Wasps can become a nuisance, especially in summer. No coffee table or barbecue buffet is spared from them. Chemicals should not be used immediately to deter wasps, plants can also keep them away. These 20 plants are effective against wasps.

In a nutshell

  • Wasps use smells as a guide
  • The power of various plants can be used to ward off wasps
  • essential oils contained in plants deters insects
  • Simply plant plants in beds or tubs near the terrace or balcony to ward off the pests

Repel wasps naturally

Wasps can be extremely annoying when you are outdoors, especially in the summer months. They are quickly on the spot when they hear the first scents. To ward off the pests, the chemical club should not be used straight away, but there are some home remedies to keep the animals away. Various plants can do a good job of repelling wasps. This plant scent is quite pleasant for humans, but the wasps don't like it at all and quickly run away. The scents of essential oils that are released are particularly hated. However, it is always important to ensure that such scents are not masked by others, otherwise the use of the plants against wasps has only a small effect.

Notice: Wasps are protected. They and their nests must not be harmed or killed. Anyone who does so faces high fines.

Plants against wasps

Below is a small list of plants that, when used, make wasps flee:

herbs

The most diverse herbs usually exude an extremely intense smell. The reason for this are the essential oils contained in the plant parts. These are particularly effective when the leaves come into contact or are crushed. Even a plant in a pot or a few stalks in a vase are extremely effective against wasps.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

  • Growth: annual, square stems, oval-lanceolate leaves, white flowers in whorls of appearance
  • Growth height: 15 to 50 cm
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady, well-drained soil
  • Special feature: intensive fresh-spicy smell

True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

  • Growth: semi-shrub, felt-like hairy leaves, blue-violet flowers
  • Growth height: 40 to 70 cm
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Location: sunny and warm, loose soil
  • Special feature: easy to cultivate in pots and tubs

Notice: The concentration of essential oils is particularly high in lavender (L. angustifolia) and Speick lavender (L. latifolia). The plants are therefore well suited for fighting wasps.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)

  • Habit: evergreen, perennial, shrub, silver-grey, soft leaves, white flowers
  • Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
  • Flowering period: July to October
  • Location: sunny, nutrient-rich soil
  • Special feature: container plant, hibernation light, between 0°C and 20°C

Common catnip (Nepeta cataria)

  • Habit: perennial, grey-green, toothed and hairy leaves, white flowers with purple markings
  • Growth height: 20 to 50 cm
  • Flowering period: July to September
  • Location: sunny, moist soil, can be kept in tubs
  • Special feature: contains nepetalactone essential oil, camphor-like thyme aroma

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita)

  • Habit: perennial, reddish square stems, light violet to purple flowers
  • Growth height: 10 to 100 cm
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady, sandy, humus-rich soil
  • Special feature: menthol-like ingredients

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

The scent of pennyroyal, while effective against wasps, is attractive to bees and bumblebees.
  • Habit: perennial, narrow, ovate leaves, violet flowers in whorls of appearance
  • Growth height: 10 to 50 cm
  • Flowering period: May to September
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady, moist soil
  • Special feature: not edible, slightly toxic, minty odour, formerly used as a disinfectant

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

  • Habit: Evergreen semi-shrub, angular stems, narrow leaves, light blue flowers, also white and pink
  • Growth height: 50 to 100 cm
  • Flowering period: April to September
  • Location: sunny, loose sandy soil

Notice: Rosemary repels wasps but attracts bees. Therefore, the shrub should not be planted directly next to flowers.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

  • Habit: perennial, woody small shrub, oblong leaves, felty underside, whitish to light red flowers
  • Growth height: 5 to 30 cm
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Site: sunny, well-drained soil

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

  • Habit: Perennial shrub, silver-grey, pinnate leaves, yellow flowers in panicles
  • Growth height: 60 to 150 cm
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Location: sunny, sandy soil

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

  • Habit: perennial, evergreen, linear, rough leaves, white-yellowish flowers
  • Growth height: 30 to 100 cm
  • Flowering period: August to September, rarely flowers in cultivation
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady, humic soil

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

  • Habit: perennial, four-edged hairy stems, serrated leaves, white to reddish flowers
  • Growth height: 40 to 90 cm
  • Flowering period: June to August
  • Location: sheltered from the wind, sunny, humus-rich soil

Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citradora)

