These Common Potted Plants Will Keep Bugs Away

Bugs inevitably find their way into your home — usually the kitchen — but you don’t need an expensive exterminator or harmful chemicals to keep insects at bay. Before you reach for a can of Raid, consider houseplants to keep ants, beetles, flies and other annoying insects away from your living spaces. 

You may not have considered using houseplants to rid your home of bugs, but some common herbs and other plants can act as all-natural repellants. As a bonus, these plants add visual charm to your home and some can be used to add flavor to your cooking or cocktails. Below you’ll find six houseplants known to deter insects naturally. 

Read more: This Houseplant Cleans Air 30 Times Better Than a Typical Plant

For more, see the best plants for cooling the air in your home, find out which plants are easiest to keep alive and peruse our list of the best places to buy plants online.

Herbs

Potent herbs like basil, mint, sage and rosemary are great for topping spaghetti or making mojitos, but their scent stops insects like house and fruit flies from coming near. Consider lining a sunny kitchen window with a few of your favorite food and drink garnishes. Not only will the bugs stay away, but you’ll enjoy the benefits of fresh herbs year-round and without the hefty price tags found in most supermarkets. 

Pro tip: Lemongrass contains citronella oil, which is often used in candles and sprays to repel mosquitos.

Marigold

The yellow-and-orange-hued flower is so much more than a pretty accent to an oversized pot or home garden — it’s a gnat- and midge-fighting beast that emits a distinct and powerful odor that sends critters scurrying. Perhaps best of all, marigolds are an easy plant to cultivate within your home since they require little maintenance and grow quickly.

Lavender 

Lavender boasts calming properties that help us drift to sleep at night, but it has the opposite effect on insects like moths and beetles. Snip a few purple stems and incorporate them into an elegant flower bouquet to ward off any unwelcome visitors. You can buy live lavander plants on FastGrowingTrees.com and other sites.

Catnip

Your feline friend may experience an immediate sense of euphoria when exposed to catnip, but roaches and mosquitoes have quite the opposite reaction. According to scientists, the plant contains an active component that triggers the chemical receptor in insects that causes pain and itchiness. Like humans, when insects feel the slightest bit of discomfort, they tend to retreat and not return to the source of suffering. Amazon sells a four-pack of catnip plants for $23.

Chrysanthemums

This popular flower is an insect’s worst enemy. In fact, a chrysanthemum’s hit list is extensive and includes roaches, ants, silverfish, lice, bed bugs and mites. Keep these away from your pets, though, as they can be quite toxic when ingested. 

Carnivorous plants 

Lean into the obvious choice and opt for the endlessly entertaining carnivorous plant. Typically, these hungry wonders, like the Venus flytrap, lure in unsuspecting prey with a scent that mirrors delicious fruits and flowers. Once its hairlike lobes, otherwise known as trichomes, are activated, its leaves snap shut and reopen 10 days after the insect has been completely digested. Of course, you’ll need a whole lot of carnivorous plants to tackle swarms, but they make great additions to target the occasional fly or two. 

No matter your preference, these plants, flowers and herbs make wonderful (and natural!) additions to a kitchen pest management plan. They also happen to be delicious and/or beautiful. If you’re still not convinced, consider other all-natural alternatives like coffee grounds, essential oils, banana peels, white vinegar and onions. Each has also been proven to stave off an infestation if left out on kitchen counters.