Forest Gardening: The Ultimate Guide to Companion Planting with Native Plants

Imagine stepping into a lush, thriving garden where towering fruit trees provide dappled shade, berry-laden shrubs buzz with pollinators, and a vibrant carpet of herbs and wildflowers weaves between their roots. This isn't just any garden—it's a forest garden, a self-sustaining ecosystem inspired by nature itself that combines the wisdom of companion planting with the resilience of native species.

Unlike conventional gardens that demand constant watering, fertilizing, and pest control, a native plant forest garden works with nature rather than against it. By thoughtfully layering plants that naturally support each other and choosing species adapted to your local environment, you create a low-maintenance, highly productive landscape that grows more abundant and resilient with each passing season.

Why Combine Native Plants with Companion Planting?

When you marry companion planting principles with native plant selection, you create a powerful synergy that maximizes the benefits of both approaches:

The Power of Native Plants

Native plants have evolved over thousands of years to thrive in your local climate, making them naturally:

• Low-maintenance: Requiring less water, fertilizer, and pest control
• Climate-resilient: Better adapted to withstand local weather extremes
• Wildlife-friendly: Providing essential habitat and food for local pollinators and beneficial insects
• Soil-enriching: Many natives improve soil structure and fertility over time

The Magic of Companion Planting

Companion planting—the strategic pairing of plants that benefit each other—enhances your garden by:

• Deterring pests naturally: Certain plants repel specific insects that would damage their neighbors
• Attracting beneficial insects: Some plants bring in pollinators and predatory insects that keep pest populations in check
• Improving flavor and yields: Many plants actually grow better and produce more when paired with compatible companions
• Maximizing space: Strategic planting allows you to grow more in less space

By combining these approaches in a forest garden design, you create an ecosystem where each plant serves multiple functions: producing food, supporting wildlife, building soil health, and helping neighboring plants thrive.

The Seven Layers of a Native Forest Garden

A forest garden mimics the structure of a natural woodland, with plants organized into seven complementary layers. Each layer fulfills a unique role in the ecosystem:

1. Canopy Layer: Tall Fruit and Nut Trees

These largest trees form the backbone of your forest garden, providing shade, wind protection, and creating microclimates for smaller plants below.

Best Native Options:

• Oak (Quercus spp.): Supports hundreds of wildlife species while producing nutritious acorns
• American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana): Produces sweet fruits after frost and tolerates drought
• Hickory (Carya spp.): Offers high-protein nuts and adapts to various soil types
• Black Walnut (Juglans nigra): Yields valuable nuts (but requires careful placement due to allelopathy)

Companion Planting Tip: Underplant with nitrogen-fixing shrubs like New Jersey Tea to improve soil fertility around these heavy feeders.

2. Understory Layer: Smaller Fruit Trees

These trees thrive in the dappled light beneath the canopy, adding another productive layer to your garden.

Best Native Options:

• Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.): Produces blueberry-like fruits that attract birds and pollinators
• Pawpaw (Asimina triloba): America's largest native fruit with tropical flavor, perfect for shade
• Wild Plum (Prunus americana): Hardy, disease-resistant, and produces abundant spring flowers for pollinators
• Mulberry (Morus rubra): Fast-growing with bountiful berries that humans and wildlife both enjoy

Companion Planting Tip: Plant spring bulbs beneath these trees to utilize the space before the tree leafs out, and to add early-season pollinator support.

3. Shrub Layer: Berry Bushes and Woody Perennials

This diverse layer fills the space between trees, providing food, habitat, and additional ecosystem services.

Best Native Options:

• Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): Medicinal flowers and antioxidant-rich berries
• Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.): Nutritious berries and gorgeous fall color
• Hazelnut (Corylus americana): Protein-rich nuts that improve soil structure
• New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus): Nitrogen-fixing shrub that makes excellent tea

Companion Planting Tip: Interplant with garlic and alliums to deter rodents and other pests that might damage your berries.

4. Herbaceous Layer: Perennial Vegetables and Herbs

These non-woody plants fill the sunny spots and edges, providing culinary and medicinal harvests.

Best Native Options:

• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa): Aromatic herb that repels pests and attracts pollinators
• Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea): Medicinal powerhouse and pollinator favorite
• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.): Late-season nectar source for bees and butterflies
• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale): Dynamic accumulator that pulls nutrients from deep soil

Companion Planting Tip: Use these herbs strategically around fruit trees and shrubs to deter pests and attract pollinators when the trees are flowering.

5. Ground Cover Layer: Spreading Plants

These low-growing plants protect soil, suppress weeds, and maximize productive space.

Best Native Options:

• Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana): Edible berries and excellent soil stabilizer
• Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera): Beautiful flowers and dense weed suppression
• Violets (Viola spp.): Edible flowers and leaves, thrives in shade

Companion Planting Tip: Use as living mulch around trees and shrubs to retain moisture and prevent weed competition.

