A new study has found that the use of plants to repel flies can be effective. The number one plant on the list is lavender and there are also a wide range of other great choices for your home garden.
Flies are unattractive animals, as you can see from the picture above. They’re not only not the nicest peaches on the tree, but they’re also a pain to get rid of.
During the summer months, when you and your family want to spend time outdoors, flies are constantly landing on your meals, buzzing about your ears, and racing around your face and arms.
We’ve made it our duty in this post to rescue your picnics and family gatherings by giving you 21 of the greatest fly-repellent plants!
Let’s get this party started.
Contents Table of Contents
Contents
1. Flytrap of Venus
The Venus Flytrap is a fly-eating machine and one of the most often utilized plants by homeowners to repel flies. Sweet nectar is secreted by the blooming red interior and rims laced with sensory hairs, fooling flies into believing they’ve discovered a delicacy.
When the fly brushes up against the sensitive hairs, the plant’s mouth closes in a fraction of a second, trapping the fly within. The Venus Flytrap’s acidic secretions then bubble up, digesting the fly alive and slowly taking its nutrition.
Placing a potted Venus Flytrap (or two) around your outdoor dining area can significantly reduce the number of flies in your house. In addition, the Venus Flytrap has a unique appearance that will complement your outdoor décor.
Venus Flytraps may be found at your local plant nursery or on Amazon.
2. Woodruff (sweet)
Cinnamon, honey, and vanilla fragrances pervade this fragrant shrub with dazzling white blooms. Woodruff is a very invasive plant that, if not controlled, will take over your whole garden. Although fast-growing plants might be a nuisance, having Sweet Woodruff cover portions of your yard to repel flies may be a good thing.
Their fly-repelling abilities are so effective that merely dusting dried Woodruff about your house entrances is enough to keep flies away (and other insects).
Flies may be kept at bay by planting Sweet Woodruff near porches and decks. However, as previously indicated, drying and hanging (or crushed and spraying) umbrella leaves near house entrances is also an efficient fly repellent.
Sweet Woodruff seeds may be found at your local plant nursery.
3. Tansy
The Tansy plant’s vivid yellow blossoms are enough to make a fly’s skin crawl. The Tansy, however colorful and aromatic, may irritate humans and dogs, particularly youngsters and those with sensitive skin.
This is also not a fly-repelling plant that can be eaten, unlike some of the other alternatives on our list. Tansy should never be eaten (by humans or animals), and it’s better to avoid even brushing up to them.
Tansys should be planted in pots and placed in higher-up spots around your house or in outdoor dining spaces.
Tansy seeds may be found at your local plant nursery.
Plant of the Bay Laurel
Bay leaves are not only tasty and good for seasoning Italian recipes, but they are also effective insect repellents. The mouthwatering aroma of Bay is enough to make us salivate, yet it is overwhelming and repulsive to flies.
Flies will be scared away just by having these plants nearby. When many leaves are collected and put adjacent to an outdoor dining area or house doors and windows, bay plants perform best to prevent flies.
Plants for Bay Laurel may be found at your local nursery or on Amazon.
5. Marjoram
Marigolds are beautiful flowers that come in a variety of reds, oranges, and yellows. These flowers are popular among gardeners since they are brightly colored and simple to maintain and cultivate. When Marigolds are involved, even the blackest of thumbs may become brilliant green.
Gardeners adore them, but flies despise them. Terpenes, oils found in the leaves of Marigolds, making the flower disagreeable to flies and other insects like mosquitoes.
Marigolds may be found at your local plant nursery or on Amazon.
Nasturtium (nasturtium)
Nasturtiums are fantastic companion plants that play along with even the most fragile of vegetation, despite their brilliant orange blossoms and enormous bundles of leaves.
Nasturtiums release a chemical into the air that repels scavenging insects and flies. This plant would be ideal for keeping flies and other unpleasant bug crawlies away from vegetable and fruit plants.
Nasturtiums may be found at your local plant nursery or on Amazon.
7. Mint
Mint has a toxin called mentha, which keeps flies away from your house or garden. The Mentha component is present in all mint types, including Peppermint and Spearmint, and is responsible for the plant’s distinctive minty fragrance.
Mints are tough plants that, if left alone, would quickly take over your yard, which is why we suggest planting them in pots near your house or outdoor dining area.
