Which plants keep wasps away?

There are few things worse than having uninvited pests to your backyard BBQ. Unfortunately, with the coming of the summer months, you picnics will likely be teeming with bugs. Some of the most unwanted insects include the stinging/biting sort. Wasps fall into this category and are notorious for their aggressive behavior. There are many types of wasps and they are often mistaken for bees because of their similar appearances. Some distinguishing factors of wasps are slender bodies with narrow waists, very little hair which gives them a smooth and shiny appearance, and cylindrical legs. The most common wasps found in Southern California are yellow jackets, paper wasps, and mud daubers. Wasp stings can be particularly painful and their stingers don’t come out so they can continue to sting you.

Although there are many insect repellants to keep unwanted bugs away, there are also some plants that naturally keep wasps away. Here is a list of some plants that can be added to your garden to keep wasps away from a picnic, pool, or barbeque areas:

Lemongrass – This plant has a pleasant lemony scent. It has a chemical component named citral that gives it fragrance. This chemical has pheromonal qualities that make it an insect repellent. Insects don’t like the scent but luckily it’s pleasant to humans.

Wormwood – Wormwood is a boxy shrub that acts as an excellent wasp repellent. The reason for its insecticidal properties is its toxicity. This plant is not recommended if you have small children or pets because it should not be ingested. It has a substance named absinthin that can be harmful to other plants by stunting their growth so be sure to put it next to well-established plants.

Foxglove – These beautiful plants have purple, yellow, pink, red, and white flowers. Their leaves contain digitalis and are therefore considered poisonous. Digitalis is a potent heart medicine. They are biennials and are usually short-lived. These plants should also be avoided if you have small children or pets.