Companion Planting Guide for Fruit Trees

Good companions

• Comfrey — Deep roots mine nutrients from subsoil. Leaves make excellent mulch and liquid fertiliser. Plant 1m away to avoid root competition.
• Nasturtium — Repels aphids and whitefly. Edible flowers and leaves. Self-sows readily as a living groundcover.
• Lavender — Attracts beneficial insects including bees. Deters some pests. Suits the same Mediterranean climate as citrus.
• Borage — Attracts bees and predatory wasps. Said to improve citrus flavour. Easy to grow from seed.

Avoid nearby

Pollination

Most citrus is self-fertile. A single tree will fruit. Cross-pollination from multiple varieties improves yield. Mandarins and tangelos benefit most from a pollinator partner.

Good companions

• Turmeric — Grown as a companion, turmeric suppresses weeds and the rhizomes are harvested separately. Suits the same tropical conditions.
• Vetiver grass — Deep-rooted grass that prevents erosion on slopes, doesn't compete heavily with tree roots, tolerates the same heat.
• Sweet potato — Low groundcover that suppresses weeds around young mangoes. Edible and easy to remove when no longer needed.
• Lemongrass — Repels some insects, tolerates tropical heat and humidity. Good border plant around mango groves.
• Papaya — Fast-growing companion that provides temporary shade for young mangoes while establishing. Harvest within 2 years.

Avoid nearby

Pollination

Most mango varieties are not fully self-fertile. Two trees of different varieties significantly improve yield. Bowen (Kensington Pride) is more self-fertile than most. Honey Golds and B90 produce better with a cross-pollinator nearby. Bees are the primary pollinator.

Good companions

• Comfrey — Excellent nutrient accumulator. Mines potassium, calcium, and phosphorus from deep soil layers. Mulch leaves around the drip line.
• Passionfruit (on a fence) — Vertical grower that doesn't compete at root level. Provides additional fruit from a small footprint.
• Citrus — Compatible root systems, similar water and fertility needs. Plant at least 5m apart at maturity.
• Herbs (basil, chives, parsley) — Aromatic herbs near avocado deter some pests and attract pollinators without competing for water.
• Banana (short-term) — Provides wind protection and humidity for young avocados in hot climates. Remove as avocado matures.

Avoid nearby

Pollination

Avocados have an unusual flowering pattern (Type A vs Type B). Type A flowers open as female in the morning and male in the afternoon; Type B flowers open as female in the afternoon and male the next morning. Planting one A and one B variety dramatically improves set. Common pairings: Hass (A) + Shepard (B) or Hass (A) + Fuerte (B).

Good companions

• Rue — Traditional companion for figs. Said to deter some pest insects. Has strong scent.
• Marigold — Deters nematodes in the soil, which can stress fig roots. French marigolds are most effective.
• Comfrey — Mines nutrients for the hungry fig. Tolerates partial shade under the canopy.
• Strawberry — Low groundcover that thrives in the dappled shade under figs in warm climates. Edible bonus.

Avoid nearby

Pollination

Most commercial fig varieties grown in Australia (Brown Turkey, Black Genoa, White Adriatic) are parthenocarpic — they set fruit without pollination. No companion required for fruit set. The Smyrna fig (traditional dried fig) requires a specific wasp (Blastophaga psenes) not present in Australia — grow the self-fertile types instead.

Good companions

• Garlic and chives — Repel borers, curl leaf, and aphids. Plant densely around the drip line. Harvest bulbs annually.
• Comfrey — Provides potassium critical for fruit quality. Mulch leaves around trees 3-4 times per year.
• Yarrow — Attracts beneficial insects including hoverflies that predate aphids. Hardy and drought-tolerant.
• Borage — Attracts bees at bloom time, which is critical for stone fruit pollination. Plant nearby in flower by spring.
• Tansy — Historically used to repel flying insects. Use with caution — toxic to some animals, and spreads readily.

Avoid nearby

Pollination

Most peaches and nectarines are self-fertile. Plums, cherries, and apricots often need cross-pollinators. European plums are mostly self-fertile; Japanese plums need a cross-pollinator. Sweet cherries almost always need two different varieties. Check variety details before purchasing.

Good companions

• Chives and garlic — Apple scab and codling moth deterrent. Allium roots release sulfur compounds into soil.
• Foxglove — Traditionally grown under apple trees. Provides shelter for beneficial ground beetles.
• Nasturtium — Groundcover that attracts aphids away from trees (trap crop). Also attracts hoverflies.
• Phacelia — Excellent bee plant. Flowers in spring just as apples and pears bloom. Sow in autumn for spring flowers.
• Clover (as groundcover) — Fixes nitrogen, feeds the orchard floor. Low-growing varieties like white clover suit the understory.

Avoid nearby

Pollination

Most apples and pears require cross-pollination. You need two different varieties that bloom at the same time. Crabapple trees are excellent universal pollinators for apples. For pears, Williams and Beurre Bosc are often used together. Check pollinators charts when buying.

Good companions

• Ginger and turmeric — Thrive in the same humid, warm conditions. Groundlevel plants that don't shade trees. Edible rhizomes as bonus harvest.
• Pawpaw (papaya) — Fast-growing nurse plant for young tropical trees. Provides humidity and breaks strong winds while permanent trees establish.
• Heliconia — Provides windbreak and habitat for beneficial insects in tropical gardens. Controlled spread keeps it manageable.
• Sweet potato — Edible groundcover that suits tropical conditions. Suppresses weeds and retains soil moisture.

Avoid nearby

Pollination

Lychee and longan are bee-pollinated. Dragon fruit flowers open only at night and are pollinated by moths and bats. Some dragon fruit varieties are self-fertile; others require two different varieties. Bananas do not require pollination — they fruit parthenocarpically.