Flea repelling plants are an important addition to every garden because of the security they bring with them.
In this article, we will talk about some beautiful aromatic plants that serve as excellent flea repellents in any garden, often with the bonus ability to repel bugs and ticks. Read further to find the flea repellent plants that best suit your needs.
Contents
Aromatic Flea-Repelling Plants To Grow This Season
1. Mint
The mint family species (Mentha sp.) are perennial garden plants that are exceptionally hardy. These plants are easily identified by their sweet aroma and signature taste.
– Benefits
This pleasant aroma is an excellent deterrent for pests like fleas and ticks, protecting them and other plants. Mint has similar properties to other species from the same family, such as catnip (Nepeta cataria) and oregano (Origanum vulgare). Mints have over 600 different varieties, each with its signature characteristics, growth preferences, and varying smells and tastes.
– Characteristics
The smell of these plants is not the only identifying factor. All members of this herbaceous family are easily recognized with their opposite leaves and square stems.
Most mints produce tiny white or purple flowers that look amazing and emit a strong fragrance that pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love.
– Growth Requirements
Mints are extremely aggressive in their growth, and they can easily take over entire gardens if you let them grow without limits. Generally, mints grow best in partial shade, but if you were to expose them to full sun, they would still be fine as long as you follow a more rigorous and frequent watering schedule. They only require watering during dry conditions, but you should avoid overwatering at all costs.
2. Rosemary
Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean region. Their leaves and essential oils are important components for medical and culinary purposes.
– Benefits
They are used in cuisines and medicine, and the same scent is an excellent way to repel fleas and ticks from homes or gardens. Rosemary is good for hair growth, and rosemary extract can be used as a sunblock.
– Characteristics
Rosemary is a low-maintenance plant. However, it requires trimming, especially after the flowers bloom, to encourage growth. You can replant these trimmings to grow more plants instead of throwing them away.
This characteristic will help you propagate the growth of your plants without much hassle or the need to buy more seeds.
– Growth Requirements
The best time to plant rosemary is during spring when the weather has warmed up a little bit and the frost has settled. It prefers moist but well-draining soil, but it also likes soil that ranges from acidic to neutral in nature. Rosemary thrives under the full sun and does not tolerate shade at all. The plant also has good drought tolerance once it has matured. Rosemary gets really well with a big list of companion plants!
3. Common Sage
Common sage (Salvia officinalis), which is also known as culinary sage, is one of the easiest herbs to grow. These herbaceous shrubs are grown for their leaves, which are a regular addition to several culinary dishes.
– Benefits
Even more convenient is the fact that the leaves act as an active deterrent for fleas and a plethora of other pests. The herb also produces brightly-colored flowers during the summertime. On the upright stalks of sage, this makes for a lovely sight during the bloom season.
– Characteristics
Common sage is a perennial shrub that produces wooly, gray-green foliage that gives off its signature scent. These ovate leaves are the main reason for growing sage, as they are used to enhance the flavor in many dishes.
When the blooming season arrives, the herb also produces vibrant blue-purple flowers, adding further interest to their surroundings. Also known as garden sage, this herb is a native plant in the Mediterranean region.
– Growth Requirements
Common sage grows best during the pleasant seasons of spring and fall. Sage plants prefer sandy or loamy soil that is evenly moist but drains quickly, but it should not retain a lot of moisture as it can cause damage to the roots. If you want the best flavors and most vibrant flowers, grow your sage at a location that receives plenty of sunlight. However, in hotter regions, it may be a good idea to provide them with some afternoon shade.
4. Balm Mint
Balm mint, or lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), is a native European herbaceous plant with leaves that give off a strong aroma. These leaves are widely used as an ingredient in many salads and dishes, but their distinctive aroma also means that it is useful for flea-repelling tasks as well. The plant is a great addition to any garden and can be planted and grown indoors.
– Characteristics
This herb is a rapid-growing plant, and the best time to plant it is in early spring, and it grows to about one foot in height.
An excellent measure to counter its invasive nature is to plant it in containers that will help limit its growth. It is a flexible plant that can grow indoors, but it grows best in an outdoor setting.
