Picture the scene; you’re sitting in your backyard taking in the beautiful scenery, perhaps indulging in a little al fresco dining, but you’re being plagued by pesky flies.
This is a common problem, and if we’re going to head outdoors, we’ve got to expect some interference from nature. However, you don’t want to have to be continually swatting flies away, and we think it’s time that they buzzed off!
The good news is that there are some plants that flies really don’t like.
From Experience: By planting these in the soil and around your garden, you’ll reduce the fly population and be able to relax in peace. Not only will most of these deter flies, but also bugs and mosquitoes too!
Table of Contents
9 Plants With Properties That Repel Flies
Repellent plants are important to have so you won’t have that fly buzzing in your ear. Once they smell the scent of these plants, it’s like a ward protecting your home.
Each plant on our list will scare away flies and, at times, other bugs and insects, like mosquitoes. With the insects always multiplying, it’s time to repel unwanted guests from your homes.
Here is our list of plants that deter and get rid of flies.
1 – Mint Plants
There are many different types of mint plants, but one thing that remains consistent between all varieties is a compound known as mentha.
This is what acts as such an excellent repellent for flies as well as a whole host of other insects. Yes, this includes mosquitoes.
What’s great is that mint will still have the same effect when it is dry as when it’s fresh.
Of course, you can also extract the oil if you want something really potent.
This oil can then be on your skin as well as on items around the garden as a way of repelling flies.
However, when growing mint, you must keep in mind that, when left unattended, the plant will quickly take over.
For this reason, we would advise growing it in a container and paying close attention to the plant.
2 – Lavender Plant
One of the most fragrant plants in the world, and it doesn’t look too bad either. Lavender acts as a good repellent to flies, bugs, and also mosquitoes.
This lavender plant will do very well in hot, dry climates best, but it’ll also thrive during summer in cooler climates, dying out over winter and regrowing the following summer.
To avoid the roots becoming frozen, it’s best to keep them in a greenhouse during the colder months.
There are various different types of lavender, and each one is better suited to different climates, so it is wise to choose one that will thrive where you are.
Works Best: While it can be grown in the ground, many prefer to pot lavender as this gives you the ability to move it around depending on your fly control needs.
3 – Wormwood Plant
This wormwood plant is a great option if you don’t have a lot of gardening experience, as it is a very easy plant to grow.
The reason that it is so effective in keeping flies away is thanks to the particles in the leaves, which naturally repel flies and other insects.
You’ll also be able to use wormwood as a personal product, as the leaves can be rubbed directly onto the skin to keep those pesky flies away.
That said, you must be very careful when using wormwood and take great care not to ingest it as it can have some very serious side effects, so much so that many countries have banned it!
4 – Petunias Flowers
If you are looking for a plant that has proven its insecticide abilities time and time again, then petunias are a good choice.
They are perfect for keeping away flies like aphids as well as small beetles and other pests.
What’s more, they’re a very visually pleasing flower that comes in a range of purplish hues brightening your garden as well as protecting it.
Petunias are also incredibly versatile in terms of where you can plant them.
It is just as easy to pot them or put them into a hanging basket as it is to plant them in a bed. Just keep in mind that they like a lot of sun.
5 – Marigolds
Marigolds are an excellent choice for keeping out whiteflies when growing an indoor garden.
That said, they will thrive outdoors, but it is better to pot them and provide them with good light levels.
These plants will do much better in warm climates and give off a beautiful scent that is perfect for a sunny patio. What’s more, this scent is known to repel a lot of other insects, including mosquitoes.
The great thing about these plants is that they’ll also work well for repelling larger animals like rabbits.
Plus: They’re super easy to take care of, so make a good beginner plant.
6 – Tansy Plants
Tansy will repel flies to a certain extent when simply grown in your garden, but the best way to use this plant is by extracting the oils, which can then be used to make a repellent spray.
This can be put onto your body or sprayed around parts of the house and garden where flies are a problem.
It is best to use dried tansy leaves as these will make a more potent repellent, but fresh leaves will still have a decent effect.
You’ll need to steep the leaves in hot water to make the spray, and other ingredients like lavender can be added.
Just keep in mind that, when ingested, tansy can be incredibly toxia, especially to livestock.
For this reason, we would always recommend growing it in a container so that the roots can’t spread. Otherwise, it is a simple plant to take care of.
7 – Basil
Not only is basil an important kitchen ingredient, but it also makes a brilliant fly repellent. Bugs and mosquitoes just hate basil in your gardens.
The fresh scent of the plant is what makes it so effective, and whether you grow it on its own or add a few sprigs into a flower arrangement indoors, it’ll work just as well.
However, this is more of an advanced plant, as you will need to make sure that it doesn’t flower. This will prevent the fragrant leaves from growing and remove their effectiveness as a repellent.
When flowers begin to develop, you’ll need to snip these off as soon as possible.
8 – Rosemary
When talking about plants that repel flies, we must talk about Rosemary. Rosemary is a beautifully fragrant plant that can also be used in cooking but do keep in mind that it can grow to be very big.
In some cases, these plants can grow as wide as five feet and up to four feet in height. This means that you’ll need to ensure enough room for the plant and give it plenty of sun.
The earthy scent of this plant is what will repel flies, mosquitoes, and other insects, and what’s great is that it is a year-round plant that remains evergreen in a lot of growing zones.
Nice Tip: Unless there will be a significant temperature drop during winter, you’ll be safe leaving it outdoors.
9 – Pennyroyal
One of the most potent plants on this list is the Pennyroayl plant. The Pennyroyal is an incredibly effective fly repellent. Flies and insects alike will smell the fragrance and head to another area.
However, you should take great care when growing this plant, as if it is ingested, it can be dangerous.
That said, you can rub the plant onto yourself, your clothing, and fabrics to keep flies at bay.
Pennyroyal doesn’t grow high, and so it is a good choice for planting in and around veggie patches to keep insects and flies away.
Since pennyroyal is part of the mint family, it’ll grow very quickly, so this is something you will need to keep on top of.
More Info on Repelling
As we mentioned above, you want to find the right plant to keep those flies away. Keep in mind if you have multiple large areas around your house, you will want to use more plants.
You don’t have to use the same plant either. The three most common additions to keep the fly and other bugs away are:
- Flower
- Plant
- Herb
It’s as simple as that, the more you plant, the fewer flies you will have.
Final Words
As you can see, there are a number of plants we found that can repel flies and other nasty insects. This has to be an essential way to do it rather than sprays and chemicals, Right?
I think so.
What’s your favorite plant from the list? For me… It has to be Mint.
Not only will it repel flies, but I can keep growing and cutting it for cooking, and it will last a very long time if you harvest it correctly.
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