Because your veggies deserve pretty neighbors, too.
Let’s be honest—when most people think “vegetable garden,” they picture rows of tomatoes, maybe some carrots, and a few rebellious zucchinis trying to take over the world. But a potager garden? That’s where the magic happens. It’s like the Parisian cousin of the backyard garden: practical, yes, but also elegant, a little wild, and full of charm.
At its core, a potager garden is a French-style kitchen garden where edible and ornamental plants are intentionally grown together in a visually stunning way. Think kale mingling with calendula, or purple basil posing next to zinnias. This isn’t just about growing food—it’s about creating a garden that feeds your belly and your soul.
Now, let’s talk flowers. Which florals are best to plant in your potager to make it not only productive, but jaw-droppingly beautiful?
1. Marigolds: The MVP of Companion Planting
Bright, easygoing, and totally low-maintenance, marigolds are basically the golden retrievers of the flower world. They don’t just look great—they repel pests like nematodes, aphids, and even certain beetles. Nestle them between your tomatoes or along the edge of your beds for both aesthetic and practical benefits.
Bonus: French marigolds are especially great for nematode control—French garden, French marigolds… see what we did there?
2. Nasturtiums: The Edible Show-Offs
Nasturtiums are drama queens in the best way. They sprawl, they bloom wildly, and their peppery leaves and flowers are edible—perfect for summer salads. They also attract aphids away from your veggies, acting as a decoy plant.
Train them to cascade over the sides of raised beds or let them tumble through the beans. Either way, they’ll steal the spotlight.
3. Calendula: The Herbaceous Healer
This sunny, daisy-like flower brings serious apothecary vibes to your garden. Calendula not only attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and ladybugs but also has soothing skin properties. Yep, it’s not just a pretty face—this one earns its keep.
Dry the petals to use in salves and teas, or just enjoy their cheerful glow sprinkled among your lettuces and leeks.
4. Cosmos: Whimsical and Wonderful
Tall, feathery, and flirty, cosmos add that cottagecore aesthetic to your garden that’ll have you whipping out your camera daily. They’re excellent for drawing pollinators, and their delicate structure pairs beautifully with the sturdy forms of cabbages or peppers.
Cosmos also self-seed generously—so once you plant them, they’ll be popping up in lovely places for years to come.
5. Zinnias: The Color Pop You Didn’t Know You Needed
Zinnias are basically confetti in flower form. Their bright colors attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and all manner of delightful garden visitors. They also grow fast, bloom all summer, and make great cut flowers.
Plant them in a line along your bean teepees or tuck them into corners that need a little jazzing up. They thrive in heat and love being admired.
6. Sweet Alyssum: The Low-Growing Border Queen
This teeny, cloud-like flower doesn’t get enough credit. Sweet alyssum hugs the ground, filling in spaces between your taller plants with soft white or lavender blooms. It smells faintly sweet and attracts all the good bugs—lacewings, parasitic wasps, bees.
Use it like nature’s mulch: plant it along pathways and bed edges to keep your layout tidy and enchanting.
7. Sunflowers: Go Big or Go Home
Want to make a statement? Sunflowers are your go-to. Besides being literal sunshine on a stalk, they can act as living trellises for climbing beans or cucumbers. They also attract pollinators like crazy and provide seeds for you and the birds.
Try branching sunflower varieties for a continuous bloom, or go classic with one huge head per plant for dramatic flair.
8. Lavender: The Aromatic Anchoring Plant
While technically a herb, lavender is often grown more for its fragrance and beauty. Its purple spikes add texture, scent, and a bit of structure to your beds. Bonus points for keeping moths, mosquitoes, and deer at bay.
Plant lavender along the sunny border or interspersed with your brassicas for that luxe Provence vibe.
Tips for Designing Your Floral-Foodie Layout:
- Think in layers: Tall sunflowers in the back, bushy zinnias or cosmos in the middle, low growers like alyssum up front.
- Mix textures and heights: Pair the frilly leaves of carrots with the upright blooms of calendula.
- Balance function and beauty: Choose florals that bring pollinators, deter pests, or are edible.
- Use repetition: A few recurring colors or flower types help visually tie everything together.
- Seasonal succession: Mix early bloomers (like pansies or violas) with mid- and late-season stars so your garden is always in bloom.
Final Thought: A Garden That Tells a Story
Designing a potager garden with florals isn’t just about making it Pinterest-worthy. It’s about creating a space that feels alive and abundant, where bees buzz and kids sneak cherry tomatoes off the vine. Your flowers are part of the narrative—they attract helpers, deter villains, and make your space sing.
So go ahead, plant that cosmos next to your cabbage. Let your marigolds mingle with your mustard greens. Build a garden that’s equal parts function and fairy tale.
Because food grown with flowers tastes better. Science hasn’t proven it yet, but we’re pretty sure it’s true.