You can use certain plants to lure desirable insects to your garden to help with biocontrol. Many of these workhorse plants are attractive to a wide number of beneficial insects beyond the ones featured below; together the insects they attract help keep pests from munching on your veggies.
Learn more about attracting beneficial insects in Jessica’s article
Companion Planting Is Not a Myth
Attracting plants
- Chamomile (Matricaria recutita, annual)
- Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus, annual)
- Goldenrod (Solidago spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9)
Spotlight beneficial insect: Ladybugs
Pests they control
- aphids (pictured)
- beetle larvae
- mealybugs
- scale
- spider mites
Attracting plants
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta and cvs., Zones 3–8)
- English daisy (Bellis perennis, Zones 4–8)
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare, Zones 4–8)
Spotlight beneficial insect: Syrphid flies
Pests they control
- aphids
- cabbageworms
- thrips
- leafhoppers (pictured)
- scales
- mealybugs
- caterpillars
Attracting plants
- Angelica (Angelica spp. and cvs., Zones 4–11)
- Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium, Zones 5–8)
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium, Zones 3–9)
Spotlight beneficial insect: Lacewings
Pests they control
- aphids
- beetle larvae
- caterpillars (pictured)
- corn earworms
- whiteflies
- spider mites
- various insect eggs
Attracting plants
- Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp. and cvs., Zones 3–9)
- Aster (Symphyotrichum spp. and cvs., Zones 4–8)
- Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum, annual)
Spotlight beneficial insect: Parasitic wasps
Pests they control
- aphids
- beetle larvae
- cabbageworms
- earworms
- cutworms
- caterpillars
- leaf miners
- mealybugs (pictured)
- budworms
- hornworms
- scales
- true bugs
Jessica Walliser is a horticulturist, award-winning author of seven garden books, and a cofounder of SavvyGardening.com. For more information on companion planting, see her book Plant Partners: Science-Based Companion Strategies for the Vegetable Garden.
Illustrations: Allison Mia Starcher
From Fine Gardening #208
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