Roaches are one of the most horrendous insects you can see in your home. They carry disease-causing germs and have a way of escaping any form of elimination.
Fortunately, you can control these pesky insects using plants that repel roaches, especially if you have young kids or pets. In addition, many plants that repel roaches are an excellent supplement to some common home remedies for roaches.
So, try growing these plants in your herb garden or placing them in vases in your house. Their natural smell will deter roaches and other bugs and protect your house from diseases.
Keep reading to discover which plants repel roaches.
1. Chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemum x morifolium)
Chrysanthemums come in different colors. However, their pest control property is not affected by the color variation. Therefore, you can use any color you want to repel roaches.
Planting chrysanthemums either in your garden or inside your home in containers can help to repel other pests like mites, fleas, ticks, bedbugs, and lice.
Pyrethrin is another name for the natural roach and insect repellent constituent derived from these flowering plants. This constituent is very effective and is a common component in many commercial roach repellents.
Pyrethrin is very toxic, and it can kill roaches and other bugs when they ingest it. Therefore, you can use it to make your own insecticide at home.
Read More: How to Get Rid of Roaches: The Best Ways to Consider
Making a Pesticide From Chrysanthemums
You can make your own bug spray from the flowers of this plant. All you have to do is:
- Pick the flowers when at their fullest
- Leave them untouched in a cool and dark area until they are dry
- Grind them into a fine powder
- Scatter the powder in areas you want to kill or repel roaches.
Be Cautious When Making Your Pesticide
It’s important to remember that pyrethrin is toxic to humans and pets and should be handled carefully and never consumed.
When the pyrethrin powder is inhaled, it can cause irritation, wheezing, coughing, and chest pains. This can be dangerous for people who are allergic to plants in the Asteraceae family.
In large doses, pyrethrin can cause ataxia, seizures, and even paralysis in both humans and animals.
To avoid such incidences, ensure that you always wear safety glasses, long pants, long sleeves, a mask, and latex gloves.
2. Catnip (Nepate cataria)
If you plant catnip in your garden, you will achieve two things. First, you will make your cat very happy. Secondly, you will keep roaches and any unwanted pests away.
Most herbs have not been scientifically proven to be effective in repelling cockroaches. However, according to a study by Iowa State University published by the Science Daily in 1999, catnip can effectively keep roaches away from your property.
How to Use Catnip to Repel Cockroaches
There are various ways of using catnip to deter roaches:
- You can plant them in your garden.
- Spray brewed catnip tea on your walls and every corner of your house where you suspect roaches are hiding.
- Mix a few drops of catnip essential oils with water in a spray bottle and use it on roaches.
3. Bay Leaf Plant (Laurus nobilis)
The bay leaf plant is an aromatic herb; its leaves are usually used in cooking. However, bay leaves keep roaches away from your house as well. This is because it contains eucalyptol, a compound that naturally repels roaches.
This plant is native to the Mediterranean. Therefore, it will perform best in warmer temperatures and cannot survive any cold temperatures.
The bay leaf plant can grow up to 50 feet high. However, if you want to plant it indoors, you can take various measures to keep them short.
You can keep this plant healthy by ensuring it has enough sunlight exposure and well-drained soil.
Note that bay leaves bloom in summer and spring, so it will be best to plant them at the beginning of spring.
If you don’t have a garden to grow this plant, you can take a few leaves and strategically place them in areas where you want to keep roaches from.
4. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Rosemary is another aromatic herb that is commonly used in cooking. However, it can also keep roaches at bay.
Rosemary has blue flowers and needle-like leaves that smell like pine. Roaches don’t like this scent and will do anything to avoid it.
For best results, you can grow it in your garden. However, rosemary does not do well in cold temperature, so plant it in a container and bring it indoors when the temperatures drop.
5. Osage Orange Tree (Maclura pomifera)
This plant has many names: hedge apple, mock orange, bow-wood, and horse apple. Nonetheless, it can deter roaches.
Despite its fruity name, this plant is not edible—instead, most people buy its fruits to use as decoration.
The Osage Orange Tree has a fruit that contains a substance that can repel German roaches and probably all other species of roaches.
To use this plant to keep away roaches and other bugs, plant it in your garden.
You can also use hedge apple essential oils to deter roaches. Simply mix a few drops of the oil with water in a spray bottle and spritz in areas with roach activity.
6. Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)
The cucumber is a creeping plant that belongs to the gourd family. It is usually grown for its edible fruit. As a bonus, roaches don’t like the smell of cucumbers.
You can try growing it in your garden to repel roaches. But, for quick results, shred the peels and place them where you notice roach activity.
7. Mint (Mentha spp.)
Mint is an aromatic herb commonly used to make teas and mojitos. While minty plants smell nice to you, they are awful for roaches. Besides, any plant in the mint family is a good roach repellent and can be used to make commercial roach repellents.
So, try growing spearmint, peppermint, or chocolate mint in your garden, kitchen windowsills, or containers to keep roaches away. Alternatively, you can use the oils from mint plants for roaches.
Depending on the type, mint can grow up to 18 inches tall and spread up to 24 inches. In addition, they thrive in well-drained, moist loamy soil and partial shade.
8. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Lavender is well known for its soothing and relaxing effects.
This aromatic herb has long stems of purple and subtle flowers. However, lavender is an excellent roach repellent. Lavender can also deter bugs like beetles, mosquitoes, fleas, moths, and flies.
You can grow lavender in containers in your kitchen. However, if you are allergic to pollen, consider planting it in your garden.
9. Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon nardus)
Citronella might look like regular long grass, but it can keep roaches away. This plant has a citrus scent and serrated edges that can instantly prevent a roach infestation.
To use citronella to repel roaches, grow it in your garden or buy its essential oil and mix it with water to make a bug spray.
10. Garlic (Allium sativum)
The pungent scent of garlic can bother some people, but it’s very effective in keeping bugs like roaches away.
To use garlic against roaches, crash the cloves and place them in areas with roach activity.
Alternatively, you can plant garlic in your garden or use garlic power in areas you’ve seen roaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Plant Keeps Roaches Away?
Some plants that keep roaches away include garlic, citronella, lavender, bay leaves, catnip, mint, cucumbers, and chrysanthemums.
What Flower Kills Roaches?
The chrysanthemum is one flower that kills roaches. It is a beautiful flower with a strong fragrance that can kill roaches instantly.
It contains pyrethrin, a chemical compound that can disable a roach’s nervous system, eventually killing it.
What Scent Repels Roaches the Most?
Some of the scents that repel roaches the most include peppermint, garlic, cypress oil, basil, citronella, lavender thyme, and citrus. Luckily, these scents are some that humans love.
Does the Lavender Plant Repel Roaches?
Yes, the lavender plant repels roaches. The aromatic scent of lavender is usually offensive to roaches.
While the smell might not kill cockroaches, it will keep them from entering your home. Therefore, in case of an infestation, try combining lavender essential oil with other powerful oils like peppermint and eucalyptus oil to repel cockroaches.