Mints are a powerful fly repellent, whether you just keep the plant hanging about your meeting locations or employ mint oils topically.
Mint seeds may be found at your local plant nursery.
Wormwood (number 8)
Wormwood may be planted in your yard and used as a fully harmless topical pesticide if you have a regular issue with flies becoming way too comfortable with you.
Wormwood leaves contain chemicals that repel insects when crushed and put on the skin. You may also use Wormwood to keep flies away by hanging or putting the dried leaves near your entryway, windows, or in the rooms of your house.
Wormwood seeds may be found at your local plant nursery or on Amazon.
Rue Plant (nine)
Rue is a strong-smelling plant that repels insects just by being planted. These plants thrive in poor soil, and they’ll reseed themselves after the first year (which means less work for you)!
It is not necessary to apply Rue’s oils topically in order for them to serve as a fly repellent. Simply put these plants near your house or a gathering spot outside and watch the flies go.
Rue seeds may be found at your local nursery or on Amazon.
Lavender is number ten.
Lavender is recognized for purifying the air in homes and gardens, and it’s the same lovely perfume that warns flies to “buzz off!”
This plant may be cultivated both indoors and outside. Place a few lavender plants inside or near the entrances of your home if you primarily want to keep flies out. When lavender is grown near porches, it deters flies from getting too close while you’re outdoors.
Lavender is also one of several fragrant plants that repel spiders, which is great news for those who are afraid of spiders.
Lavender may be found at your local nursery or on Amazon.
11. Basil
Basil, a popular ingredient in Italian cuisine, is another tasty plant with anti-fly properties.
Basil grows well in pots and thrives in the home. If permitted to expand, it will take over your garden, but if kept in check, it is an excellent companion plant for keeping flies and other insects away from your foods, flowers, and you.
It’s important to restrict the basil from blossoming if you want the fly-repelling properties to be as effective as possible. If your Basil plant begins to blossom, just cut off the branches containing the buds and everything should be OK.
Basil seeds may be found at your local plant nursery or on Amazon.
Carnivorous Sundew Plant No. 12
The carnivorous Sundew, one of the most effective opponents of fruit flies, would be a welcome addition to any fruit-filled kitchen, garden, or patio.
The Sundew secretes enticing nectar that attracts flies right away. After luring the fly in with its sticky tentacles, the Sundew catches it and kills it within 15 minutes. The buzzing pest will then be digested by a Sundew, which will take a week or two before its body is completely eaten.
Sundews are not only great fly-killers, but they’re also unusual to look at, making for an unusual home plant that will draw the attention of your family and guests.
Sundews may be found at a local plant nursery or on Amazon.
Pitcher Plant that Eats Flys
The Pitcher Plant, the last carnivorous plant on our list, is a reliable fly-trapper. The Pitcher Plant is a lethargic predator, unlike the Sundew, which adheres to and coils around its victim, or the Venus Flytrap, which clamps its jaws shut. It doesn’t do much but sit and wait.
The Pitcher Plant, like its carnivorous cousins, secretes a delicious nectar that flies find enticing. The plant’s pit contains a digesting juice. When a fly lands on the Pitcher Plant’s sticky material, it slowly falls towards the pooled liquid and is consumed.
Pitcher Plants are available at your local nursery or on Amazon.
Clove Buds and Clove Oils, No. 14
Cloves are one of our favorite plants for repelling flies among all the plants that repel flies. Their unmistakable perfume transports us to Thanksgiving and Christmas, filling our hearts and homes with joy.
Cloves’ beloved scent, on the other hand, is nothing to remember about for flies. Clove essential oils and dried clove buds are powerful fly repellents. Clove buds placed on a slice of citrus fruit or in a dish can keep flies away from your house or your outdoor sitting area.
You may also apply a few drops of Clove essential oil to your skin or soak a small cloth in the oil and hang it where you want to keep flies away.
Clove essential oil may be found on Amazon in a pure, organic form.
Chives (15.)
Chives go well with salads, soups, and a variety of other foods. But did you know that they make excellent vegetable garden companion plants?
The mature onion aroma of these plants repels carrot flies and other vegetable-eating insects. They get along with all plants, so there’s no need to be concerned about putting them near more sensitive plants.
You may also apply these plants on your skin to keep flies (and perhaps even humans) away if you don’t mind smelling like onions.