– Growth Requirements
This fast-growing herb is sensitive to extreme conditions, and excessive sunlight and cold winds can lead to leaf damage and withering. The herb is vulnerable to diseases like powdery mildew if you plant it indoors. So, it is best to grow it outside in sandy and well-draining soil to avoid water logging. Sunlight is essential for the plant to grow and protect against diseases.
5. Marigolds
Marigolds are one of the best beginner plants for their easy growth and care. These flowering plants produce vibrant blooms with a sweet aroma that works great as an insect repellent. These daisy-like flowers come in a range of sizes and colors. The roots of these flowering plants secret a chemical that keeps soil pests away from them and the plants in their vicinity.
– Characteristics
Marigolds are reliable bedding flowers that can be planted in small nurseries and directly from seeds. They are fast-growing plants that will reach maturity just a few months after you sow the seeds.
Once established, marigolds are practically free of any diseases and pests. They are adaptable plants that can bloom throughout the summer season until the frost arrives.
– Growth Requirements
Marigolds grow quickly and easily and can thrive in any good garden soil. Their ideal soil type is lean, moist, and well-draining. Like other flowering plants, the best results are obtained by planting marigolds under the full sun, as this will result in abundant blooms that are healthy and vibrant. They are also drought-resistant once their root system is established.
6. Lavender
Lavender plants are famous for their sweet fragrance. Their strong aroma is pleasant for humans, but it also works great to deter fleas and repel ticks.
– Planting Options
These small plants grow in the form of shrubs and can grow easily in many regions of the world. You can plant this flowering shrub in early spring when there is no threat of snowfall, and the soil has warmed up.
– Characteristics
They are not the fastest-growing plants either and typically grow moderately. They mature when they reach a height of about three feet and a spread of four feet.
They produce vibrant spiky purple flowers and have gray-green foliage. This perennial plant will return every year to bless you with its beauty.
– Growth Requirements
Lean soil that is moist but drains well is the best option for growing lavender plants. You can add some sand to the soil mixture to increase drainage. Alkaline soil will encourage more fragrance in your plants, while acidic soils may result in short lives for the plants.
They enjoy their time under the full sun. This exposure will result in abundant flowers that are big and lush. They are drought-resistant plants, but they need water during their early growth.
7. Roses
Roses are the most recognizable flowers in the entire world. The signature fragrance of the flowers is as good at repelling fleas as it is at attracting pollinators.
– Planting Options
Roses are hardy plants that can be grown anywhere around the globe, and the different varieties of roses also have their unique natures. Some can be quickly grown in outdoor gardens without much hassle and are easily maintained.
Other types are more suitable for planting in pots and containers. There are even climbing rose varieties that are great for covering fences around your garden, such as a trellis.
– Characteristics
Rose plants have little foliage on their stems, and on top, they have thorny leaves and branches, which gives this plant a little intimidating look.
They have a lot of different colors of flowers in addition to their signature red, such as pink, yellow, white, and even black.
The plants have tiny spikes on their thin stems and leaves to help ward off most wildlife, though deer do not seem to care for it. In addition to helping with flea control, roses are decent tick repellents.
– Growth Requirements
Roses prefer loamy and well-drained soil that spreads moisture evenly but does not become soggy. They also grow best in neutral or slightly acidic soil. Generally, roses like to be kept under full sunlight, but in warmer regions, it can lead to leaf scorch from the heat. As a rule of thumb, you should water roses twice a week.
8. Lemon Grass
Cymbopogon citratus and Cymbopogon nardus (Citronella grass) are two related yet completely different tropical herbaceous plants with strong smells – both great choices to repel fleas.
– Benefits
- nardus is not edible, but it produces Citronella oil which bugs hate. On the other hand, C. citratus possesses a strong lemon-like flavor which is very sought-after in Asian cuisine, soups, and sauces.
– Characteristics
The grass grows in tall clumps that can reach heights of 3-5 feet. It is planted in spring once the frost has passed away and is a great choice for gardens and containers.
This fast-growing tall grass is perennial in hardiness zones 10 and 11, while in other regions, it is an annual plant. Its long gray-green blades turn red during the fall, adding an interesting look to its surroundings.
– Growth Requirements
If the conditions are warm and humid, it can grow easily and in abundance. The grass-like hot temperatures, and thus love to grow in full sun exposure. It prefers rich, moist, and loamy soil with good drainage, but you can amend the soil according to the needs of organic matter. The standard 1 inch of water per week is a good watering cycle for this plant.
