Believe me when I say I was as surprised as you are right now when I began the journey towards discovery and study of these plants.
I used to think plants, except carnivorous plants, did not possess effective defense systems that could repel pests and bugs.
I used to think that plants needed to be safeguarded by gardeners all through their lives and not the other way around.
You can guess how amazed I was when I discovered that my notion wasn’t fully correct. Such that there are plants that exist to provide safety against pests and bugs.
These plants can scare the bugs off and make them afraid of getting close to the vicinity where they are growing.
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So, you could simply grow plants, give them the right thriving conditions and free yourself from the trouble of pests. Isn’t that just amazing?
So, Rather than protecting these plants, they protect you from pests and bugs, including the bugs that come to predate on your flesh and blood like mosquitoes.
You’ve got to have one or all of these sun plants growing somewhere around your house, in a plant pot, in your garden, in an overhead suspended design, anywhere the plants can visibly repel pests.
Sun plants are special plants, but they do not differ from the normal plant structure of, stem, roots, and leaves, in case you were beginning to think that.
Sun plants do not have arms or legs or even batons and guns which they use to trap or ward off these pests. Instead, they do the job of warding off pests by a mechanism built into their system for that.
These systems involve the giving off of scents that are toxic to pests and diseases. The cell sap of sun plants also contains elements that are toxic for ingestion by certain species of plant pests, making it impossible for these pests to thrive, feed or even survive within the perimeter
where the sun plant bug repellents grow.
This is beneficial to you as a gardener in terms of keeping you safe from some of the bugs that attack human skin.
You also get to save the cost of purchasing pesticides to get rid of these pests. If you ever have to purchase pesticides, they will be in little quantities that don’t have to cost you a fortune.
Sun plants are species of plants that require sunlight to grow and grow well under the full sun.
Unlike other plants that suffer from wilting or dehydration under full sun, these plants prefer about six to seven hours under full sun to thrive properly.
A direct consequence of this preference for the sun is that plants which fall under this category are tough and can resist harsh weather conditions.
Although some of them do not like winter and cold draft, the majority of them, especially perennials, can survive different weather conditions and survive through winter into spring, summer, and autumn.
Plants that grow in Sun-light by default, do not permit fungal growth on the leaves. This means that owning a sun plant automatically alienates you from the troubles of having to treat fungal infections on plants now and then.
In this article, I will be listing the various sun plants that are known for repelling pests and diseases. Keep reading to learn the intricacies of these plants.
7 Plants that Repel Pests
The following are plants sun plants that serve the purpose of repelling pests from themselves, neighboring plants, and the environment where they are grown in. They have special adaptations as well as the peculiar pests they can repel.
These plants are:
- Rosemary Plant
- Lavender
- Onion
- Garlic
- Thyme
- Citronella Grass
- Petunias
These plants have growing requirements apart from just sunlight. If you’re contemplating growing any of these beauties for ornamental purposes and repelling pests, you do not need to stop by just knowing their names.
There’s more you need to know about these plants.
1. Rosemary Plant
The rosemary plant goes by the scientific name salvia Rosmarinus. It is a fragrant evergreen shrub with needle-like white leaves.
Its flowers range from white to pink to purple. It is native to the Mediterranean region and Asian countries.
Rosemary is a sun-growing plant that can withstand both drought and winter, going days without water and being able to survive temperatures as low as minus twenty degrees.
It is usually easier to propagate rosemary plants from stem cuttings or any other asexual method rather than from seeds.
Rosemary plants are perennials that can live as long as thirty years consecutively. This attests to their diehard nature and ability to resist pests.
This is one of the reasons why they have been labeled as invasive in some parts of the world.
Rosemary plants repel pests like gnats, whiteflies, Japanese beetles, and other flying pests.
They are not difficult to propagate and can be grown indoors or outdoor in your garden.
Prune the rosemary plant frequently to prevent it from getting too bushy.
