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The Daily Insight

What plants repel bees

Author

Olivia Owen

Published Apr 05, 2026

1 – Cucumber. One of the most popular plants that would make a fine addition to any garden is the cucumber. … 2 – Basil. … 3 – Marigolds. … 4 – Geraniums. … 5 – Mint. … 6 – Eucalyptus. … 7 – Wormwood. … 8 – Pennyroyal.

What kind of plant repels bees?

Geraniums. Geraniums can be helpful in repelling bees, particularly red geraniums, as bees cannot see the color red. It may seem counterintuitive that a flower would repel bees, but these flowers contain little to no pollen and have a scent that the stinging pest does not particularly like.

What will repel bees?

Pennyroyal, neem, mint, cloves, eucalyptus, and citronella all have strong smells that deter bees. Red germaniums and red marigolds are among the few bee repellent plants that produce flowers.

What kind of flowers do bees hate?

Avoid Violet, Blue And Yellow Flowers Bees’ favorite colors are blue, violet and yellow, so planting these hues in your garden is like putting out a all-you-can-eat buffet sign. Avoid planting bee-favorites like sunflowers, violets, lavender, foxglove and crocuses.

How do I keep bees away from my porch?

Peppermint, basil, eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella, and pennyroyal repel bees. Consider growing peppermint or basil near your porch or in pots along your deck to keep them away.

Do hydrangeas attract bees?

The fertile flowers of hydrangeas are small and insignificant and not as showy to our eyes but are heavily frequented by bees. Lacecap hydrangeas have a broad central cluster of fertile flowers surrounded by showy infertile flowers. … Bees love its flowers and so do we.

What plant keeps wasps away?

However, naturally-repellent plants do exist and include mint, wormwood, lemongrass, citronella, clove, pennyroyal, sage, rosemary, geranium, chamomile, thyme, fennel, wintergreen, and sweet marjoram. Cucumber peels may also repel wasps. If you want to kill wasps naturally, insectivorous plants will do the trick.

Do marigolds attract bees?

Marigolds are attractive to bees provided you choose a variety with open centers, so insects can easily find the yellow florets. Little ‘Gem’ marigolds fit this description, but they are not as long-blooming as many French marigolds, which are the preferred type among pollinators in my garden.

Do marigolds keep bees away?

Marigolds are common companion plants, especially for food crops. … As to the question, “will marigolds keep bees away,” there is no proven science that they will, but a lot of folk wisdom seems to indicate that they can. The plants do not repel honeybees, however. Marigolds and honeybees go together like beans and rice.

Do lavender plants repel wasps?

Lavender (Lavendula) is prized for its beautiful flowers, which have a pleasant scent. In fact, the essential oil from the flowers is used for a number of purposes, including aromatherapy. … Rather than repelling wasps, however, lavender’s showy, fragrant flowers attract them and other pollinators.

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How do I keep bees away from my house naturally?

  1. Peppermint plants.
  2. Cucumber peels.
  3. Potted Marigolds.
  4. Cinnamon.
  5. Organic baby powder.
  6. Crushed garlic.
  7. Vanilla mixed with baby oil on your skin.

How do you get rid of bees naturally?

Mix equal parts vinegar and water and place the mixture in a spray bottle. At night, spray the mixture on the nest, but be sure to wear protective clothing and beware of agitated bees. This mixture is lethal to the bees, and the process may have to be repeated to remove the entire swarm.

How do I get rid of bees around my house?

Vinegar Mixture You are sure to have vinegar in your kitchen and it can help you get rid of annoying bees in your house too. All you need to do is take one tablespoon of vinegar in three-quarters of water, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray it on the hive.

How do I get rid of bees flying around my deck?

  1. 1 – Try Sprinkling Cinnamon Under the Deck. If there is a hive under your deck, then you likely want to be able to relocate the bees. …
  2. 2 – Mothballs. …
  3. 3 – Consider Planting Bee-Repelling Plants. …
  4. 4 – Call a Local Beekeeper. …
  5. 5 – Kill the Bees with Sprays. …
  6. 6 – Call Exterminators.

Why are bumble bees hanging around my deck?

More than likely you have something on your deck that the bee likes to smell. Once they find something they like they tend to return to it repeatedly. You may have noticed a lot of pollen collecting on cars parked outside – the bumblebees love that so it’s not surprising they’re hanging around right now.

