How plants deter pests
Some plants are thought to have oils and aromas that can keep pests away. Others are widely available as essential oils, and when made into a solution can be sprayed in your patio and garden spaces to encourage pests to clear out. The best part? Most of these plants can be grown rather easily on your patio, in your home, yard or garden—no matter what climate you live in.
Sunday Tip:
The following homeopathic remedies are not grounded in science but may work for you. If you want to learn more about sustainable ways to manage unwanted insects, check out Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Herbs and roots
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Benefits: The aromatic oils in the plant may deter mosquitoes and house flies.
Where to plant: In containers, so you can enjoy fresh herbs year-round!
Fun fact: Basil will attract beneficial pollinators when flowering.
Bay leaf or laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Benefits: Beyond adding just the right flavor to your favorite stew, the crushed-up, dried leaves are sometimes utilized to repel cockroaches, flies, fleas, and ants.
Where to plant: In containers, in the landscape, or use dried leaves purchased from retail stores.
Fun fact: Try crushing and sprinkling dried bay leaves around problematic areas of your yard such as on ant hills or around your flowering vegetable garden for natural pest control.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Benefits: It’s a favorite relaxing tea of many and a selection for wildflower bouquets, but also used to help repel fleas naturally.
Where to plant: In the ground, raised beds, or containers, preferably within the garden.
Fun fact: A good plant to have in gardens, it's also believed to be a plant that can keep your other garden plants healthy just by growing next to them.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Benefits: Some herbalists claim this member of the onion family can deter carrot flies, Japanese beetles, and aphids from your veggie garden.
Where to plant: In the ground, raised beds, or containers.
Fun fact: Chives are good companion plants with blossoms that attract yard-friendly, pollinating insects like bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps.
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
Benefits: Homeopathic believers utilize this to help deter flies, mosquitoes, aphids, spider mites, and potato beetles from the garden.
Where to plant: Containers, raised beds, or in the ground. It does not spread aggressively and can intermix with other herbs.
Fun fact: Also known as coriander, this herb is easy to grow with flowers that attract butterflies and bees to your garden. Bonus? This herb can be an insect deterrent indoors for fruit flies. Just rub this plant’s fresh leaves over kitchen countertops and window sills.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Benefits: When crushed up and sprinkled over the garden, this delicious herb is believed to deter aphids, spider mites, and squash bugs.
Where to plant: In the ground, raised beds, or containers.
Fun fact: Many people have said to avoid planting this near tomatoes since dill has been known to attract tomato hornworms. However, we say dill can potentially help protect your tomatoes because it attracts the hornworms away from tomatoes.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Benefits: The aroma of this bulb plant is homeopathic and is utilized to repel aphids, carrot flies, and cabbage worms in gardens.
Where to plant: Within your raised bed or garden bed, preferably near veggies.
Fun fact: Garlic oil can be used as an active ingredient in repellents.
Lavender (Lavandula species)
Benefits: The soothing aromatics and oils of the purple blooms and soft leaves from this perennial may help deter mosquitoes, moths, fleas, flies, and ticks where planted.
Where to plant: In the ground, raised beds, or containers.
Fun fact: Lavender not only smells nice, but also it attracts honey bees which are great for the environment! Plus, it’s a great plant for drier climates as lavender is drought-resistant once it flowers.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Benefits: The very strong lemon-scented aromatics and oils of this plant are commonly utilized in homeopathic remedies to deter mosquitoes.
Where to plant: Containers only, as it tends to spread rather aggressively!
Fun fact: Similar to citronella candles, this plant emits a strong lemon aroma that has been claimed to deter pests. These same aromatics will likely attract many pollinators and predatory insects that may also feed on backyard pests.
Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus)
Benefits: Lemon Thyme has been utilized in homeopathic remedies to repel mosquitoes.
Where to plant: In the ground, raised beds, or containers.
Fun fact: Adapted to dry soil, it’s also a great herb to plant with other herbs like rosemary and catnip. Its strong aromatics will also attract beneficial pollinators.
Mint (Mentha species)
Benefits: The oil from its stems (when lightly crushed) has been used to create a natural mosquito repellent and deter house flies.
Where to plant: Containers only, as it tends to spread rather aggressively.
