Tradition
Good
avoidgood
2 chart entries: 2 recommend, 0 advise against.
0 cited, 2 uncited.
Oregano
Origanum vulgare
Lamiaceae
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
LamiaceaeCan you plant oregano and basil together?
Charts say yes. Nobody has tested oregano with basil, as far as we could find. Both are in the Lamiaceae family, so they share pests and diseases.
Why we can't give a firm answer
Garden charts recommend it. 2 garden chart entries recommend growing them together. None of them cites a source. Charts pass on gardening tradition; they are not tests.
List of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)Same family, shared pests. Basil and oregano are both in the Lamiaceae family, so the same pests and diseases can move from one to the other.
Crop Rotation in the Vegetable Garden (Steil · 2025 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden)
What to plant with oregano and basil
Good neighbours of both, best tested first.
What to keep away from oregano and basil
ThymeWith basil: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
The evidence in detail
For readers who want to dig in: every chart entry, study and yield trial behind the answer above, with the numbers.
Tradition, research and yield trials
Same family, shared pests and diseases. Both in Lamiaceae: often susceptible to the same diseases and insects. Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden
Research
No papers found on this pair.
Yield trial
No intercropping yield trial.
Untested folklore
What happens above and below ground
Each animation illustrates a mechanism a study reported for this pair. Pick a card to focus on it.
Everything at once.
Companion plants for both oregano and basil
Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.
| Plant | With oregano | With basil |
|---|---|---|
 Tomato | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for oregano and tomatoes | Helpful plant chemistry, fewer pests and better soil and nutrient uptake7% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 6 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for basil and tomatoes |
 Pepper | No trial foundNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for oregano and peppers | Fewer pests and draws in pest-eating insectsMixed results on harvestField trial, 6 studies. Charts: recommend.Evidence for basil and peppers |
Harvest from the same space compares a bed with both crops against the same area split into single-crop beds, counting the harvest of both crops (the land equivalent ratio in yield trials).
The evidence, with sources
- GoodBasil helps OreganoBasil: helps oreganoList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
- GoodBasil helps OreganoOregano: helped by BasilList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
- Both in Lamiaceae: often susceptible to the same diseases and insectsCrop Rotation in the Vegetable Garden (Steil · 2025 · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Yard and Garden)
All neighbours of oregano and of basil, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.
Have you grown oregano and basil together?
Tell other gardeners what happened: spacing, pests, harvest, or ask a question. Reader notes are not checked by us and do not change the verdicts on this page.