How do I get rid of bumble bees around my deck?

  1. Mixing up a vinegar spray is an easy way remove bumble bees. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water and put it into a spray bottle or can. …
  2. Citrus is another good way to ward off bumble bees. …
  3. The sweetest way to get rid of bumble bees without killing them is to use cinnamon .

Does lemongrass repel bees?

Lemongrass The plant acts as a strong repellent for many of the common flying pests we’ve all come to hate.

Do Wasps like lemongrass?

Wasps have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find food sources. You can take advantage of this trait by using scents they dislike, such as peppermint, lemongrass, clove, and geranium essential oils, vinegar, sliced cucumber, bay leaves, scented herbs, and geranium flowers.

Do Hostas attract bees?

Bees are particularly attracted to bee balm, echinacea, snap dragon, and hostas, as well as a number of other wildflowers like California poppies and evening primrose. … The fragrant foliage of bee balm (also know as wild bergamot) will attract pollinators to your garden.

What color do bees hate?

Bees and wasps instinctively perceive dark colors as a threat. Wear white, tan, cream, or gray clothing as much as possible and avoid black, brown, or red clothes. Bees and wasps see the color red as black, so they perceive it as a threat.

Do bees like lavender?

If you ever wondered, does lavender attract bees, then you’ll be pleased to know it’s a great addition. Lavender is one of the most versatile plants on our list, ideal for gardens, pots, flowerbeds and anywhere else you want to include it.

Are petunias good for bees?

Bedding plants like busy Lizzies, petunias, geraniums and begonias may look colourful but provide little or no nourishment for bees. … Late summer is a critical time for bees, when food is often short. Fortunately there are masses of colourful late-summer plants they’ll happily feed on.

Are bees attracted to African marigolds?

Besides marigolds being a source of food for bees, marigold flowers also attract bees because of their coloration. Bees have good color vision, and so, the marigolds’ yellow color attracts them to the flower. Bees’ perfect color vision helps them find flowers and the nectar and pollen they offer.

What color flowers do not attract bees?

Bees are attracted to a variety of bright colors, but blue, yellow and purple flowers are the most attractive to bees. Avoid flowers with those bloom colors and opt for flowers with red blooms. Bees do not see red — it appears black to them — so red flowers do not attract bees.

Which summer bedding plants do bees like?

  • Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum). …
  • Alyssum (Alyssum maritimum). …
  • Cherry Pie (Heliotropium arborescens). …
  • Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus). …
  • Salvias (Salvia species). …
  • Snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus). …
  • Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus). …
  • Sweet Peas (Lathyrus odoratus).

Do bees like daisies?

Flat or shallow blossoms, such as daisies, zinnias, asters and Queen Anne’s lace, will attract the largest variety of bees. Long-tongued bees will be attracted to plants in the mint family, such as nepeta, salvia, oregano, mint and lavender.

Do bees like lemongrass plants?

If you want to increase your chance of successfully attracting a swarm, you can add an attractant to your bait hive. Lemongrass is very similar to the queen bee’s scent. Honeybees find the mixture of lemongrass and beeswax irresistible.

Do bees like peppermint?

Peppermint Bees want to avoid the smell of peppermint in the areas and plants they hang around. … Cinnamon Spreading cinnamon in areas that bees frequent is a great way to drive them off. You do have to make sure to do it daily for at least a week, but it will have a lasting effect.

Do wasps like peppermint?

Not only do wasps stay away from spearmint, they don’t seem to like any type of mint, which is why peppermint oil can be so effective at repelling them. A study published in the Journal of Pest Management Science in 2013, reported outstanding results with peppermint oil.

Do Yellow Jackets hate lavender?

The study of 21 essential oils found that 17 were effective in repelling yellowjackets and paper wasps: clove, pennyroyal, lemongrass, ylang ylang, spearmint, wintergreen, sage, rosemary, lavender, geranium, patchouli, citronella, Roman chamomile, thyme, fennel seed, anise and peppermint.

Why are bees swarming around my house?

Mild winters, overcrowding and the presence of the old queen all predispose a bee colony to swarm. Swarming is part of the yearly life cycle of the honeybee. During the winter, the queen bee lays eggs and the population of the colony grows, causing congestion in the nest.