7 Plants That Repel Flies Naturally in Your Garden and Home

Few backyard nuisances are as persistent as houseflies buzzing around a patio dinner or a barn door left open too long. Rather than reaching for a chemical spray, many gardeners rely on plants that repel flies naturally, using the same pungent oils and sharp scents that have kept flying pests away for generations. As one University of Florida entomologist put it, plants repel insects largely because “Plants are in the business of repelling insects because this is one of the most important ways to avoid insect damage — by feeding.”

This guide walks through seven plants worth adding to a porch, kitchen windowsill, or animal enclosure. Each section covers how the plant works, where it grows best, and practical ways to put it to use.

Plant	Sun Requirement	Growth Type	Caution
Basil	Full sun	Annual herb	None significant
Bay Laurel	Full sun to part shade	Shrub or small tree	None significant
Lavender	Full sun	Perennial shrub	Struggles in hot, humid climates
Marigold	Full sun	Annual flower	None significant
Mint	Full sun to part shade	Perennial, spreads aggressively	Pennyroyal relatives toxic to pets and children
Tansy	Full sun	Perennial, invasive in some regions	Toxic if ingested by humans, pets, or livestock
Sage	Full sun	Perennial shrub	None significant

1. Basil

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Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the most widely grown fly-repellent plants, and for good reason. Pungent herbs have been shown to deter flies from your home and garden, and keeping a basil plant in the kitchen can help avoid flies all summer. The plant works by releasing natural oils that evoke a juicy, earthy aroma flies find hard to tolerate, even though the same scent is prized in the kitchen.

Gardeners looking for outdoor fly control often place potted basil right where flies tend to gather. According to David’s Garden Seeds, growing basil in pots near your door can act as an effective fly deterrent. A few practical steps make it more effective:

1. Set potted basil directly beside entry doors and outdoor dining areas rather than tucking it into a back garden bed.
2. Choose a full-sun spot with well-drained soil so the plant produces strong, oil-rich leaves.
3. Pinch growing tips regularly to keep the plant bushy and encourage fresh, aromatic growth.
4. Pair basil with marigolds or mint near seating areas for a layered natural fly repellent effect.

2. Bay Laurel

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Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) is a woody, upright shrub best known as the source of dried bay leaves used in cooking, but its scent does double duty against flying pests. Flies seem to dislike the smell of bay leaves just as much as they avoid other strongly aromatic herbs. Left to grow into a dense shrub, bay laurel can also form a physical barrier that keeps flies from crowding more delicate plants nearby.

Beyond the garden, dried bay leaves have a long history as a pantry pest deterrent. Per Gardening Know How, bay leaf can be used to keep weevils from invading dried goods such as flour, barley, cornmeal, oatmeal, quinoa, and rice by simply adding a dried leaf to the container.

1. Grow bay laurel as a potted shrub near patios or seating areas where it can be trimmed to size.
2. Dry a few leaves each season to tuck into flour, rice, or grain canisters indoors.
3. Prune regularly to keep the foliage dense, which helps block flies from reaching plants tucked behind it.
4. Harvest leaves for cooking at the same time, since the culinary and pest-control benefits overlap.

3. Lavender

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is prized for its calming fragrance, but that same scent is a natural fly, moth, and mosquito repellent. Lavender also repels moths, mosquitoes, and fleas, making it a multipurpose addition near doors and outdoor gathering spots. Dried lavender holds its scent well after cutting, which makes it easy to use indoors long after the growing season ends.

One simple method comes from Backyard Boss: cut off the flowers and leaves, place them in small bags or sachets, and hang them around the area to be protected from flies. Climate matters more with lavender than with most herbs on this list, so keep these points in mind:

1. Plant in full sun with sharp, well-drained soil, since lavender resents wet feet.
2. Make dried sachets from spent blooms and hang them near entryways or closets.
3. Choose heat-tolerant lavender varieties in hot, humid regions, since standard types can struggle there.
4. Combine lavender with sage or rosemary for a fragrant, drought-tolerant border that also deters flies.

Pro Tip: Group lavender, basil, and marigold in matching containers near a patio table. The mixed scents create a stronger barrier than any single plant grown alone.

4. Marigold

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Marigolds bring color and pest control together in one plant. French marigold (Tagetes patula) is especially effective, since both French and American marigolds possess a strong spicy scent and tightly ruffled blooms that keep flies well away. Much of that power comes from below the soil line rather than the flowers themselves.

