive.
6. Hydrangea
Next on our list of Best Companion plants for Blueberries is Hydrangea, which is a flowering shrub known to add rich green foliage and also some cherry blooms in your garden. These plants tend to grow taller than blueberries and start to flower after the blueberry blossoms have faded. Out of the six types of Hydrangea, you can pick anyone.
7. Dill
Another companion plant to grow with Blueberry is Dill. One of the major benefits of this plant is that it is drought tolerant, so it doesn’t steal all the water from blueberries. It relishes soil pH between 5.0 to 6.5. Dill also attracts beneficial insects such as ladybugs and predator insects. It also repels pests like spider mites and cabbage loopers.
8. Clover
Clover is known to be a nitrogen-fixing plant and, therefore, an excellent companion for blueberries. It will improve the fertility of the soil by converting atmospheric nitrogen. It also has deep roots that improve the soil structure and drainage.
Clover also attracts beneficial insects like butterflies and bees. But make sure you plant cover in moderation, as it can become invasive, and start competing with blueberry bushes for nutrients and water.
9. Strawberries
A fruit plant that you can plant alongside Blueberry is the Strawberry. Both of them have near the acidic pH requirement. You can plant strawberries as a low-growing crop. This plant offers benefits like increased pollination, along with excellent ground cover for the blueberries.
It will also allow more blueberry flowers to fertilize, giving you a greater yield. You can easily plant strawberries between blueberry bushes, along pathways, or on the edge of the blueberry garden.
10. Borage
Borage is known to attract pollinators, and you can easily plant it alongside blueberries. It is also known to aid the taste of blueberries. Along with this, Borage will also add a trace of minerals into the soil through which the Blueberries plants can benefit.
Another major advantage you get with Borage is that it is an annual that self-feeds – no need to replant it every season. But this also goes against it as it can self-plant itself in areas where you don’t want. But that’s not a big issue, as you can remove any small plants if you don’t want them.
11. Lilacs
Lilacs are among the major companion plants grown with blueberries. This flowering plant attracts pollinators like butterflies and bees, which are required by the blueberry plant. Plus, they also offer shade. They are also easy to grow.
Though Blueberries require sunlight, they can be susceptible to heat stress during the hottest days of summer. But if you plant Lilac nearby, you can keep the blueberry plant cool and prevent them from any kind of heat damage.
Bad Companion Plants For Blueberries
While we have discussed the best companion plants to plant with blueberries, it’s time to have a look at the ones which you should avoid planting. This list is important as, at times, many people think that planting anything goes, but it is certainly a misconception that needs to be avoided at any cost.
1. Nightshades
This is a major group of plants that needs to be avoided by planting near your blueberry bushes. This list includes:
The simple reason why you should avoid them is that these nightshades are susceptible to many of the same pests and diseases as blueberries, like nematodes and verticillium wilt. So if you plant them near each other, it can increase the risk of these problems spreading all over the garden.
2. Brassicas
Another group of plants to avoid planting near your blueberries is brassicas. It includes:
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
These groups of plants are known to attract cabbage worms and other pests, which can then spread to your blueberry bushes. Along with this, brassicas also require lots of nitrogen, which can result in competing with blueberries for nutrients in the soil.
3. Legumes
Legumes are known to prefer a soil pH of up to 6.8, which simply does not get when we talk about companionship with blueberries. Though some legumes grow in closely acidic soil, they will overtake blueberries, giving you very less yield. A few legumes in this list are:
- Alfalfa
- Peanuts
- Beans
- Peas
- Soybeans
- Chickpeas
Conclusion
So to add to the final lines, we recommend you choose the right companion plants for your blueberries which can make all the difference in their growth and health. If you plant the right companions, you can improve soil quality, deter pests, and even enhance the flavor of your blueberries.
You can harness the benefits of the nitrogen-fixing power of legumes to the beneficial insect-attracting properties offered by companion plants.
So why not experiment with a few different combinations and see what works best for you? With a little bit of trial and error, you can create a thriving garden ecosystem that not only produces delicious blueberries but also supports a diverse range of plants. Or you can choose any from our list of Best Blueberry Companion Plants.
Happy planting!