Perennial Flowers That Repel Insects

Catnip

• Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies and, naturally, cats. Catnip is a repellent to many insects, including cockroaches and mosquitoes. Catnip does well in full sun and grows from 2 to 5 feet tall; it has small white or lilac flowers.

Lavender

• Lavender has a pleasing, aromatic nature and stunning lavender or dark purple flowers. Although lavender is a lure for people, it repulses insects. Lavender has numerous home applications, from essential oils to aromatic sachets and air sprays.

Geranium

• The geranium repels cabbage worms and leafhoppers. One variety of geranium actually contains the mosquito repellent citronella. Geraniums are easily recognizable for their distinctive five-petaled flowers and deeply forked leaves.

Sunflowers

• Perennial sunflowers are developed by crossing wild sunflowers with annual sunflowers. Sunflowers are a versatile plant; not only are they able to repel insects, but they also produce oil suitable for cooking.

Chrysanthemum

• Chrysanthemums were first grown in China in the 15th century B.C. and introduced to the Western world in the 17th century. In the U.S., chrysanthemums are associated with positive events such as graduations, sports celebrations and housewarming parties. They can also repel a number of insects. Each chrysanthemum is actually a cluster of many flowers, with long-petaled flowers surrounding a hub of short-petaled flower heads.

Marigold

• The distinctive marigold has easily-recognizable round flowers and comes in a wide variety of colors. The smell of marigolds repels insects such as Mexican bean and asparagus beetles and tomato worms. Marigolds are easy to grow, which makes them an excellent choice for the garden.

Tansy

• Tansy is easy to grow -- so much so that many homeowners consider it a nuisance. While it produces a pleasant aroma for humans, tansy repels a wide variety of insects, including Japanese beetles, ants, flies and moths. Tansy has 1/4- to 1/2-inch button-like yellow flowers and purplish-red stems that grow as tall as 6 feet. Grow tansy with care, as it can be fatal to some animals.