Companion planting is one of the easiest ways to help your garden thrive. When you grow the right plants together, you not only get higher yields but also protect crops from pests, enrich the soil, and attract pollinators.
Corn, being a tall and sun-loving plant, does especially well with certain herbs, flowers, and vegetables around it. In this guide, you’ll discover 12 of the best corn companion plants.
These plants can support growth, deter harmful insects, and even add color and fragrance to your garden. Many of them are easy to grow, making them perfect for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
With the right combinations, your corn patch will look healthier, taste better, and reward you with a plentiful harvest.
#1 Dill
Dill is a natural magnet for helpful insects like hoverflies, wasps, honeybees, and butterflies. It also works as a pest deterrent by keeping aphids, squash bugs, and cabbage loopers away.
Plant dill near your corn and let it flower to draw in beneficial pollinators. Be sure to give it well-drained soil and enough sun. Its feathery leaves make a lovely contrast against tall corn stalks.
#2 Marigolds
Marigolds are famous for their bright blooms and strong pest-repelling abilities. They can help keep nematodes and aphids from damaging your corn. At the same time, marigolds attract predatory insects that feed on harmful bugs.
Plant them around the borders of your corn patch for a colorful and protective edge. Regular deadheading keeps them blooming all season.
#3 Winter Squashes
Winter squashes, with their broad leaves, create a living mulch under corn. Their sprawling vines shade the soil, conserve moisture, and suppress weeds. To get the best results, plant corn first and allow it to grow tall before adding squash.
This way, both plants can develop without competing too much for light. Together, they mimic the classic “Three Sisters” method of gardening.
#4 Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a gardener’s secret weapon against pests. Their peppery-scented leaves and flowers lure aphids, beetles, and weevils away from your main crops.
When planted at the base of corn, they thrive in dappled sunlight and provide a cascade of edible blossoms. You can use their colorful flowers in salads while they work as a natural trap crop.
#5 Pole Beans
Pole beans and corn are a time-tested pair. Beans climb corn stalks as natural supports, while also enriching the soil with nitrogen. This reduces the need for extra fertilizer.
For success, plant beans after your corn has grown tall enough to provide support. The two will grow in harmony, improving the productivity of your garden.
#6 Mint
Wild mint often grows naturally in cornfields, which makes it an excellent companion. Its strong fragrance repels pests while attracting pollinators.
To avoid mint spreading uncontrollably, plant it in containers and place them near your corn rows. You’ll enjoy the fresh scent and have a handy herb for tea and cooking.
#7 Cucumber
Cucumbers grow well alongside corn because their shallow roots won’t disturb the tall stalks. Their vines shade the soil, keeping it cool and moist through hot summer days.
Plant them at the base of your corn and provide a little mulch for extra moisture retention. With this pairing, you’ll get crisp cucumbers and healthy corn in the same bed.
#8 Hyssop
Hyssop is a fragrant herb that helps protect corn from deer and flea beetles. Its flowers also draw in bees and other pollinators, supporting your garden’s ecosystem.
Plant hyssop along the edges of your corn patch as a natural border. Once established, it requires little care and adds both beauty and protection.
#9 Borage
Borage is a stunning companion plant with star-shaped blue flowers. It repels tomato hornworms and cabbage worms, pests that can harm nearby crops.
At the same time, it attracts bees and wasps, making it a friend to your corn. Sow borage in sunny spots near your corn and enjoy its edible blooms in salads or as a garnish.
#10 Horehound
Horehound may not be as popular as other herbs, but it’s highly valuable in companion planting. Its flowers attract predatory wasps and flies that prey on garden pests.
Plant it near corn rows to help reduce insect problems naturally. As a bonus, horehound can also be used in traditional herbal remedies and teas.
#11 Melons
Melons, like cucumbers, act as living groundcover beneath corn. Their vines spread across the soil, keeping weeds down and moisture in. In return, corn provides light shade that benefits melon growth in hotter climates.
Be sure to give them space to sprawl and enough water for fruiting. Together, they create a productive and space-saving pairing.