Last Updated April 11, 2023
If you’re looking for a natural way to keep insects away from your vegetable garden, try planting flowers! Studies have shown that planting certain kinds of plants near other plants – or companion planting – can help keep unwanted pests away from your garden without the need for chemicals. In fact, some of our favorite flowers repel insects through fragrance, oils, or even colors. Read on to learn about the best flowers for a vegetable garden that deter pests!
Table of Contents:
- Asters
- Calendula
- Chrysanthemums
- Geraniums
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Nasturtiums
- Petunias
- Tansy
Asters
The aster is a pretty perennial that works well as a border for vegetable gardens. That’s because asters repel almost all insects. You can plant asters with sunflowers for a colorful effect, or on their own as an effective insect repellent. With the right garden placement, you could keep those unwanted pests far away from your vegetable plants.
Calendula
If you want pretty flowers that deter garden pests, you can’t do better than calendula. Calendula flowers may resemble the marigold, but this flower is actually an herb known for its antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Calendula is especially helpful at repelling asparagus beetles and tomato hornworms, and can be planted near almost any kind of vegetable or herb.
Chrysanthemums
If your garden has an issue with spider mites or nematodes, consider planting chrysanthemums to drive them away. Chrysanthemums are a top choice among flowers that deter pests because they are both colorful and easy to grow. They work best when planted near tomato plants, but avoid planting chrysanthemums near lettuce.
Geraniums
One of the best flowers to protect your cabbage or other leafy greens is geraniums. Geraniums are a favorite flower for their attractive blooms, but they also repel cabbageworms, corn earworms, Japanese beetles, and more. You can plant geraniums among your vegetables or cabbage patch for maximum insect-repelling results.
Lavender
To humans, lavender gives off a pleasant aroma that is a favorite for many of us, but most animals and insects won’t come near it. This is good news for gardeners, who can plant lavender to help keep mosquitos and other insects at bay. Lavender can be planted with roses and herbs like rosemary, but does not get along well with mint or impatiens.
Marigolds
Marigolds are more pretty flowers that help a vegetable garden avoid insects. Marigolds are a great all-around insect-repelling flower that works near a variety of different vegetables. These flowers are especially helpful at repelling Mexican bean beetles and nematodes, making them a great companion to tomato, pepper, potato, and eggplant
Nasturtiums
If aphids are chewing up your garden, it’s time to plant some nasturtiums. Easy to grow and pretty in bloom, nasturtiums repel aphids, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles, and whiteflies. Plant nasturtiums near beans, cabbages, and cucumbers to ensure an insect-free growing season.
Related Topic: Selecting the Best Organic Fertilizer for Your Vegetable Garden
Petunias
For gardens that feature beans, squash, or potatoes, another great insect-repelling flower you should consider is petunias. Petunias naturally repel a range of insects that target bean plants, squash, and potato plants. They also attract hummingbirds! Plant petunias near tomato plants for optimum results.
Tansy
Tansy is an herbaceous perennial that can keep ants, flying insects, and several kinds of beetles away from your vegetable garden. Tansy works well when planted near potato and squash plants, but avoid planting it near collard greens.
Next Up: Use Mulch to Deter Insects
Now that you know about some of the best insect-repelling flowers for your garden, you can make real progress toward reducing unwanted pests, naturally. But did you also know that mulch can help keep insects away from your garden as well? There are many benefits of using mulch in your garden.
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FAQs
Nasturtiums. If aphids are chewing up your garden, it's time to plant some nasturtiums. Easy to grow and pretty in bloom, nasturtiums repel aphids, squash bugs, striped pumpkin beetles, and whiteflies. Plant nasturtiums near beans, cabbages, and cucumbers to ensure an insect-free growing season.
What flower keeps bugs off tomatoes? ›
Petunias
Another great flower to have in your vegetable garden are petunias. Known for warding off tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, leafhoppers, and squash bugs, petunias are a pesticide-free way to protect your garden from unwanted pests.
What is the best flower for pest control? ›
Chrysanthemums
Also known as mums, these common garden plants can help you keep roaches, ants, beetles, ticks, lice, fleas and mites away from your home. Chrysanthemums are part of the Pyrethrum genus. Extracts from mums, and other flowers in this category, can actually kill many of these insects.
Which flower is excellent at repelling insects? ›
Chrysanthemums. These flowers contain pyrethrum, a natural insecticide that is used in many bug repellants sold in stores. The flowers are great for repelling ants, beetles, roaches, mosquitos, and other pests. Plant them in areas like entryways and patio areas to keep bugs away.
What can I put on my vegetable plants to keep bugs from eating them? ›
How to Keep Bugs out of Your Garden Naturally
- Companion Planting. Companion planting is one of the best ways to keep bugs away from your favorite vegetables or flowers. ...
- Beneficial Insects. ...
- Neem Oil. ...
- Organic Bug Sprays. ...
- Insecticidal Soap Spray. ...
- Garlic Spray. ...
- Vinegar Spray. ...
- Physical Barriers.
The panelists also answer questions from viewers, clarifying that marigolds do not repel insects as commonly believed. They explain that marigolds are not pest-resistant and, in fact, attract insects like aphids, leafhoppers, and cutworms.
What do you plant next to tomatoes to keep the bugs away? ›
Basil helps tomatoes to overcome insects and diseases. Basil repels flies, mosquitoes, aphids, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms, reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Basil attracts bees, butterflies, beneficial insects, and pollinators, improving pollination.
What are the best flowers for vegetable garden? ›
The best flowers for deterring pests are marigolds, sage, lavender, borage, catmint, and geraniums. Marigolds are probably the most well known of these options because of their natural ability to repel nematodes. This aids in the growth of many fruiting veggies such as tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, squash, etc.
What flowers should not be planted near vegetables? ›
Oleander and Foxglove, while beautiful, shouldn't be planted near your vegetables. All parts of these plants are toxic and harmful to your health. Gladiolus should be kept out of the garden especially if you're growing legumes like peas and beans.
What flower is a natural pest control? ›
The marigold is probably the most well known plant for repelling insects. French marigolds repel whiteflies and kill bad nematodes. Mexican marigolds are said to “bug” many destructive insects.
Plant them around the edges of beds
The vivid blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red are great flowers to attract bees and other pollinators into your vegetable garden.
Are geraniums good for vegetable garden? ›
Geraniums and cabbage: Geraniums are a beautiful addition to your vegetable garden, and they're a great choice for attracting pollinators. (And we need to be doing all we can to help them!)
What plant keeps bugs out of the garden? ›
Chrysanthemums. This might be the best plant to deter bugs. Ants, Japanese beetles, roaches, bed bugs, spider mites, silverfish, and ticks will stay away if you have some of these around. Some bug repellents use an ingredient in this flower because of how effective it is.
What flower keeps aphids away? ›
Plants that Naturally Repel Aphids
Planting garlic, chives, leeks, catnip, fennel, dill and cilantro will help repel aphids. Marigolds are also known to drive away a number of unwanted pests.
What flowers are best for a vegetable garden? ›
The best pollinator-attracting flowers for vegetable gardens include sunflowers, cosmos, zinnias, and borage.
What companion plants keep bugs away? ›
GARLIC - Repels Japanese beetles and aphids, but keep away from peas and beans. GREEN BEANS - Repels Colorado potato beetles. ROSEMARY-Repels bean beetles, cabbage moths, and carrot flies. SAGE- Repels cabbage moths and carrot flies.
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