Plants That Actually Keep Bees and Wasps Away

Basil

Basil is a popular herb to grow indoors in potted plants or outdoors in an herb garden. Not only is basil great in pesto, but it’s also a natural bee and wasp repellant. Those insects dislike the herb’s strong smell.

If you plant basil, find a spot where it’ll receive lots of heat and sun. Just be careful when it starts to bloom, as pollinators might be attracted to the flowers.

Bay Leaf

Another strongly scented herb is the bay leaf or bay laurel. Though not as popular to grow as basil, it adds a delightful flavor to any meal and boasts many health benefits.

Again, it is bay leaf’s scent—pleasant to us, offensive to them—that is thought to deter bees and wasps.

Begonias

Begonias are low-maintenance and beautiful flowers that, surprisingly, don’t attract bees very often. This flower does not produce enough nectar for bees to be overly interested, making them a perfect addition to a bee-free garden.

Cardinal Flowers

While planting flowers to keep bees and wasps away might seem counterintuitive, many flowers are naturally less attractive to these insects. Cardinal flowers are one of them.

The bright red color of these flowers doesn’t attract bees because they simply can’t see red. Bees aren’t attracted to the grey-toned/black color they see instead and will go elsewhere to pollinate.

Catnip

Catnip is a fast-spreading and sun-loving perennial herb that has the potential to ward off bees and wasps. The plant’s essential oil does the trick, as it’s another unpleasant, strong scent many pests don’t like.

However, this plant does require pollination and may attract bees during its annual bloom. So, while you should certainly use its oil as a natural repellant, it might be best to plant this herb in conjunction with stronger deterring plants from this list.

Chives

The strong smell of chives can deter wasps. Like garlic and onions, chives are part of the allium family, and their powerful odors keep many pests away, including carrot flies and aphids.

However, chives can still attract pollinators like bees, so it’s best to plant them among other bee-deterring herbs.

Citronella

Citronella is widely known as a natural bug repellant. The plant’s lemony scent may also have an added deterrent effect on bees and wasps. Be careful planting this one, though.

The plant is known to cause skin irritation and is toxic to pets. If you want a similar effect without risking harm to your four-legged friends, you could purchase a commercial citronella product instead.

Clove

Bees and wasps also don’t like the scent of clove. Known for their dried flower buds used for cooking and baking, clove trees make a nice addition to any garden. But they are most effective in combination with other bee- and wasp-repelling plants.

The downside is that these are slow-growing, so you must plant well before pollinator season and be prepared for a significant time investment.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers don’t have much of a scent, but they do have acid in their peels. Bees and wasps don’t like that at all. This edible plant is within the gourd family, and it is easy to grow at home.

The plant leaves a great natural repellant, but the effects might be even more significant after they’re harvested. Another effective way to deter bees and wasps with cucumbers is to scatter leftover cucumber peel around the patio to keep the stingers away.

Eucalyptus

Both eucalyptus oil and its scent act as natural bee and wasp deterrents. Eucalyptus is best planted in the spring and can grow several feet yearly.

It’s also widely known as an effective insect repellant for ants and mosquitoes. If you plant eucalyptus, be extra careful. The bark, sap, and leaves are toxic to people and pets.

Ferns

Non-flowering plants are a preventative measure to keep bees and wasps away in the first place. Because they have no pollen, pollinators are just not that into them.

Ferns are a great option because they are generally not attractive to pests and bugs, aside from the occasional ant or aphid.

Garlic

Another way to protect your garden from bees and wasps is by planting garlic. While some foodies love it, many people and animals do not like garlic’s very strong smell.

Garlic should be planted in the fall as it prefers cooler weather. But, its smell can keep away unwanted bugs during the warmer months too.

Geraniums

Though suggesting flowers as natural bee and wasp repellents may seem odd, geraniums can be just that. Geraniums have very little pollen, so they don’t attract many pollinators.

If you do plant geraniums as a deterrent, it is best to plant red ones. Bees can’t see the color and aren’t drawn to the plant.

Lavender

This suggestion might be controversial, as both lavender flowers and the scent can draw bees looking to pollinate. However, the smell does not attract wasps. Both bees and wasps strongly dislike lavender essential oil.

So if you’re considering lavender for the garden, plant it farther from the patio and consider making essential oil from its bloom.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is an ornamental grass well known for its insect-repelling properties. Mosquitoes most notably despise the scent.

