5 Plants That Repel Gnats

There are a variety of plants that can help you repel bugs, such as gnats. So what are 5 plans that repel gnats? Insecticides provide a quick and effective solution to bug problems but are not always the healthiest or most environmentally friendly option. Plants, on the other hand, will help you fight bugs while providing other benefits to your home and garden.

Continue reading to find out more about plants that repel gnats. 

How Do Plants Repel Gnats and Insects?

a cloud of gnats at emerald lake in Rocky Mountain national park

Plants repel insects with the help of essential oils. These tiny globules can be found in plants’ leaves, stems, and flowers.

It is possible to make your garden insect-free with the help of plants. High temperatures can cause volatile essential oils to evaporate into vapor and lose effectiveness.

When planting, it is important to remember how close plants are to one another. If they are too close, it can be difficult for pest control methods to be effective. Additionally, many insects – including mosquitoes – are food for birds and other beneficial critters.

It helps keep the population of harmful insects under control. Finally, standing water is where mosquitoes breed. If you eliminate standing water, you can greatly reduce the mosquito population around your home.

However, there are a few key things you should look for when choosing plants to repel gnats. Firstly, the plant should be harm-free to your life and the environment. Secondly, the plant must be effective in repelling pests, preferably gnats!

Finally, it is also crucial that the plant is easy to care for and does not require much maintenance.

5 Plants that repel gnats

Marigolds

Marigolds

Marigolds are a great option because different types repel bugs, including gnats.

For example, the roots of most strong-scented marigolds can repel nematodes, French Marigold: Kills nematodes and deter whiteflies, and Golden Mexican Marigold: Repels gnats, cabbage moths, and white flies.

It has a strong scent that deters gnats, rabbits, and mosquitoes. There are both scented and unscented varieties of marigold, but they will all work to some degree.

Additionally, marigolds attract spider mites and snails; so if you are using these plants for repelling gnats, be prepared with a second layer of protection. 

Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous plants are a type of plant that can kill gnats. They grow best in hardiness zones 9-11 and attract insects with sweet nectar inside their hollow stems or hinged base. These plants are attractive and safe for humans and pets.

In addition, there are a variety of carnivorous plants that can be used to repel gnats. These plants need lots of sun and moisture to thrive. The Venus flytrap is a good option for indoor use, and the pitcher plant works well indoors or in pots.

Horsemint

Horsemint

Horsemint is a perennial plant that is also popular for its strong scent that repels gnats. It is a hardy plant that can survive harsh weather conditions but cannot grow higher than 3ft.

Horsemint grows well in arid and sandy soil and can also survive salinity. The strong scent of horsemint repels gnats and mosquitoes.

Ageratum

Ageratum

Ageratum is a plant that is known for repelling gnats. It has a very strong scent that drives them away. Additionally, it contains Coumadin, which is used in producing chemical pesticides. It makes it an effective deterrent against gnats.

Ageratum blooms annually and comes in shades of pink, white, and violet. It does not necessarily require full exposure to sunlight to bloom and can be grown in shaded areas.

Ageratum leaves contain a chemical that causes skin irritation, so it is not advisable to rub them against your skin.

Rosemary

Rosemary

Rosemary is a great herb in your garden because it repels gnats and has a beautiful smell. Plant in pots and containers to bring it inside when it gets cold. You can trim Rosemary into any shape you want to create a garden beauty.

Which plants repel gnats and mosquitoes in the herb garden yard?

There are a variety of plants that can be used to repel mosquitoes and other insects from your garden or yard. Most plants repel mosquitoes with their natural fragrances.

Some popular plants that have been shown to repel mosquitoes include lavender, marigold, citronella grass, catmint, rosemary, and basil. Bee balm is a plant often used for its insect-repelling properties, but it can be poisonous if ingested.

Which house plants repel bugs and garden pests away from the backyard?

Several plants can be used in the garden to help repel bugs and pests. These plants include marigold, basil, petunias, and pitcher plants. You can help keep the area free from unwanted pests by planting these plants in your garden.

Mosquitoes, moths, and fleas are all pesky garden pests that certain plants can repel. Lavender is a great plant in your backyard as it repels all three of these bugs.

What plants keep insects away like cockroaches, chives, and ants?

Lavender, basil, thyme, and mint keep insects like cockroaches, chives, and ants away. These plants can be used in gardens or around the home to help keep pests at bay.

Lemongrass is effective in keeping gnats and chives away. While alliums and chrysanthemums work to keep cockroaches and ants at bay.

Does lavender repel bugs?

Lavender is a plant that is known for its strong scent. This scent helps to repel insects, including gnats. You can use lavender in your garden by planting it near other flowers or dry some of the leaves and hang them around your house.

