Natural Insect Repellant: Plants That Deter Pests

It’s Springtime! That means time to get all that Spring cleaning and yard refreshing done. While you are clearing away the cobwebs and bringing your lawn back to life, you are probably also considering what plants to place in your yard to spruce up your curb appeal. But did you know that there are some varieties of plants that actually actually act as natural insect repellant? Whether by their colors or fragrances, some plants are excellent at keeping certain unwanted pests away. So, if you are having trouble with a specific insect around your home, then consider planting one of these plants in your garden to act as a natural insect repellant to keep the insect population at bay.

Flowers

This list of flowers is by no means exhaustive. There are plenty of other flowers that repel different varieties of insects. We chose to highlight a few that do well in Florida and repel the most common pests.

1. Chrysanthemums

One of the best flowers on our list, chrysanthemum is known to repel a large variety of insects including:

• Ants
• Beetles
• Bed bugs
• Silverfish
• Ticks
• Cockroaches
• Lice
• Fleas

Chrysanthemums are not only good at repelling insects, they also come in a variety of sizes and colors to fit any aesthetic or garden. Chrysanthemums also attract butterflies, so if you enjoy watching them flutter about, consider planting chrysanthemums near your windows.

2. Marigolds

If you are battling with mosquitoes at your backyard barbecue, look no further than marigolds. The fragrance that these brightly colored flowers give off is a natural repellant to mosquitoes, aphids, whiteflies, and even rabbits. Marigolds can even help your roses to flourish when planted together.

3. Lavender

If you love the smell of lavender in your soaps or perfumes and hate flying insects like mosquitoes and gnats, then you are in luck. Lavender is a smell that these flying insects hate, so they stay far away. We cannot recommend enough using lavender in window boxes or planters outside entryways to allow the fragrance to fill your home and keep the insects out.

Herbs

1. Basil

No list of insect-repelling plant is complete without basil. One of the most common pests, houseflies, are repelled by this fragrant plant. Mosquitoes also find basil repulsive. The added bonus is that you can also enjoy fresh basil in your cooking if you keep this plant in your garden.

2. Mint

Mint is gaining popularity not only for its fresh scent and appearance but also for its medicinal properties. The essential oils in the mint family of plants (sage, oregano, peppermint, catnip, etc.) al repel mosquitoes. In fact, keeping catnip in your yard is more effective at repelling mosquitoes than chemical repellants like diethyltoluamide, aka DEET.

3. Rosemary

Here is another one for the home cooks. If you enjoy fresh herbs in your cooking, try planting rosemary. It is known to repel mosquitoes and cockroaches as well as a few different types of garden-damaging insects. Rosemary is excellent in cooking, gives off a pleasant odor, has brightly colored, delicate flowers, and can even be used to make a homemade insect repellant. Take some dried rosemary and boil it in a pot of water in equal measure for around 20 minutes to make a concentrated repellant. Then strain into a container with an additional measure of cool water and apply as needed. Rosemary can also be added to a bonfire to create a scented smoke that will repel insects.