Insect Repellent Flowers

Insect Repellent Flowers:To stop insect infestation in your garden, the first step is to control the breeding ground for pests. Certain types of plants can naturally repel insects and provide a barrier against their invasion. Zaatar, dittany of Crete and other aromatic herbs were used in ancient Greece and Rome to drive off mosquitoes.

Insect Repellent Flowers

Here’s a quick list of some of plants that are revered for their insect-repelling properties.

1. Lavender

Not only is lavender beautiful and fragrant, but it is known to repel mosquitoes, fleas, flies, and moths.

2. Basil

While we all love the smell of basil, mosquitoes, moths, and flies are not fans. Use basil to repel flies and moths in your garden, and crush leaves and rub on your skin while your working in the garden to keep mosquitos off you!

3. Thyme

This plant comes in many varieties, and it makes a wonderful ground cover for dry, rocky areas. Thyme will also help keep mosquitoes away from your gardens.

4. Mint

Mint is another mosquito repellent, but one that you should use with care because it spreads aggressively and may take over a planting. Plant it in pots and place it near doorways.

5. Lemongrass

This beautiful grassy plant is packed with citronella, which is one of the best-known alternatives to synthetic repellents like DEET. Crush the leaves and rub on the skin (test a small area first). Will they simply repel bugs on their own?

6. Alliums

This member of the onion family is known for tall spikes that produce gigantic balls of purple flowers (although there are also smaller varieties). Alliums are one of the best defenses against a variety of pests, including cabbage worms, aphids, carrot flies, and slugs, as they dislike the smell.

7. Chrysanthemums

Use these flowers as a border planting around your home to keep out bedbugs, fleas, lice, roaches, ants, and more. These plants contain naturally-occurring pyrethrin, an insecticide. They repel ticks, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and other garden pests. Try making this DIY pest spray!

8. Petunias

Known for their many colors and a profusion of flowers, petunias help repel leafhoppers, squash bugs, tomato hornworms, and aphids—simply plant near brassicas (cruciferous veggies), beans, basil, tomatoes, grapes, corn, and peppers. Roses also do well when this natural insect deterrent is planted nearby.

9. Marigolds

The marigold is one of the most well-known insect-repelling plants and with good reason — they have a scent that will keep pests like mosquitoes, nematodes like cabbage worms, and other pests away.  Plant marigolds to attract beneficial insects that attack and kill aphids. Ladybugs are especially fond of aphids.

10. Mosquito Plant

Mosquito Plant (citrosa geraniums or Pelargonium citrosum) is an attractive tropical plant with lacy green foliage and beautiful flowers and a member of the geranium family. It is prized for its citrus aroma that comes from the oils in the foliage. They’re certainly beautiful plants to grow in the backyard, but if you’re planting them because of the promise of fewer bugs flying around your yard, you’ll have to crush the leaves to obtain any bug-repelling properties. Unfortunately, the effects are not very long-lasting—only for about 30 minutes.

Pest-repelling plants can be both fragrant and beautiful. Try planting a few of these in your garden to keep the bug population in check.

Insect Repellent Flowers

Insect repellents are a great way to keep the bugs at bay. But how do you choose which one works best? You’re likely to find a variety of options on the market, including sprays and oils. While these may work, they can be messy and difficult to apply. Instead, consider using an insect repellent flower instead!

The flowers that attract bees and butterflies are also known to repel mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects. The way they work is that they release chemicals that mimic natural odors produced by their pollinators. These odors trigger a yucky feeling in the bug’s brain that makes them want to leave the area as quickly as possible.

While some of these flowers are native to certain parts of the world, others have been cultivated for use as bug repellents. For example, marigolds were used for centuries by Native Americans as a protection against mosquitoes and other biting insects.

List Of Insect Repellent Flowers