Flowers That Keep Aphids Away

Anise

• Anise flowers feature lacy clusters of tiny white flowers or tall columns of small purple flowers. Anise smells like licorice, a scent which repels aphids, according to Golden Harvest Organics. These little flowers also attract wasps that prey on aphids, making them good for controlling already-infested crops.

  Anise makes a good companion for coriander and purportedly improves the growth of any plants around it. Line your garden with anise flowers to keep it pest-free, healthy and fragrant.

Marigolds

• Marigolds feature dome-shaped, fiery blossoms ranging in color from light yellow to rusty orange and bright red. The scent not only repels aphids, according to The Frugal Life, it keeps mosquitoes away as well.

  Marigolds love full sunlight and well-drained soil. They sprout easily from seed and are beneficial when planted around your garden and also around high-traffic areas like decks, fire pits or porches.

Yarrow

• Yarrow is a tall, fragrant herb featuring clusters of white, four-petal flowers at the ends of each of its stems. As an aphid repellent, yarrow houses Syrphid fly larvae, an insect that devours aphids and causes no harm to humans. Plant yarrow around your garden to attract these beneficial flies and thin the aphid population. It can be propagated quickly from cuttings or seeds and makes an effective balm for shallow skin wounds or insect stings. A tea made from the flowers calms cough, according to the Practical Herbalist.

Nasturitums

• According to Golden Harvest Organics, nasturitums repel most kind of aphids, including wooly and green aphids. It attracts black aphids, but acts as a trap, keeping the aphids inside the flowers and away from your produce crops. Nasturitums love full sun and poor soil. They feature trumpet-shaped flowers ranging in color from yellow to fuchsia to dark red. They have lily-pad shaped leaves that add visual interest to your garden as well as shade to the soil.

  Since garden soil is rich, pot your nasturitums and set the pots among your garden plants instead of trying to grow them directly in the ground.