10 Best Companion Plants for Mums This Fall, According to Gardening Pros

Mix and match flowers and veggies this fall for pairings that are both aesthetically pleasing and mutually beneficial. “Tomatoes benefit from the pest deterring properties of mums. They have similar soil and sun requirements, so they make great companions,” says Chastain.

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Marigolds and mums make for a visually appealing pair. “Both repel similar pests which make them great for porches. Their blooms will pop at the same time and they look beautiful in combination. Mums are taller than marigolds, so you can put the mums right behind them for a cool layered look,” says Chastain.

Another veggie that benefits from nearby mums? Squash. “Squash love being near mums because mums deter squash bugs. Choose upright mums to plant,” says Chastain.

Ornamental grasses like Panicum or Chasmanthium latifolium create a natural barrier when planted near mums. “They provide the all-important clouds between the mums—and soften any feeling of formality,” says Sarah Raven, author of the forthcoming A Year of Cut Flowers.

Create a fuller look in your fall garden by pairing mums with pansies. “Pansies thrive near mums in the fall. Both flowers can even tolerate a light frost. The pansies will fill in some of the gaps around the mums and make your beds look lush and full,” says Chastain.

Cauliflower and other plants in the Brassicaceae family—think broccoli, kale, and cabbage—like living alongside mums as they help deter cabbage worms.

Mix in salvias for more vertical height in your garden this fall. “They are brilliantly late and long-flowering to coincide with the mums. Go for a whopper such as Amistad or more compact varieties to tuck into the mums skirts like Cero Potosi,” says Raven.

Another colorful addition, violas work similarly to pansies when planted near mums. “They’ll fill in those gaps as they trail and spread. You can also plant violas and mums in a container,” says Chastain.

Similar to tomatoes, peppers like to live alongside mums for their pest-deterring qualities. Plus, mums actually attract insects that are beneficial to peppers, making it a win-win.

Mums and heleniums share similar growing conditions, making them a great garden duo. “I love to grow and pick mums with Heleniums—given the Chelsea chop—to ensure later flowering. Go for a rusty color like the stellar, traditional Moorhead Beauty,” says Raven.