List of pest-repelling plants

This list of pest-repelling plants includes plants known for their ability to repel insects, nematodes, and other pests. They may be used in companion planting for pest control in agricultural and garden situations, and in households.

The essential oils of many plants are also well known for their pest-repellent properties. Oils from the families Lamiaceae (mints), Poaceae (true grasses), and Pinaceae (pines) are common insect repellents worldwide.^[1]

Plants that can be planted or used fresh to repel pests include:

Plant	Pests
artemisias	repels insects,[2] including ants, cabbage looper, cabbage maggot, carrot fly, codling moth, flea beetles, whiteflies, the Cabbage White, and the Small White, as well as mice[3]
basil	repels flies, including mosquitoes[2][4] and the carrot fly, asparagus beetles but attracts whiteflies[3]
borage	repels tomato hornworm and cabbage worms[2]
castor bean	repels moles[3]
catnip	repels ants, flea beetles, aphids, the Japanese beetle, squash bugs, weevils,[2] the Colorado potato beetle, the cabbage looper,[3] and cockroaches.[4] May attract cats.
chamomile	repels flying insects[4]
chives	repels carrot fly, Japanese beetle,[2] and aphids[3]
chrysanthemums	repel roaches, ants, the Japanese beetle, ticks, silverfish, lice, fleas, bedbugs, and root-knot nematodes[2]
citronella grass	repels insects, may deter cats[5]
citrosa	repels insects,[5] including mosquitoes[4]
clovers	repel aphids and wireworms[3]
common lantana	repels mosquitoes[1]
coriander	repels aphids, Colorado potato beetle, and spider mites[3]
cosmos	repel the corn earworm
crown imperial	repel rabbits, mice, moles, voles and ground squirrels[6]
dahlias	repel nematodes[2]
dill	repels aphids, squash bugs, spider mites,[2] the cabbage looper, and the Small White[3]
eucalyptus	repels aphids, the cabbage looper, and the Colorado potato beetle[3]
fennel	repels aphids, slugs, and snails[3]
fever tea	repels mosquitoes[1]
four o'clocks	attract and poison the Japanese beetle[2]
French marigold	repels whiteflies, kills nematodes[2]
garlic	REPELS ALL , root maggots,[2] cabbage looper, Mexican bean beetle, peach tree borer, and rabbits[3]
geraniums	repel leafhoppers, the corn earworm, and the Small White[3]
hyssop	repels the cabbage looper and the Small White[3]
larkspurs	repel aphids[3]
lavender	repels moths, scorpions, water scorpions, fleas, and flies, including mosquitoes[4]
leek	repels carrot fly[3]
lemon balm	repels mosquitoes[4]
lemon thyme	repels mosquitoes[4]
lettuce	repels carrot fly[3]
lime basil	repels mosquitoes[1]
Mexican marigold	repels insects and rabbits[2]
myrrh	repels insects[5]
narcissus	repel moles[3]
nasturtiums	repel squash bugs,[2] aphids, many beetles, and the cabbage looper[3]
onion	repels rabbits, the cabbage looper, and the Small White[3]
oregano	repellent to many pests[3]
parsley	repels asparagus beetles[3]
peppermint	repels aphids, cabbage looper, flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, and the Small White[3]
petunias	repel aphids, tomato hornworm, asparagus beetles, leafhoppers,[2] and squash bugs[3]
pitcher plants	traps and ingests insects
radish	repels cabbage maggot and cucumber beetles[3]
rosemary	repels cabbage looper, carrot fly, slugs, snails, and the Mexican bean beetle[3]
rue	repels cucumber and flea beetles
spearmint	repels fleas, moths, ants, beetles, rodents,[4] aphids, squash bugs, and the cabbage looper[3]
spiny amaranth	repels cutworms
stone root	repels mosquitoes[5]
summer savory	repels bean beetles[3]
tansy	repels ants, many beetles and flies, squash bugs, cutworms, Small White, and Cabbage White[3]
thyme	repels cabbage looper, cabbage maggot, corn earworm, whiteflies, tomato hornworm, and Small White
tobacco	repels carrot fly and flea beetles[3]
tomato	repels asparagus beetles[3]
venus flytrap	ingests insects[4]

References

1. Maia, M. F. and S. J. Moore. (2011). Plant-based insect repellents: a review of their efficacy, development and testing. Malaria Journal, 10(Suppl 1), S11.
2. Hummel, K. Use plants for pest control. Coles County Yard and Garden. University of Illinois Extension.
3. "Companion Planting" (PDF). Cornell Cooperative Extension. Chemung County. May 1999. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 29, 2014.
4. Clarke, C. Indoor pest-repellent plants. SFGate: San Francisco Chronicle.
5. Plants help keep mosquitoes away. Colorado State University & Denver County Extension Master Gardener. 2010.
6. Diana Beresford-Kroeger. A Garden for Life: The Natural Approach to Designing, Planting, and Maintaining a North Temperate Garden. p. 171. ISBN 9780472030125.

http://www.ccechemung.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/companion-planting.pdf