Fun fact: Chomping on one sprig can certainly freshen your breath and ease an upset stomach, but our favorite thing about mint is that it will also attract many beneficial pollinators to your backyard.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Benefits: You can gently crush or break leaves over parsley plants to release an aroma that will deter pests like asparagus beetles.
Where to plant: In the ground, raised beds, or in containers.
Fun fact: Parsley is an easy herb to grow indoors or outdoors. The best way to harvest is to cut the stalks closest to the ground or potting mix, beginning with the outside stalks.
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Benefits: As a member of the mint family, this herb has been utilized to repel and deter mosquitoes using its aromatics and oils.
Where to plant: Containers, raised beds, or in the ground (we recommend growing in containers so you can move it inside in the winter for fresh herbs year-round!)
Fun fact: Growing this herb is easy to do indoors and in pots as this flowering herb loves to spill over edges of pots or low walls.
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Benefits: This herb has aromatics and oils claimed to repel and deter cabbage moths, carrot rust flies, and Mexican bean beetles from invading vegetable gardens.
Where to plant: In containers, raised beds, or in the ground.
Fun fact: Grow rosemary in a container that you can bring indoors in the winter months. If cared for properly, this plant can last throughout the winter and return outside for many seasons to come.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Benefits: Another member of the mint family, varieties of sage are utilized homeopathically to deter mosquitoes.
Where to plant: Containers, raised beds, or in the ground.
Fun fact: The largest member of the mint family, sage emits a strong fragrance and produces oils that repel mosquitoes, especially when burned or when turned into an all-natural mosquito-repellent spray.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Benefits: When crushed and spread lightly across your garden, this herb can deter whiteflies, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, corn earworms, and tomato hornworms.
Where to plant: Containers, raised beds, or in the ground.
Fun fact: A few sprigs and leaves thrown into a campfire or your fire pit at home may offer slight levels of mosquito protection too.
Sunday Tip:
Before you plant any herbs or flowers, check in with your local veterinarian as to which ones are non-toxic to your furry friends. You can also visit aspca.org for a list of plants that are friendly for pets.
Flowers and flowering plants
Whiteweed (Ageratum species)
Benefits: The aromatic blooms of whiteweed are claimed to deter pests like mosquitoes from your yard.
Where to plant: Containers or within raised beds and garden beds.
Fun fact: Ageratum is a low-lying, low-maintenance annual that blooms all summer in sun or part shade with little care.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum species)
Benefits: These flowers contain pyrethrum, a natural compound found in the flowers that make Chrysanthemums the powerhouse insect-repellent ingredient. When utilized homeopathically, it can deter roaches, ants, Japanese beetles, ticks, lice, fleas, bed bugs, spider mites, and silverfish.
Where to plant: Containers or along borders of raised beds and garden beds.
Fun fact: While this plant isn’t great for pests, this plant doesn’t affect most mammals, so planting Chrysanthemums in your yard or garden is relatively safe and non-toxic for your favorite furry friend!
Horsemint or “Bee Balm” (Monarda species)
Benefits: Another member of the mint family, this native plant (there are native varieties in every region of the US) has been claimed to deter mosquitoes.
Where to plant: Within landscaped native garden bed or wildflower planting area of the yard.
Fun fact: This native plant is a fast-growing, shade-tolerant and drought-resistant adaptable wildflower. It's great for pollinators too.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Benefits: The aromatics and oils from hyssop flowers and leaves may help deter mosquitoes.
Where to plant: Containers or within raised beds and garden beds.
Fun fact: A small bushy aromatic plant of the mint family, Hyssops do well in a variety of different climates. Bonus? They attract critical pollinators like butterflies, bees, moths, and birds to your yard!
Geraniums (Geranium species)
Benefits: It’s said that growing these in your garden or yard will enable you to enjoy your outdoor space mosquito-free, both morning and night. In fact, Geranium extract is often used in natural over-the-counter insect repellent sprays.
Where to plant: Containers or along borders of raised beds and garden beds.
Fun fact: Geraniums can be kept from year to year and can be started from both seed and stem cuttings.
Common Lantana (Lantana camara)
Benefits: The oils from this flowering plant have been claimed to deter mosquitoes when made into a solution utilizing coconut oil.
Where to plant: Containers or along borders of raised beds and garden beds.