What plant keeps flies away?

The most common plant that keeps flies away includes basil, lavender, rosemary, lemon balm, and sage. You can also use common marigold as a natural repellent. 

Does citronella repel gnats?

Yes, cintronella repel gnats. 

What repels gnats indoors? 

Lavender

Lavender

Lavender is a plant that is well known for its scent. It has a variety of uses, including helping with mood, insomnia, and repelling insects.

The essential oil from the lavender plant is especially beneficial in repelling insects. The scent of lavender is soothing for humans but harmful to most insects.

Basil

Basil is a great indoor plant as it helps repel gnats. You can either plant it in a pot or garden and make sure to give it plenty of sunlight exposure every morning. In addition to repelling gnats, basil also has a delicious flavor enjoyed in various dishes.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum is a flower used for centuries to repel insects.

The pyrethrum extract, which is found in pet shampoos, chemical pesticides, and indoor sprays, can be used to repel jumping insects, Japanese beetles, mosquitoes, gnats, and other unwanted insects.

Gnats are particularly susceptible to the pyrethrum extract ingredient for house use.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a plant that has a strong fragrance. It is in the Citronella family, including other plants like citronella oil and lemongrass oil. These herbs have the same benefits, but there are some variations in the recipe. One main benefit of these herbs is that they help repel gnats.

Mint

Mint leaves are often used in cocktails and have a strong scent that helps repel flying pests, such as gnats. The leaves also have a refreshing taste that can help keep you cool on a hot day.

What plant repels roaches?

You can use several plants to deter cockroaches from entering your home. Chrysanthemums, Catnip, Peppermint, and Lavender, are among the most helpful plants in this regard.

These plants release scents that cockroaches do not like, and as a result, they will be less likely to enter your home. Cats also hate fleas and bedbugs, so planting certain plants around your house may help keep these pests at bay.

How to prevent gnats and bugs in indoor plants?

How to prevent gnats and bugs in indoor plants?

To prevent bugs in indoor plants, follow these:

  • One popular way is to use essential oils or homemade repellents. 
  • Another way is to use physical barriers, like screens or netting. 
  • You can also try using traps or bait or manually removing the pests.
  • Finally, you can try using natural predators or parasites to eliminate the pests.

What flowers keep bugs away? 

Petunia

Petunia

Petunias are relatively easy to care for and have a licorice-like scent that is unpleasant to many insect pests, including gnats.

Petunias can also be used as traps; planting them near areas where you are seeing high levels of gnat activity will help lure the pests away from other plants.

While petunias are beautiful flowers, they unfortunately also attract pests such as slugs and caterpillars. These pests can quickly damage a garden or flower bed, so it is important to take precautions against them when planting petunias.

Geranium

Geranium

Geraniums are great for sunny beds and borders, attracting bees and other beneficial insects. They help repel pests like mosquitoes and wasps. Their essential oils have to make natural insect repellents

Nasturtium

Nasturtium

Nasturtium is a genus of edible flowers that have a spicy flavor and come in bright colors. They release an airborne chemical that confuses and attracts gnats.

They can also be companion crops planted along the edges of your garden to help repel these pests.

Allium

Allium

Many plants can repel insects and gnats, and Allium is one of them. This plant grows in various flowers, including chives, leeks, garlic, onions, and scallions. 

Some plants benefit from the proximity of Alliums, like tomatoes and peppers. These plants include cabbage, broccoli, potatoes, and kohlrabi.

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

In addition to the four plants listed, chrysanthemums are a natural insect repellent. They are used in insecticides, indoor sprays, pet shampoos, and aerosol bombs.

Not only do they repel roaches, mosquitoes, beetles, ants, ticks, silverfish, and lice – but they also repel fleas and bedbugs. Additionally, these plants are known to deter root-knot nematodes. Their bright color is their main appeal.

Marigold

Marigold

Marigolds are a type of flower that loves the sun. They are great for pest control and protecting other plants from pests.

Once they have grown, they will be a beautiful addition to your garden. They have a distinctive smell that wards off bugs, making them a great choice for keeping gnats away.

Conclusion

There are various methods for getting rid of gnats, but using plants is often considered the safest and most natural option. Herbs that repel gnats can be planted around your home or garden to keep the pests away.

Instead of using chemical pesticides, you might want to think about using plants that naturally keep gnats away. While these pesticides may be more effective in the short term, the gnats will develop resistance over time. Additionally, using chemical-based pesticides can cause contamination and necessitate their use consistently.

About the author

A biotechnologist by profession and a passionate pest researcher. I have been one of those people who used to run away from cockroaches and rats due to their pesky features, but then we all get that turn in life when we have to face something.