However, lemongrass oil produces a scent that bees and wasps also find unpleasant. Plant this in your garden so they’ll stay away.

Marigolds

Marigolds are a great companion flower to plant in any garden because they are low-maintenance and effective natural pest deterrent.

Their chemical compounds make their scent unpleasant for many insects, making them useful for keeping bees and wasps away. There are several types of marigold plants, so there’s enough variety to match any garden.

Mint

Mint leaves have a powerful smell that might appeal to some humans but not to pests. This harsh reality makes it a popular and effective plant choice to keep bees and wasps away. If you plan on growing mint, use a growing container or pot because the plant loves to spread.

Onion

Bees are not attracted to onion nectar. Some say bees don’t like the high potassium content in the nectar.1

Although they are a kitchen staple for humans, onions are effective pest deterrents against aphids, rabbits, and more.

Pennyroyal

With a similar scent to mint, bees and wasps stay away from pennyroyal. Pennyroyal is a relatively small plant that is easy to grow. Pennyroyal also discourages ants, mosquitoes, and even unwanted wandering cats.

Peppermint

Continuing the mint-repellent trend, peppermint has similar bug-repellant properties. It is a hybrid between spearmint and watermint.

Another excellent natural option against several pests (including bees and wasps), peppermint oil should be scattered in places where you’ve often seen wasps. This can keep the stingers away even if your mint leaves are running low.

Red lillies

Lilies are beautiful garden flowers. Because bees can’t see the color red, planting any variety of red lilies will keep bees looking for greener grass elsewhere. Be careful, though, as some common types of lilies contain a toxin fatal to cats but not dogs or humans.

Red Roses

Shape, scent, and color are all elements of a flower that will affect whether bees and wasps are attracted to them. Dark red and closed-flower roses won’t attract very many bees. These roses aren’t appealing because bees can’t see that shade of red nor have easy access to the pollen.

Rosemary

Much like lavender, rosemary’s woody scent can repel wasps and yellowjackets. However, the herb can still attract pollinating bees.

It might be more effective to plant rosemary alongside other naturally deterring plants to see a reduction in unwanted buzzing insects.

Rue

Rue is a medicinal herb that can be highly effective at keeping wasps away. Covering its leaves and stems, rue has oil glands that secrete an intense and acrid-smelling oil that can be a lot—even for humans.

Plus, its tiny flowers aren’t usually attractive to bees. Instead, they do attract butterflies. Beware that the leaves and flowers are toxic to humans and pets.

Sage

Sage is another fragrant herb that could deter wasps, particularly if its leaves are crushed to release aromatic oils. It is also one of the easiest herbs to grow, and it can be planted in the spring or fall. Sage is easy to add to any herb garden.

Spearmint

While peppermint is generally considered more effective than spearmint at deterring bees or wasps, spearmint can still have a mild deterrent effect on wasps. Wasps dislike the strong smell, but bees could still be drawn to their blooming flowers.

Thyme

Not just great for cooking, thyme can also be a natural wasp and pest deterrent. This low-maintenance perennial has a scent that makes the garden area less attractive to wasps. But it’s best to plant thyme alongside other deterring herbs for maximum effect.

Trumpet Flower

Trumpet flowers got their name from the flower’s tubular shape. Bees aren’t drawn to trumpet flowers because the shape makes it challenging to gather nectar. While these flowers keep pests away, they are attractive to hummingbirds.

There are many different trumpet flower varieties, like angel’s trumpet or trumpet creeper. This means there’s plenty of room for gardeners to pick one that best suits their yard. A red variety takes the cake, as bees can’t see the color.

Wintergreen

Wintergreen is a low-maintenance groundcover plant that has a neutral effect on wasps and bees. Much like ferns, wintergreen doesn’t attract or repel these insects because it doesn’t flower very much and only has slightly aromatic leaves. Wintergreens are relatively easy to plant and are a welcomed sight in the winter.

Wormwood

Artemisia, commonly known as wormwood, is a well-known natural insect deterrent. Wasps don’t like its acrid smell. Though the slightly bitter scent isn’t entirely unpleasant to humans, Artemisia can be mildly toxic for people, especially pets.

It has a compound called absinthe, which is harmful to insects and keeps them at bay. Place wormwood in pots near entryways or patios to keep bees and wasps away.