Is there a reference table somewhere that states what herbs can (or cannot) be planted with other herbs in a herb garden?

I've found plenty of herb/plan companion guides, and herb/vegatable companion guides - what I'm after is a herb/herb companion guide.

Thanks,
Andrew
Victoria, Australia.

Basil should not be planted near rue as they inhibit each other's growth.

Chervil grows well with dill and coriander.

Chives and parsley grow better when planted together.

Dill and fennel like each other, but have a tendency to cross-fertilize.

Rosemary and sage grow well together.

Rue, as well as not being planted near basil, should also not be planted near sage.

Fennel should not be planted near caraway or coriander.

Linda

Some act in other ways to be good companions. For instance, Anise deters pests from Brassicas by camouflaging their odour and improves the vigour of plants grown nearby. It deters aphids, fleas, reduces cabbage worms.Coriander and anise seeds sown together will germinate more quickly. Borage accumulates silica and potassium, of great use when growing flowering and fruiting plants such as Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Pumpkin, Tansy, Tomatoes, Rose, Squash, Strawberries. Chillies help plants which are affected by root rot and other Fusarium diseases. French marigold kills harmful nematodes. Horehound improves the fruiting of tomatoes. Yarrow is a good companion plant for most plants because it provides a lot of nutrients for them, especially those will need to produce their essential oils (the highly perfumed plants like lavender and basil, for instance).

Yarrow is one of the so-called Physician Plants. Grown near a sick plant, it helps it to recover. Thyme is also a Physician Plant. So is marjoram/oregano.

Some plants will help prevent grass and weeds from growing nearby. One such is Arrowroot, another is comfrey. Comfrey also is an excellent companion palnt because it keeps soil rich and moist, accumulates calcium, phosphorus, silica, nitrogen, magnesium, potassium, and iron, acts as a trap for slugs and because the rotting leaves make good fertiliser.

I need to check this, but I think it's coriander which helps prevent fennel from seeding too much and becoming a weed, which it's otherwise likely to do. Fennel has the reputation for being the overall worst companion plant of all - it should be grown well away from other plants. It seems to inhibit the growth of many plants. Coriander (if such it be) is about the only plant which helps to control fennel.

There are definitely some scientific reasons for all these things - some answers are already provided. I have heard that elder is a bad companion plant because the roots produce some substance or other which kills off competition plants - and I have found it true that nothing much will grow near MY elder tree, or within several metres of it (wherever those roots have spread). The elder even kills off mint. The only thing I've found to grow with the elder is impatiens - and I don't particularly want those because they are such a weed!!

Ther'es an old saying 'plant fennel near your kennel.' It is good for keeping fleas away and the dried leaves can be put in the kennel itself. Medicinally its supposed to help with eyesight and particularly cataracts by making an eye bath with fennel seeds boiled in water and kept sterile. I use it in the kitchen when cooking fish - just put a sprig on top of the fish and it will absorb the smell and generally deororise cooking smells in general. It has so many uses its worth giving it some space, but I've actually grown it near my roses with no ill effects. Avoid putting it anywhere near beans or tomatoes though. Beans just do not flower near fennel.

Borage is fantastic for strawberries. I used to farm strawberries commercially ( 350,000 plants) and always found the better fruits were near to borage. I allowed the borage to seed and it gave a lot of value. The borage flowers are lovely and make an interesting addition to salad and the leaves are OK when young, steamed like other green veggies.

There is no really provable 'scientific' understanding of companion planting, it is mainly lore and word of mouth experience. I study and use the astrological 'doctrine of signatures' which makes loose sense in planting plants that are sympathetic or antipathetic but much of that is based on Medieval apothecaries reasoning when the doctors were also astrologers and pharmacies grew out of the ground.

An interesting book is the late Louise Riotta's " Roses Love Garlic" and "Planetary Planting" even for someone not versed in astrology her books are full of good gardening sense and general folk lore on companions.

Also try planting some on a full moon, and plant another set 2 weeks later and compare their growth. I wish I had room in my backyard to do experiments like that. One happy pumpkin plant would take up my entire veggie growing area!