15 Snake Repellent Plants | Plants that Repel Snakes Naturally

Afraid of snakes? Keep them out of your yard by growing Natural Snake Repellent Plants that will make your home safe from venomous reptiles!

Sighting a snake in your garden can be a terrifying experience, and to ensure you don’t encounter these venomous reptiles, you can grow some Natural Snake Repellent Plants to repel these serpents!

Have a look at the best natural cockroach repellent plants here

Natural Snake Repellent Plants

1. West Indian Lemongrass

Botanical Name: Cymbopogon citratus

This plant belongs to the citrus group of plants and has a strong fragrance, which snakes dislike. This is going to be the reason alone they’ll stay away from it.

• This plant demands low maintenance and labor. All you need to do is to water it regularly in summer.
• The tips and the leaves of the plant tend to dry out and turn brown; if you notice this, water the plant.
• It does not require much attention, making it one of the best natural snake repellent plants you can grow.

Check out the best citrus trees you can grow in containers here! 

2. Marigold

Botanical Name: Tagetes

Marigold is often used to handle pest problems in the garden, as it produces an odor that keeps away critters and other garden pests, and the smell is also effective in keeping the snakes away.

The flowers of the plant are bright and attractive, making it a glamorous natural snake repellent plant for your garden!

• Grow it in full sun and moist soil.
• You can plant it on the hedges of your garden to stay safe from dangerous crawlers.

To know about mosquito repelling plants, click here! 

3. Snake Plant

Botanical Name: Dracaena trifasciata

The Mother-in-law’s Tongue makes it to the list not for its odor but because of its sharp leaves. These leaves pose a threat to the snakes as they find it frightening.

As it is quite an attractive-looking natural snake repellent plant, it will be a great addition as well!

• The maintenance requirement for the plant is quite low.
• The plant can be grown both indoors and outdoors; grow them outdoors in warm climates and indoors in cool climates, especially in winters.

4. Garlic and Onion

Botanical Name: Allium sativum / Allium cepa

Deviating from the list of flowering plants, let us now look into the effectiveness of certain vegetables in preventing snakes from entering your garden!

Onion and garlic top the list of natural snake repellent plants since most creatures dislike their smell. The oily exudates of these plants also stick to the snakes’ body, and its aroma has the same disorienting effect as that of pepper spray.

• Place the plants in 3-5 hours of direct sunlight.
• Keep the soil evenly moist and avoid overwatering.

Check out our article on growing garlic indoors here!

5. Mugwort

Botanical Name: Artemisia vulgaris

Mugwort is also known as Wormwood or Chrysanthemum weed. The plant grows tall and has woody roots. Because of such a look, the snakes do not like its presence. It also tends to grow fast and does not wither easily.

• The only negative aspect of having such a plant is a bit of maintenance.

6. Society Garlic

Botanical Name: Tulbaghia violacea

Most snakes appear in hot and dry regions, and Tulbaghia violacea poses as the perfect option that tolerates the summer heat. The plant is robust and can grow even in drought conditions.

It’s a potent natural snake repellent plant for deterring snakes along with fleas and mosquitoes.

• This plant is edible and effective in the treatment of cough, cold, headaches, and sinusitis.
• The flowers of this plant are also beautiful and enhance the beauty of any garden.

7. Indian Snake Root

Botanical Name: Rauvolfia serpentina

Sarpgandha is an endemic plant species found in South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It repels away serpents since these crawlers do not like the smell of the plant.

• It is an antiseptic herb famous for the treatment of paranoia, schizophrenia, and hypertension.
• As it is also high in alkaloid content, the sap of its leaves is used to treat non-venomous snake bites.

8. King of Bitters

Botanical Name: Andrographis paniculata

Like marigold, Andrographis paniculata is an excellent snake repellent plant because of its bitter foliage and roots. This herb is quite popular in Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.

Its beautiful white flowers with purple accents are going to be an attractive addition to your garden. These attributes also make it one of the most attractive natural snake repellent plants on this list!

• The plant also helps in digestion and improves immune system functionality.
• It is also rich in phytochemicals and active constituents like flavonoids.

9. Tobacco

Botanical Name: Nicotiana

Nicotiana tabacum tobacco is a herbaceous plant from the nightshade family. Snakes abhor its smell and avoid coming to its area. However, it is not the most potent natural snake repellent plant. Pair it with other plants on this list to create a strong barrier.

• Its leaves have several uses in the tobacco industry.

10. Clove Basil

Botanical Name: Ocimum gratissimum

Ocimum gratissimum, also known as the scent leaf, belongs to the Lamiaceae family. As essentials oils are known to keep the snakes at bay, Clove Basil is quite potent!

Its smell baffles snakes, and they leave the area around this plant instantly. This attribute makes it one of the best natural snake repellent plants!

• You can also use its essential oil to keep the snakes away.
• Mix 10-15 drops of Clove Basil oil in a liter of water and spray it around the area susceptible to snakes.

11. Kaffir-Limes

Botanical Name: Citrus hystrix

Kaffir limes are also known as makrut lime and are generally used in Asian cuisines. But this fragrant plant can also be used to repel snakes as they dislike the strong smell of kaffir limes.

• Grow this plant in well-drained, moist soil.
• Place it where it gets full sun.
• Water the plant regularly.

12. Jimsonweed

Botanical Name: Datura stramonium

Also known as thorn apple or devil’s snare, this plant contains tropane alkaloids with hallucinogenic effects. It makes a bitter and foul smell that deters snakes from crawling around it.

• This plant prefers full sun.
• It’s an invasive plant, which does best in most conditions.

13. Cactus

Botanical Name: Cactaceae

Snakes avoid going near spiky and thorny plants, so that means you can safeguard your homes by growing cactus around your house and garden. Large Opuntia species are perfect for this purpose.

• Grow cactus in direct sunlight in a well-aerated warm area.

Check out the best types of cacti you can grow here

14. Wormwood

Botanical Name: Artemisia absinthium

This plant has a musky, strong odor that snakes hate. Make a tea with dry leaves of this plant adding rock salt and garlic, and spread it where the threat of snake persists.

• Grow the plant in well-draining soil.
• It prefers a bright and sunny location.

15. Skunk Cabbage

Botanical Name: Symplocarpus foetidus

This plant is a favorite of herbalists, and they use it to cure insomnia and anxiety. It smells like a skunk, and the stinky odor of this plant works well on repelling snakes.

• Never let the soil dry out completely.
• Avoid using normal garden soil to grow it.

To know about spiders repelling plants, click here!

The Bottom Line

These plants are one of the best ways to keep snakes away from your garden, but if you have too much infestation, you can make additional efforts like clearing off dried leaves, preventing the grasses in your garden from growing tall, and henceforth. You can also use commercial products available in the market.

There’s an interesting study done on the extract of some plants that’s quite potent in repelling snakes away. You can check it out here.