9. Annual Fleabane
More commonly called the fleabane daisy (Erigeron annuus), it is a common plant in many cottage gardens where it is the perfect answer to filling the empty spots on borders and under trees with its bright starry flowers. This fast-growing plant blooms from late spring all the way until the fall.
– Characteristics
Fleabanes bloom in late spring with their bright white flowers with golden centers. If you deadhead the plants, they will continue to bloom until the fall.
However, summer and spring are their peak seasons. Although they are beautiful plants, they are invasive in many areas due to their fast growth, so proper measures should be taken to control them.
– Growth Requirements
These are hardy plants which makes them an excellent choice for beginners to grow and care for them. These plants grow very well under the sun and in partial shade. They like moist soils with good drainage as it will help the plants meet their requirements while avoiding the dangers of water logging.
10. Bay Laurel
Also known as sweet bay or Laurus nobilis, it is a well-known shrub that is primarily known for its use as a seasoning. It is an easy-to-grow plant that is native to the Mediterranean region.
– Planting Options
This plant can be planted in gardens or kept as an indoor plant. It is a slow-growing plant that is also capable of producing berries if pollination between opposite-gendered plants occurs. However, the plant can easily be pruned into a small shrub without any harm to its health.
– Characteristics
The naturally occurring plant has a pyramidal growth habit and gradually grows into a medium to large-sized tree.
It has large oval-shaped glossy green leaves and produces fragrant yellow flowers that eventually turn into purple berries after pollination.
– Growth Requirements
The plant does not have a lot of growth requirements and is easy to maintain. It prefers sunlight, so if you are going to keep it indoors, keep it near a sunny window. They can grow easily in every garden soil provided that it is moist and drains easily to avoid water logging. It only ever requires frequent watering sessions during prolonged dry spells.
11. Common Rue
The common rue or Ruta graveolens is an aromatic short-lived perennial herb. It has a shrub-like growth habit. The plant has colored foliage that has a fern-like appearance, and it produces plentiful small flowers during the summertime. These flowers aid the plant in pollination by attracting insects and birds.
– Characteristics
The plant’s foliage produces its signature fragrance and has blue-green color.
It produces attractive tiny yellow flowers, a great source of attraction for butterflies, birds, and parasitic wasps. The herb has a moderate growth rate and is planted in spring.
– Growth Requirements
The herb is typically planted in the form of nursery plants. The plant grows best under full sun exposure, allowing it to thrive. Moist soil that has excellent drainage is mandatory for the plant’s health.
12. Venus Flytrap
Dionaea muscipula is one of the most unusual-looking plants in the world. It is one of the few plants that are not primarily grown for their appearance but instead for their function. As the name implies, it is a carnivorous plant that attracts and eats flies and other insects. These plants attract and entrap insects with their special modified leaves.
– Characteristics
This predator plant uses unique leaves as “traps,” two lip-like lobes connected with a hinge. The inside of this trap is filled with nectar that acts as bait for the unsuspecting insects.
Once they fly in and hit one of the trigger hairs, the trap shuts down, and the insect is digested by enzymes in the next couple of days.
– Growth Requirements
The plant’s requirements are not different from any other plant except for a few special precautions. One of them is that you may need to feed it live insects to keep it alive. The plant requires extended sun exposure. It also needs nutrient-poor, wet, and acidic soils and prefers rainwater over regular tap water.
Conclusion
Flea-repelling plants are both interesting and useful because their fragrances are pleasant for humans yet repulsive to the usual miniature garden menaces. When you decide to plant one of these aromatic plants, keep in consideration that:
- Many of these are flowering plants that will need sunlight and moist soil to survive healthily.
- Some of these plants, such as mint, sage, and rosemary, are edible and are key ingredients in many different dishes.
- Lemongrass, balm mint, and mint are commonly used to extract their essential oils, which are used in many products.
- They are low-maintenance plants that are beginner friendly. You can choose mint, marigolds, and lavender for a hassle-free gardening experience.
So which pest-repellent plant will make its way to your garden? There are so many fragrant plants to choose from, that you’ll definitely have a hard time deciding.
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