2. Lavender
These purple sparks of goodness are one of the greatest pests-resistant species you will be coming across today.
Lavender is an ancient plant, native to the Cape Verde axis. Lavenders are cultivated for ornamental purposes as well as a long list of other uses.
Its beautifully colored flowers make for good landscaping and its fragrance can be soothing to homes.
Lavender plants are grown in temperate regions under the full scorch of the sun. Lavender is used in herbal medicine and for the making of cosmetics.
It is believed to have therapeutic uses that can be employed for treating pain, hotness, and postnatal perineal discomfort.
Lavender plants are the source of the essential lavender oil, one of the many reasons why the lavenders are grown so well.
Lavender contains over a hundred phytochemicals. Some of which serve as repellents to pests like moths, fleas, and whiteflies.
Propagation is by seed or stem cutting.
3. Onion
Onions repel pests and attract pollinators when they bloom. Pollinators are insects like butterflies and bees that suck flower nectar and transfer pollen grain from the anther to the stigma leading to pollination.
Onions can be biennial or perennial depending on what the gardener wants. Onions are cultivated around the world and used as an important component of meals.
Onions are susceptible to pest attacks but also serve to repel some other pests like the aster yellow-causing pest.
Onions have a rhizome system and the bulbs are grown underground. Onion is best grown on adequately fertile soil that is well-draining and free from excessive sulfur.
Sulfur leads to premature decay of the onion bulbs in the soil. Even though the outer leaves dry out in autumn, onions still live until the next season.
They are sun plants and do not die out from being exposed to the full blast of the sun.
4. Garlic
Garlic is a close relative to the onion plant and belongs to the same genus as the onion. Garlic can be harvested more than once a year and it can grow in any climate condition.
They are resistant to harsh conditions and can grow properly under the sun. They are best propagated asexually rather than by seed.
This is because asexual reproduction is always faster and produces fruits faster than the natural propagation from seed.
Garlic stems are woody and cannot be affected by diseases and pests so easily. When they bloom, they attract pollinators, some of which are natural predators of pests.
This way, the pollinating insects get to feed on any pests lodged on the leaves or flowers of garlic plants.
5. Thyme
Belonging to the mint family, thyme is a very important plant useful for both fragrance and culinary purposes.
Thyme repels pests like the mealybugs and serves as protective covers to other mealybugs susceptible plants.
It also repels cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, and corn earworms.
Thyme oil can be extracted from the thyme plant. This oil contains some antibiotics that help kill bacteria in thyme and also living cells.
The thyme oil is added as an ingredient in the making of products like mouthwash and antiseptic soaps.
Thyme grows properly in a hot, sunny location that is well-draining. This means that it can grow just fine under the hot sun.
Thyme can also grow in mountains and areas with very cold climates. In essence, the thyme plant is very resistant and can live for as long as thirty to forty years given the right conditions.
6. Citronella Grass
The citronella grass is popular for its ability to repel mosquito pests from itself and the surrounding where it is grown.
The citronella grass has a smell that is deemed as a pungent odor to mosquito pests.
Mixing the citronella grass with your garden plants is a good way of keeping mosquitoes away. It can also be planted along relaxation spots to keep away mosquitoes while relaxing.
Citronella grass produces citronella oil which is used as an ingredient for making soap that repels insect pests.
They have both culinary and medicinal uses and can be found growing in areas with hot climate conditions and full sunlight.
7. Petunias
Petunias are sometimes called nature’s pesticides. They can repel a long list of pests namely:
- Aphids
- Tomato hornworms
- Asparagus beetles
- Leafhoppers
- Squash bugs.
Petunias can be easily grown in pots and gardens and are resistant to a variety of soil harshness.
Conclusion
Pests have no chances of survival around these seven plants. Other plants are qualitative for repelling pests and bugs from your plants and surroundings.
You can get any of these plants from a greenhouse store or gardeners that sell semi-grown varieties.