Chives may be found at your local plant nursery or on Amazon.
Lemongrass, no. 16
Anything with a lemon fragrance is nearly always a good insect repellent. That’s why Lemongrass is so effective in repelling flies.
The thick leaves of this citrus plant are ideal for gardening and landscaping, since they can fill up any empty spots. Planting them in beds around your house is a terrific method to keep flies away and keep them out of your personal area.
Lemongrass is available at your local plant nursery.
Cinnamon and Cinnamon Oils, No. 17
Cinnamon, while widely used to repel ants, is also an effective fly repellent.
Flies will be kept at bay by placing cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon in a basin in your kitchen or on your patio. Cinnamon essential oil, on the other hand, is much more effective. Cinnamon essential oil has a higher concentration of cinnamon, which makes the aroma stronger and more irritating to flies.
Place a tiny towel soaked with Cinnamon essential oil where you wish to keep flies away, and voilà! You’ve created a really effective fly repellent.
Cinnamon essential oil may be found on Amazon in a clean, organic form.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
Eucalyptus has been acclaimed for its therapeutic powers for generations, and it has been recognized as an excellent pesticide since the 1940s.
The strong aroma of Eucalyptus tree leaves is enough to keep flies away on its own, but Eucalyptus essential oil is far more concentrated and effective.
Flies may be deterred from approaching you by dabbing a few drops of the oil on your skin.
Amazon sells Eucalyptus essential oil that is pure and organic.
Cayenne pepper, number 19 (As a Spray)
Cayenne pepper is a hot pepper with a lot of heat. Only a modest quantity of chili powder is used in recipes to give a little heat. Flies can’t handle this pepper since it’s so unpleasant.
Cayenne is best used as a fly repellent in the form of a spray. Simply combine powdered Cayenne with water and spray it over the exterior of your windows and doors or near your porch. Flies and other insects will be deterred by the pungent odor.
Make sure you don’t inhale the solution or get it in your eyes or on your injured skin. After spraying, always wash your hands.
Organic ground Cayenne Pepper may be found on Amazon or at your local health food shop.
Cucumber Slices (20)
Cucumbers may be used to keep flies away. Who’d have guessed?
Simply slice a few cucumbers and arrange them anywhere you don’t want flies to congregate. This will keep the bugs at bay and convert your home into a no-fly zone.
(Did you pick up on the double entendre?)
Cucumber seeds may be purchased at your local plant nursery or on Amazon if you want to raise your own fly-fighting Cucumbers.
Fresh Orange (number 21) (Peel)
Cloves may be inserted into a slice of citrus fruit to repel flies, as we said before while discussing cloves. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, are too powerful for a fly’s senses to handle.
When you’re outdoors, cut up a fresh orange peel and place it near you to keep flies away from your food and skin. You may also use orange peels on your window sills to keep flies away from your open entry.
Let’s Talk About Fly Control
We’ll go over some extra measures you may take to deter flies from making your house theirs now that we’ve covered the plants that repel flies.
To begin with, flies adore waste. We often notice flies swarming our trash cans or food that has been left out for more than 5 minutes, so this is a no-brainer. Remember not to leave exposed food out or rubbish in the bin for too long if you want to keep flies out of your house as much as possible. To keep flies out of your kitchen, always throw away the garbage at the end of the day.
Animal excrement attracts flies as well. If you have an indoor cat or a litterbox, be sure to clean it regularly. Clean behind your kitchen appliances as well to remove any debris that might attract flies and cause them to reproduce in your house.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, if you want to keep flies out of your house, don’t leave doors or windows open for long periods of time. If you like to leave your doors and windows open during the warmer months, you may install screens to keep flies out.
Last Thoughts
Flies are disgusting and inconvenient, and having them swarm your house and yard is not ideal. Thankfully, there are a number of plants that repel flies!
We’ve reviewed 21 of the best plants for repelling flies, as well as some preventative measures you may take to keep these pesky guests at bay. Hopefully, we’ve given you some suggestions for properly warding off flies in your own house!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best plant to keep flies away?
A: Plants like lavender, mint and thyme are great for keeping flies away.
Is there a plant that flies hate?
A: The plant that flies hate is a mystery, I am sorry.
What plants drive flies away?
A: The big lavender in your front yard.
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