Fun fact: Common Lantana is able to withstand even the hottest, driest growing conditions which makes it an excellent plant to grow in drought conditions. It also is great for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
Marigolds (Tagetes species)
Benefits: Marigolds may deter mosquitoes, aphids, and even rabbits from approaching your garden. Plus, after one year, roots will repel nematodes in the soil.
Where to plant: Containers or within raised beds and garden beds.
Fun fact: Plant them around the border of your flower beds or interspersed throughout your veggie garden as Marigolds can spur on the growth of certain plants, even roses.
Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum species)
Benefits: These plants work in a unique way. They actually attract problematic bugs like black bean aphids or cabbage moths to their leaves that otherwise would infest bean crops, prized roses, or kale and cabbage plants.
Where to plant: Containers or along borders of raised beds and garden beds.
Fun fact: Once eaten by the Incas as a salad vegetable, Nasturtiums are beautiful and easy to grow, often preferring to a low-maintenance gardening routine.
Petunias (Petunia species)
Benefits: Petunias get rid of unwanted insects by ingesting them. In fact, they trap the bugs in the stickiness of their stamens. Pests ingested can include aphids, tomato hornworms, and asparagus beetles.
Where to plant: Containers or along borders of raised beds and garden beds.
Fun fact: Petunias are widely available at many home improvement stores, are easy to grow, low maintenance, and come in many beautiful colors.
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Benefits: Some herbalists argue that tea made from tansy can be sprayed on pets to repel mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and fleas.
Where to plant: Containers or confined areas in the yard only. Tansy is an aggressive plant that spreads easily.
Fun fact: Tansy is a plant that is easy to care for and doesn’t require much water, which is great for drier climates.
Plant-derived oils as repellent
Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum verum) Oil
Benefits: By mixing ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon bark oil for every 4 ounces of water to make a 1% solution to spray, you can potentially limit mosquito eggs from forming, and deter adult mosquitoes from hanging around your home, patio, and playground.
Fun fact: Cinnamon and its essential oils are known to have antimicrobial characteristics and can be effective at inhibiting the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) Oil
Benefits: Eucalyptus oil at a mixture of 32% has been shown in one study to provide more than 95% protection against mosquitoes for up to 3 hours.
Fun fact: Although this plant is more commonly grown in warmer climates (native to Australia), it can be grown in cooler climates and brought indoors as a houseplant before the first frost.
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon species) Oil
Benefits: The oils from this plant have been known to serve as a natural repellent to mosquitoes.
Fun fact: If you’d like to source your own lemongrass oils, or add this fragrant plant to your yard, place this tall-growing herb in sunny, well-drained areas.
Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca species)
Benefits: The oils from this plant have been known to serve as a natural repellent to mosquitoes.
Fun fact: A popular imported oil from Australia, tea tree oil (or melaleuca oil) is also popular for its antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, making it a natural germ-fighter.
Quick guide by insect
We’ve put together a quick guide for you to fast reference all the plants, herbs, and oils listed above that may have characteristics to help deter pests.
Mosquitoes
- ageratum (whiteweed)
- basil
- cinnamon bark oil
- cilantro (coriander)
- eucalyptus oil
- geraniums
- hyssop
- horsemint
- lavender
- common lantana
- lemon balm
- lemon thyme
- lemongrass oil
- marigolds
- mint
- oregano
- sage
- tansy
- tea tree oil
- thyme
Flies
- basil
- bay leaf (laurel)
- chives
- cilantro (coriander)
- garlic
- lavender
- tansy
- thyme (white flies)
Fleas
- bay leaf (laurel)
- chamomile
- chrysanthemum
- lavender
Aphids
- chives
- cilantro (coriander)
- dill
- garlic
- marigolds
- nasturtiums
Garden Pests: squash bugs, asparagus beetles, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, cabbage worms, cabbage moths, corn earworms, tomato hornworms, potato beetles
- dill
- garlic
- nasturtiums
- parsley
- rosemary
- thyme
Ticks
- bay leaf (laurel)
- chrysanthemum
- lavender
Ants
- bay leaf (laurel)
- chrysanthemum
- garlic
Spider Mites
- chrysanthemum
- cilantro (coriander)
- dill
Japanese Beetles
- chives
- chrysanthemum
Roaches, Silverfish, Household Pests (lice, bedbugs)
- chrysanthemum
Cited sources
Maia, M. Moore, S. (2015.) Plant-based insect repellents. National Library of Medicine.