According to the team at Mo Plants, quoted by Homes and Gardens, marigold roots grow deep and aggressive, and “these sturdy roots are the real repellents. They emit a strong odor that reaches deep into the soil.” Marigolds also thrive across a wide range of conditions:

1. Direct-sow seeds after the last frost in a full-sun location for the strongest scent production.
2. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to keep the plant flowering, and repelling, all season long.
3. Interplant marigolds among vegetables as a companion planting strategy for broader garden pest control.
4. Combine with nasturtiums, another fly-repellent plant with a spicy scent, for a colorful mixed border.

5. Mint

Mint (Mentha spicata) and its relatives are some of the most reliable fly-repellent plants available. Mint plants, along with other members of the mint family such as catnip, lemon balm, and pennyroyal, rank among the best fly-repellent plants available. Peppermint in particular carries one of the strongest scents in the family, which flies find overwhelming.

Mint grows fast and spreads readily, so containment matters. Tom’s Guide notes that mint grows quickly and can become invasive, so it’s often best kept in containers. One caution worth flagging: pennyroyal, a mint relative sometimes recommended for fly control, carries real risk. What a Green Life warns that pennyroyal should be used cautiously, as it can be toxic if ingested in large quantities.

1. Grow mint in pots rather than open garden beds to prevent it from taking over.
2. Place containers on windowsills or by doorways where the scent can work continuously.
3. Harvest leaves often for tea or garnish, which also keeps growth fresh and aromatic.
4. Skip pennyroyal entirely in homes with pets or small children, and choose spearmint or peppermint instead.

6. Tansy

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Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) has one of the longest histories as a fly-repellent plant, dating back centuries. This lesser-known herb repels flies, ants, fleas, moths, and mice, and resembles marigold flowers, having been used to adorn churches since the Middle Ages. Laboratory testing backs up the folklore: powdered tansy has been shown to cause 100% paralysis in flies within 15 minutes in controlled trials.

Tansy demands careful handling, however. Its essential oils are rich in thujone and camphor, and The Old Farmer’s Almanac confirms tansy contains toxic compounds that can be harmful to humans, pets, and grazing animals. In some regions it is also considered invasive. A report from Yahoo Shopping notes that in states such as Colorado, Wyoming, and Minnesota it’s considered a noxious weed and prohibited.

Important Note: Tansy should be kept away from grazing livestock, pets, and children, and gardeners should check local noxious-weed rules before planting it. If a pet shows any signs of poisoning after contact with tansy or its essential oil, contact a veterinarian or an animal poison control hotline right away.

1. Grow tansy in a contained bed or large pot, since its roots spread by rhizome and are hard to eliminate once established.
2. Hang dried clippings near entryways or barn doors rather than planting directly where animals graze.
3. Check local regulations first, since tansy is restricted or classified as noxious in several regions.
4. Keep the plant, fresh or dried, out of reach of children and pets at all times.

7. Sage

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Sage (Salvia officinalis) rounds out this list as a fragrant, low-maintenance option for both kitchen gardens and pest control. It is a bushy, spreading evergreen sub-shrub with strongly aromatic, silver-gray leaves and camphor-scented, lavender-blue flowers in early summer. Beyond its culinary uses, sage has a documented role in deterring pests, since it attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies while deterring cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, cabbageworms, beetles, and carrot rust flies.

According to Gardenia.net, sage’s dual role as pollinator magnet and pest deterrent makes it a useful anchor plant near vegetable beds. A few tips help it perform its best:

1. Plant sage in full sun with well-drained soil alongside other Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and thyme.
2. Prune lightly after flowering to encourage bushier growth and a stronger scent.
3. Use fresh or dried leaves in small sachets placed near kitchen windows.
4. Combine with lavender and marigold for a fragrant, multi-purpose herb bed that discourages several pest species at once.

Common Mistake: Planting a single fly-repellent herb and expecting it to clear an entire yard. These plants work best in combination and as a supplement to good sanitation, not as a standalone fix for a heavy infestation.

None of these plants that repel flies will eliminate a serious infestation on their own, and combining a few for the best natural fly control makes the biggest difference. Basil and marigold suit sunny containers by the door, lavender and sage handle drier borders, while mint and tansy need pots or contained beds to keep their spread and, in tansy’s case, their toxicity in check. For pet owners considering any of these plants or their essential oils, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine recommends checking with a veterinarian before use, since concentration and safety can vary widely between products.