Companion planting is a term that describes grouping plants together that thrive alongside one another. While companion planting refers to plants that excel when grown close to one another, it is also important to note that some plant pairs should not grow next to each other and will compete for nutrients or stunt one another’s growth. However, while there is not much scientific evidence supporting companion planting couplings, this knowledge is more anecdotal and comes from Indigenous land ways and stewardship.

The “Three Sisters” is our first modern-day reference for companion planting, and it consists of planting beans, corn, and squash together. The corn provides a natural trellis for the beans, and in return, the beans offer high amounts of nitrogen in the soil for the squash and corn to feed off of. Another benefit of companion planting is that you have different root systems throughout the garden, which can help with soil compaction and nutrient release and uptake. Regarding zinnias, their benefit above ground helps increase yields because the vibrant flowers attract all kinds of pollinators, like the endangered monarch butterfly.

Source: housedigest.com