6. Root Layer: Underground Crops

These plants utilize the soil space beneath other plants, aerating compacted areas and providing edible harvests.

Best Native Options:

• Sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus): Edible tubers that break up heavy soil
• Chicory (Cichorium intybus): Deep taproots that mine minerals from subsoil
• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Nutrient accumulator with edible leaves and roots

Companion Planting Tip: Use these deep-rooted plants strategically to break up compacted soil before planting trees and shrubs.

7. Vine Layer: Climbing Plants

These plants utilize vertical space, growing up trees and structures to maximize your garden's productivity.

Best Native Options:

• Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta): Cold-hardy relative of commercial kiwi
• Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): Exotic flowers and edible fruit
• Hops (Humulus lupulus): Fast-growing with culinary and medicinal uses

Companion Planting Tip: Train vines on the north side of trees to prevent excessive shading, or use them to create living screens between garden rooms.

Creating Small Gardens Around Tree Bases

The area around tree trunks is often overlooked, but it offers a perfect microclimate for companion planting. By creating intentional "tree base gardens," you can:

• Suppress grass and weeds that compete with trees for water and nutrients
• Create habitat for beneficial insects that protect the tree from pests
• Add beauty and additional harvests to your landscape
• Improve soil moisture retention around your trees

Best Plants for Tree Base Gardens:

• Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense): Shade-tolerant groundcover with edible roots
• Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum): Aromatic herb that repels pests
• Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana): Edible fruit and spreading ground cover
• Chives (Allium schoenoprasum): Pest-repelling bulb that deters borers
• Native Violets (Viola spp.): Edible flowers and leaves, thrives in shade

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Native Forest Garden

1. Observe Your Site

Before planting, spend time understanding your property's unique characteristics:

• Note areas of sun and shade throughout the day
• Identify wet and dry spots after rain
• Observe existing plants—what thrives naturally?
• Look for signs of wildlife activity

2. Start with Soil Health

The foundation of any forest garden is healthy soil:

• Add compost and organic matter to improve structure
• Use sheet mulching to suppress weeds and build soil
• Plant nitrogen-fixing species to boost fertility
• Consider a soil test to understand your starting point

3. Begin with Framework Trees

Plant your larger canopy and understory trees first:

• Space appropriately, allowing room for mature size
• Consider their mature height and shade patterns
• Plant in fall or early spring for best establishment
• Mulch well and water regularly until established

4. Add Shrubs and Herbaceous Layers

Once trees are established, add the middle layers:

• Plant shrubs in clusters for cross-pollination
• Intersperse herbs and flowers to attract beneficial insects
• Use guild planting—arrange complementary species around trees
• Continue to add organic mulch to suppress weeds and build soil

5. Finish with Ground Covers and Vines

Complete your forest garden with the remaining layers:

• Plant ground covers to fill gaps and suppress weeds
• Add root crops in spaces between larger plants
• Train vines on appropriate supports
• Continue adding new plants over several seasons

6. Practice Minimal Maintenance

A well-designed forest garden requires less work over time:

• Observe more, intervene less
• Prune selectively to maintain access and productivity
• Let some plants self-seed to fill in gaps
• Harvest regularly to encourage continued production

Year-Round Interest in Your Native Forest Garden

One of the greatest joys of a forest garden is how it changes through the seasons, offering different harvests and visual delights throughout the year.

Spring Highlights

• Serviceberry blossoms attract early pollinators
• Wild Plum creates a cloud of white flowers
• Violets and Phlox carpet the ground with color
• Pawpaw produces unusual maroon flowers

Summer Abundance

• Elderberry and Mulberry offer bountiful harvests
• Monarda and Echinacea bring vibrant color and pollinators
• Passion Flower vines produce exotic blooms
• Wild Strawberry provides sweet ground-level treats

Fall Harvests

• Persimmon fruits ripen after first frost
• Pawpaw yields custard-like fruits
• Sunchokes are ready to dig
• Hazelnut and Oak drop nutrient-dense nuts

Winter Structure

• Winterberry holds bright red fruits for birds
• Grasses and Seedheads add texture and provide food for wildlife
• Evergreen Ground Covers maintain living soil protection
• Tree bark and branches create architectural interest

Final Thoughts

A native plant forest garden represents the best of both worlds—combining the ecological benefits of native plant gardening with the synergistic approach of companion planting. The result is a thriving ecosystem that produces food, medicine, and beauty while supporting wildlife and requiring minimal intervention once established.

Whether you have acres to work with or just a small yard, the principles of forest gardening can be scaled to fit your space. Start small, observe closely, and let nature be your guide. With each passing season, your forest garden will grow more abundant, resilient, and rewarding—a living testament to the power of working with nature rather than against it.

Ready to begin your forest garden journey? Remember that this style of gardening is as much about the process as the destination. Enjoy the learning, experimentation, and discovery as your garden evolves into a self-sustaining ecosystem that nourishes both the land and those who tend it.