  • Habit: Shrub, bushy, upright, rough, lanceolate leaves, white flowers in terminal panicles
  • Growth height: 100 to 250 cm
  • Flowering period: July to August
  • Location: sunny, sheltered from the wind, hibernates at 5 °C

Notice: Alternatively, the essential oils of these plants can also be used in an aroma lamp.

vegetable plants

Some vegetables are also effective against wasps. This includes

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)

  • Habit: annual, bristly hairs, stalked leaves, yellow flowers, 10 to 60 cm long cylindrical fruits
  • Height of growth: prostrate or climbing, tendrils up to 4 m long
  • Location: sunny, sheltered from the wind
  • Special feature: Plant exudes bitter substances

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

  • Growth: annual, branched stems, dark green leaves, yellow, red or multicolored fruits
  • Height of growth: bushy or tall between 2 and 3 m
  • Location: full sun, sheltered from the wind, nutrient-rich soil, also pot culture
  • Special feature: intense, spicy smell, especially leaves

Notice: Crushed garlic and ginger bulbs can also keep the pests away.

Other plants against wasps

Even among the flowers and potted plants there are some varieties whose scent a wasp cannot tolerate, for example

Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)

  • Habit: Shrub or small tree, evergreen, lanceolate leaves, white inflorescences with silky hairs, like a bottle brush
  • Growth height: 3 to 7 m
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Location: sunny, humus-rich soil, in this country kept in tubs
  • Special feature: hibernation light, 8 to 15 °C, supplier of tea tree oil

Scented Geraniums (Pelargonium species)

Pelargonium crispum
  • Growth: upright, delicate, semicircular or pinnate leaves, flowers in different colours
  • Growth height: 20 to 100 cm
  • Flowering time: March to October
  • Site: sunny, well-drained soil, kept in tubs
  • Special feature: many scent variants, e.g. Pelargonium crispum (lemon scent), Pelargonium "Prince of Orange", Pelargonium "Lillibet" (lemon scent)

Garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)

  • Growth: Bulbous plant, long, pointed leaves, bell-shaped flowers in a panicle, many colours
  • Growth height: 15 to 30 cm
  • Flowering time: March to May
  • Location: sunny
  • Special feature: can only drive away the wasp queen, since the "common people" only fly from June

Marigold (Calendula officinalis)

  • Habit: annual, lanceolate leaves, basket-shaped flowers, yellow or orange
  • Growth height: 30 to 70 cm
  • Flowering period: June to September
  • Location: sunny, well-drained soil, can also be kept in tubs
  • Special feature: also used as a remedy and in the kitchen, marigold ointment helps with wasp stings

Marigold (tagetes)

  • Habit: annual, upright, pinnate leaves, flower heads in yellow, orange, red or multicolored
  • Growth height: 15 to 60 cm
  • Flowering period: June to October
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady, also suitable for tubs
  • Special feature: older varieties have a strong smell

Frankincense plant (Plectranthus coleoides)

  • Habit: upright, bushy, not hardy, slightly overhanging, light green leaves, edged in white, white to violet flowers
  • Growth height: 40 to 100 cm
  • Flowering period: May to August
  • Location: sunny to shady, sandy-loamy soil, keep in containers
  • Special feature: the smell takes some getting used to, even for humans

Notice: Plants can not only drive away wasps, but also attract them, such as angelica (Angelica gigas). Simply plant a few specimens far away from the balcony and terrace and the pests will have another job.

frequently asked Questions

Are wasps able to distinguish scents?

The animals can smell very well. They have an extremely sensitive sense of smell. So they know that the scent of flowers is leading them to a rich food source. In addition, they can also smell the cold sweat of humans, which attracts even more of their own kind. There are also smells that they don't like, such as the smell of coffee and the smell of some plants. The animals can be trained to certain smells.

Why should plants be used to repel these insects?

The little animals can be very annoying, but they also have an important function in the ecosystem. Since they mainly feed on plant juices and also visit as many flowers as possible, they make an active contribution to pollination. They also eat aphids, mosquitoes, smaller caterpillars and flies. For this reason, the animals should not be killed. Various plants are therefore well suited for repelling them.

Are the wasps harmed when using scented plants?

No. Using the power of plants is a natural method of keeping pests away from balconies and patios. The plants are completely harmless to the animals. Only because of the smell do they quickly run away.

Category:

Animals in the garden