15 Bug Repellant Plants for Insects Free Home and Garden

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Want to keep the bugs off your property in a smart way? Here are some beautiful Bug Repellant Plants that will keep them away.

Tired of insects hovering around your home and gardens? Don’t worry! You can keep them at bay without the use of any chemicals by growing these Bug Repellant Plants. 

Check out our article on spider repellant plants here


Bug Repellant Plants

1. Mint

Bug Repellant Plants

Botanical Name: Mentha

This fragrant herb has several medicinal properties and its scent acts as a natural bug repellent. It can deter ants, mosquitoes, and spiders away from your home or garden.

Here’s all you need to know about growing mint 

2. Catnip

Botanical Name: Nepeta cataria

Another member from the mint family, catnip prevents bugs, as it contains an active ingredient nepetalactone, which also attracts cats. This aromatic herb also repels flies in cattle feedlots.

Want to grow Catnip? Click here

3. Chrysanthemum

Bug Repellant Plants 2

Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum × morifolium

The compound that works against bugs in mums is known as Pyrethrins. It is also used in several commercial insect repellants. Grow beautiful mums and keeps beetles, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and silverfish away.

Here’s all you need to know about growing Chrysanthemum

4. Marigold

Botanical Name: Tagetes

These beautiful sun-loving flowers are generally grown by farmers as companion plants to keep bugs away. They ooze out an airborne substance known as limonene that keeps bugs, aphids, and mosquitoes at bay.

Check out our article on growing marigolds here

5. Petunias

Bug Repellant Plants 3

Botanical Name: Petunia

This bright-colored plant produces an alkaloid substance that helps in repelling bugs when they try to eat them. You can grow them to keep squash bugs, beetles, and aphids away. Grow petunias where they get plenty of sunlight.

Here’s all you need to know about growing Petunias

6. Alliums

Botanical Name: Allium

This group includes chives, shallots, leeks, garlic, and onions. They bloom in beautiful white, purple, or pink flowers and contain a substance known as lectins that guard vegetables in your garden from flies, bugs, slugs, and worms.

7. Basil

Bug Repellant Plants 4
Image Source: spruce

Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum

Basil is one of the best bug-deterring plants. It also produces an oil that kills mosquito eggs. Grow basil in pots or hanging baskets and get rid of flies, bugs, and mosquitoes.

Have a look at our article on growing basil here

8. Lavender

Botanical Name: Lavandula

The aroma that people love in spas that cure insomnia and calms depressed minds is an irritant for moths, flies, and bugs. Grow it on a sunny spot of your garden or have its bouquet to keep bugs away from your yard or home.

Check out our article on growing Lavender here 

9. Lemongrass

Bug Repellant Plants 5

Botanical Name: Cymbopogon

The leaves of this mosquito repellant plant emit a pleasant aroma, which is disliked by bugs. Grow this grass in your yard and keep bugs and mosquitoes away.

Here’s all you need to know about growing Lemongrass

10. Garlic

Botanical Name: Allium sativum

Garlic takes the top spot when it comes to keeping the bugs at bay. It is the most potent plant in eliminating insects from your yard too. The pungent and spicy scent acts as a natural insect repellant.

Check out our article on growing Garlic here 

11. Rosemary

Bug Repellant Plants 6

Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary bushes contain two effective insecticides–cineole and camphor, that act together in combating bugs, protecting your vegetables and home from their infestation.

Here’s all the information you need to grow Rosemary

12. Bay Leaf Plant

Botanical Name: Laurus nobilis

Both the plant and dried bay leaves are great in combating ants, cockroaches, weevils, moths, and flies. If you don’t have a bay leaf plant, you can use dry leaves as well for repelling bugs.

Check out our article on growing bay leaf here

13. Sage

Bug Repellant Plants 7

Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis

Sage helps in keeping annoying bugs away from your home or garden. You can get rid of flies, ants, and mosquitoes by growing sage plants in a sunny spot.

Here’s all you need to know about growing Sage

14. Lemon Balm

Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis

This lemon-scented plant with mint-like leaves is quite potent in repelling bugs and insects. It also works effectively against gnats and mosquitoes.

15. Prince of Orange Geranium

Bug Repellant Plants 8

Botanical Name: Pelargonium citrosum

This beautiful geranium emits a waft of citrus-like fragrance that helps in repelling bugs and mosquitoes. It is best to grow it with other bug-repelling plants from the list to make it more potent.

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