Tradition
Good
avoidgood
2 chart entries: 2 recommend, 0 advise against.
0 cited, 2 uncited.
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Lamiaceae
Pepper
Capsicum annuum
SolanaceaeCan you plant basil and peppers together?
Yes. Basil and peppers grow well together. Basil kept pests off peppers in 3 studies, and basil drew in insects that eat the pests of peppers in a field trial.
Why basil and peppers work together
Fewer pests. In 3 studies, basil kept pests off peppers.
How Environmental Fluctuations Affect Volatile Emissions from Basil and French Marigold and their Consequences on the Fecundity of the Green Peach Aphid on Pepper Plants. (Gautier H · 2025 · Journal of chemical ecology)and 2 more sourcesDraws in pest-eating insects. In a field trial, basil drew in insects that eat the pests of peppers.
Parasitoids diversity in organic Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum) associated with Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Marigold (Tagetes erecta ). (Souza IL · 2019 · Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia)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)Mixed results on harvest. In a field trial, results on harvest were mixed.
No clear effect on pests. In a greenhouse or pot trial, growing them together made no clear difference to pests.
Influence of neighbouring companion plants on the performance of aphid populations on sweet pepper plants under greenhouse conditions (Ben Issa R · 2017 · Agricultural and Forest Entomology)
What to plant with basil and peppers
Good neighbours of both, best tested first.
Sweet cornWith basil: Bigger combined harvestWith peppers: 44% more harvest
EggplantWith basil: Draws in pest-eating insectsWith peppers: Recommended by garden charts, not tested
TurnipWith basil: Bigger combined harvestWith peppers: Fewer pests
OreganoRecommended by garden charts for both, not tested yet
What to keep away from basil and peppers
ThymeWith basil: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
KaleWith peppers: Garden charts advise against it, not tested
Brussels sproutsWith peppers: 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
Research
Good
avoidgood
6 papers found: 4 positive, 0 negative, 1 mixed, 1 no effect.
pest suppression x4natural enemiesyield / land use
auto-classified not reviewed by a person
Yield trial
No intercropping yield trial.
Good neighbours
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 basil and peppers
Plants that are good neighbours of each. Biggest harvest gain first; each cell links to the evidence for that pair.
| Plant | With basil | With peppers |
|---|---|---|
| Sweet corn | Bigger combined harvestField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for basil and corn | Lures pests away, better soil and nutrient uptake and less disease44% more harvest from the same spaceField trial, 5 studies. Charts: not listed.Evidence for peppers and corn |
| Eggplant | Draws in pest-eating insectsGreenhouse or pot trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for basil and eggplant | No trial foundSame family (Solanaceae): shares pests and diseasesNot tested. Charts: recommend.Evidence for peppers and eggplant |
| Turnip | Bigger combined harvestField trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for basil and turnips | Fewer pestsGreenhouse or pot trial, 1 study. Charts: not listed.Evidence for peppers and turnips |
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).
Recommended by garden charts for both, not tested yet
The evidence, with sources
- Goodpest suppressiongreenhouse / pot trialauto-classifiedBasil helps PepperHow Environmental Fluctuations Affect Volatile Emissions from Basil and French Marigold and their Consequences on the Fecundity of the Green Peach Aphid on Pepper Plants.How Environmental Fluctuations Affect Volatile Emissions from Basil and French Marigold and their Consequences on the Fecundity of the Green Peach Aphid on Pepper Plants. (Gautier H · 2025 · Journal of chemical ecology)Relevance 94% · effect confidence 92%
- Goodnatural enemiesfield trialauto-classifiedBasil helps PepperParasitoids diversity in organic Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum) associated with Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Marigold (Tagetes erecta ).Parasitoids diversity in organic Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum) associated with Basil (Ocimum basilicum) and Marigold (Tagetes erecta ). (Souza IL · 2019 · Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia)Relevance 98% · effect confidence 85%
- Goodpest suppressionfield trialauto-classifiedBasil helps PepperPepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) suppression on jalapeño pepper using non-host insect repellent plantsPepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) suppression on jalapeño pepper using non-host insect repellent plants (Adeleye VO · 2022 · Crop Protection)Relevance 95% · effect confidence 89%
Show 3 more
- Mixedyield / land usefield trialauto-classifiedExperimental dataset of the impact assessment of vegetable intercropping on agroeconomic performances, pests and beneficials, and soil resources.Experimental dataset of the impact assessment of vegetable intercropping on agroeconomic performances, pests and beneficials, and soil resources. (Perrin B · 2023 · Data in brief)Relevance 94% · effect confidence 9%
- No effectpest suppressiongreenhouse / pot trialauto-classifiedInfluence of neighbouring companion plants on the performance of aphid populations on sweet pepper plants under greenhouse conditionsInfluence of neighbouring companion plants on the performance of aphid populations on sweet pepper plants under greenhouse conditions (Ben Issa R · 2017 · Agricultural and Forest Entomology)Relevance 93% · effect confidence 76%
- Goodpest suppressionlab bioassayauto-classifiedBasil helps PepperWhich companion plants affect the performance of green peach aphid on host plants? Testing of 12 candidate plants under laboratory conditionsWhich companion plants affect the performance of green peach aphid on host plants? Testing of 12 candidate plants under laboratory conditions (Ben Issa R · 2016 · Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.)Relevance 89% · effect confidence 89%
- GoodBasil helps PepperPeppers: helped by basilList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
- GoodBasil helps PepperBasil: helps peppersList of companion plants (uncited entry) (Wikipedia)
All neighbours of basil and of pepper, or every pair at once in the companion planting chart.
Have you grown basil and peppers together?
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