Garden Flower Gardens 9 Plants That Naturally Repel Ticks From Your Yard—and Look Great, Too Keep ticks at bay—naturally—with these flowers and plants that keep this pest away. By Michelle Mastro Michelle Mastro Michelle Mastro is a writer and author specializing in home and garden topics. She has written for Architectural Digest, The Spruce, Midwest Living, and other publications. Editorial Guidelines Published on August 4, 2024 Close Photo: Jan Galbraith / Getty Images No one wants ticks in their yard. But when it comes to fending them off, plants are a great alternative to insecticides or harsh chemicals. Besides, ticks are so hardy that if an insecticide kills them, the chemical is likely to also kill the beneficial bugs you want in your vegetable garden. To find out which bug-repelling plants help to deter ticks the best, we talked with plant experts to gather all the best tips and tricks. Read on for some tick-repelling plants that are also beautiful additions to your yard. Jan Johnsen, landscape designer and principal of Johnsen Landscapes & Pools Andrew Connolly, owner of Little Flower Cottage 12 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes, According to Gardening Experts 01 of 09 Marigold wulingyun / Getty Images Marigolds are great in the garden for many reasons. In fact, perhaps ranking at the top of its list of benefits is its ability to repel ticks. "Marigolds contain pyrethrum, a compound used in many commercial insect repellents," says Andrew Connolly, owner of Little Flower Cottage, a flower seller. Zone: 2 to 11Size: 4 to 48 inches tall x 6 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil; regular watering Marigolds Are the Ideal Companion Plant for These 22 Fruits and Vegetables 02 of 09 Rosemary mjrodafotografia / Getty Images A beloved culinary herb, rosemary doubles as a tick repellent. "Rosemary’s strong scent works to repel not only ticks but also mosquitoes and other pests," says Connolly. "Its oils interfere with the sensory mechanisms of ticks which prevent them from detecting hosts." Zone: 8 to 10Size: 2 to 6 feet tall x 2 to 4 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; sandy, loamy, well-draining soil How to Care for Rosemary Plants, a Drought-Tolerant Herb You Can Grow Indoors and Outside 03 of 09 Chrysanthemum somnuk krobkum / Getty Images Though beautiful, this flower can be a menace—for ticks, that is. "The plant contains pyrethrin, a neurotoxin that kills ticks," says Jan Johnsen, a landscape designer and principal of Johnsen Landscapes & Pools. Add mums to your garden for their looks and ability to ward off ticks. Zone: 3 to 9Size: 2 to 3 feet tallCare requirements: Full sun; rich, moist soil 10 Chrysanthemum Companion Plants That Help These Autumn Flowers Thrive 04 of 09 Lemon Grass Kcris Ramos / Getty Images Ticks also dislike lemon grass. "It contains citronella oil, a well-known insect repellent that has a citrusy scent," says Johnsen. As a bonus, mosquitoes don’t like it that much either. But while bugs may hate it, this culinary herb does well in an herb garden, making it a very useful plant for the yard. Zone: 10 to 11Size: 2 to 4 feet tall and wideCare requirements: Full sun; rich, loamy soil How to Grow and Care for a Lemongrass Plant 05 of 09 Lavender Philippe Gerber / Getty Images While this flower certainly has a scent we enjoy, not everyone in the animal kingdom likes it. "Lavender repels insects with its strong scents that they find unappealing," says Johnsen. Zone: 5 to 9Size: 1 to 2 feet tall x 2 to 3 feet wideCare requirements: Full to partial sun; loamy, sandy, and well-drained soil Find Your Gardening Zone Here 06 of 09 Wormwood Getty Images This is another plant inhospitable to ticks. "It contains a bitter compound that is repulsive to ticks called absinthin," says Johnson. Absinthin is extremely bitter tasting, and thus ticks do not want to take refuge in it. Zone: 4 to 9Size: 10 feet tall x 2 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 07 of 09 Eucalyptus Getty Images Known for its strong smell, this tree’s leaves are often used in making wreaths or in aromatherapy. But the plant can also ward off ticks. "The strong scent of eucalyptus leaves, which are rich in cineole, is a powerful tick repellent," says Connolly. Indeed, the smell is typically used in commercial natural repellents, he says. Note that eucalyptus is not native to the U.S. and is, therefore, a great option for containers. Zone: 8 to 11Size: 6 to 53 feet tall x 2 to 15 feet wideCare requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil How to Grow a Eucalyptus Plant Both Indoors and Out 08 of 09 Garlic Xiuxia Huang / Getty Images Just like a vampire might not appreciate garlic, blood-drinking ticks don’t care for it either. "Garlic is known for its scent, and it’s that scent which is so unappealing to ticks," says Connolly. "It’s the high sulfur content that is thought to repel pests, including ticks." Zone: 4 to 9Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 6 to 12 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun; moist well-draining soil 11 Garlic Companion Plants for a More Flavorful Harvest 09 of 09 Mint Ana Rocio Garcia Franco / Getty Images Mint is another plant that produces a strong scent that ticks hate. It’s also a plant known for spreading out. "The fact that it’s so pervasive can also help create a barrier in gardens," says Connolly. (Plant with caution since it loves to take over.) Zone: 3 to 11Size: 12 to 18 inches tall x 18 to 24 inches wideCare requirements: Full sun to partial shade; loamy, well-draining soil How to Grow and Care for Mint in Your Garden or on Your Windowsill Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit