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Features · 7 mins read

15 Plants That Repel Ants

Obialor Vivian

Obialor Vivian

Updated September 28, 2024

Plants That Repel Ants
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Many individuals favor using natural insect repellents to keep ants and other pests away.

In some cases, using strong chemical insect repellents is impossible if young children or animals are nearby. 

Growing plants with potent fragrances, like herbs, can naturally deter ants.

Using plants as a natural mosquito repellant is a great idea to make your house safe for kids. 

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Here in our post, we’ll give you a list of often-found plants that repel ants.

Several methods are available, like growing plants in the ground or pots, to keep these pests at bay.

Ants communicate with one another using fragrance. Planting odor-producing materials confuses the ants’ communication, causing them to run away.

Let’s get started on some plants that repel ants in case this sounds like a good idea to you:

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1. Mint

by jbhangoo is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Mint is one of our plants that repel ants and lovely herbs with a pleasant scent.

It also has a great flavor when cooked or used to make herbal teas. However, if you want to use it to deter ants, take care when planting it. This herb has a reputation for dominating.

So, we advise container gardening for mint. This plant should thrive if you provide it with a growth environment with quick-draining soil and enough sunlight.

Planting zones three through eight should continue to be suitable for mint.

2. Tansy

by docksidepress is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Tansy is less well-known than many other plants that repel ants but have a potent ant-repelling effect.

Tansy can be grown indoors or outdoors and will produce flowers for you. Tansy’s leaves and blossoms have a potent fragrance that repels ants.

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Tansy needs at least six hours of sunlight daily, so place it there. Fertilize monthly for optimal results and a profusion of flowers during the growth season. 

3. Lavender

by osiristhe is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Lavender is also one of the plants that repels ants. When grown, it is supposed to keep ants away

To keep this plant healthy, provide it with a growth environment with at least six hours of sunlight each day and well-draining soil.

Zones five through nine should not affect the hardiness of lavender planting.

4. Anise

by geishaboy500 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Anise is a flowering herb that produces lots of foliage and tiny white blossoms.

This plant thrives in environments with fully exposed soil that drains well.

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Anise is also considered a perennial for planting in zones four through eleven.

Although it has a pleasant scent, this plant is thought to be powerful, so it is advised to use it to ward off ants.

5. Catnip

by madaise is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Catnip can be planted indoors in a container or as a beautiful outdoor plant.

No matter where it is cultivated, the herb’s rich leaves are ideal for bringing life and subdued beauty.

To plant catnip, provide a growth place with full sun and well-draining soil.

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In planting zones three through nine, you can count on these plants that repel ants to return yearly.

6. Lemongrass

by julianz is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Would you like to give your house natural plants which repel ants with a lemon scent? You ought to think about planting lemongrass.

This plant frequently gives food and drinks a natural lemon flavor.

If you want lemongrass to flourish, give it full sun and rich, swiftly draining soil.

Lemongrass is typically grown as an annual, but it is still hardy in planting zones nine and ten.

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7. Garlic

by oatsy40 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Garlic is an excellent crop to include in your garden. It has a beautiful smell and flavor, requires little upkeep, and is modest in size.

If you want garlic to deter ants, choose a growing area with quick-draining soil that stays consistently moist.

Garlic should continue to grow hardy in zones one and higher. After the first severe frost, you can plant it; after the foliage has died in the late spring, you can harvest it.

8. Pennyroyal

by CaliforniaDFW is licensed under CC BY 2.0

This is the next on our list of plants that repel ants. Pennyroyal is a lovely herb that blooms in tiny purple blossoms.

Although many people use the herb for floral arrangements, some use it in cooking.

This plant is suggested for ant control because it emits a potent mint scent.

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9. Marigold

by Swallowtail Garden Seeds is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Marigolds are stunning, vividly colored flowers typically produced to ward off harmful pests.

These flowers have an appealing smell that works. When cultivating marigolds, be careful to provide a location with direct sunlight and soil that drains properly.

To prevent fungus problems, you should space plants properly apart.

There are numerous marigold kinds, some of which are annual and some of which are perennial. These plants that repel ants are typically grown as annuals.

10. Rosemary

by waferboard is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Rosemary is also a beautiful plant that repels ants with a wonderful scent.

The fragrance is another factor in its effectiveness as an ant repellent.

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To cultivate rosemary in your landscape, ensure the soil is well-draining and the growth area has direct sunlight.

11. Hot Pepper

by shankar s. is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Hot peppers are one of the plants that repel ants that are suggested and have a pungent, spicy scent.

When growing hot peppers, the best growth site is one with warm temperatures, abundant sunlight, and well-draining soil.

Due to their poor resistance to frost, peppers are typically considered annuals. They also keep ants at bay while producing a harvest.

12. Thyme

by cookbookman17 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

If you’ve ever used thyme in cooking, you know how little is needed to get a lot of taste and scent from this plant.

So it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s used as one of the plants that repel ants.

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Make sure to supply thyme with an area that has full sunlight and good drainage. 

13. Sage

by BPPrice is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Sage has a wonderful scent, but it also provides a scent that can confuse receptors.

Therefore, if you decide to grow this plant to ward them off, provide everything the herb requires.

These plants that repel ants typically grow best in locations with full to partial sunshine.

Ensure the soil drains fast also because the plant dislikes having its roots perpetually wet. Sage is considered a perennial in zones four through eleven for planting.

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14. Basil

by Salvadonica, Chianti, Tuscany is licensed under CC BY 2.0

One of the most prevalent herbs in gardens is basil. With its lush green foliage, the herb is stunning, and its flavor is superb.

While basil doesn’t typically produce a harsh smell, it does have a sweet scent.

This is not only pleasant for visitors to your yard but also deters ants.

To plant basil, ensure the area has nutrient-rich, well-draining soil and direct morning sunlight.

Due to its limited hardiness to planting zones 10 and 11, basil is typically cultivated annually.

15. Chrysanthemums

by audreyjm529 is licensed under CC BY 2.0

This is the last on our list of plants that repel ants. Bright flowers like chrysanthemums are a wonderful way to add color to your home later.

If you want to use these flowers to deter ants, give them a thriving environment with full sunlight and well-draining soil.

Zones five through nine are suitable for chrysanthemum hardiness.

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