1. Thyme– Number one on my list of flea repelling plants is thyme. Grow thyme in an area that is shaded and well away from the strong midday sun. Thyme leaves can help repel fleas and many other pests that are bothering you indoors as well as outdoors.
2. Neem– The neem tree has been used for centuries in India to treat microbial infections as well as for repelling fleas, bugs and mosquitoes. The scientific name for Neem is Azardirachta Indica. The leaves of neem are usually boiled and made into an extract that can be used for bathing the pets as an after-shampoo-rinse. This helps deter fleas and also takes care of fungal or bacterial skin infections. The Azadirachtin compound in Neem leaves repel larvae, eggs and adult fleas. Dried Neem leaves can also be burnt to create a smoke for repelling bugs in the garden.
3. Sage/Salvia– Many sub-species of Salvia plant are used for botanical insecticidal control. These include Red Sage, S. Hydrangea, S. Santolinifolia and S. Mirzayanii, all of which are known for their anti-microbial and pesticidal activity. The active ingredient in Salvia Splendens or Red Sage is toxic to fleas, rats and other pests at high doses. Salvia officinalis has shown flea and mosquito larval toxicity as well.
4. Pyrethrum– Pyrethrum plant extracts are used in shampoos, sprays and lotions for flea repellence. Use only as per the guidance of a vet.
5. Lemon Eucalyptus– The lemon eucalyptus or Corymbia citriodora (Myrtaceae) gives essential oil known as Citronellal. Traditional Chinese medicine has always used this essential oil for medicinal purpose, as well as for repelling mosquitoes and other bugs. Its plant extracts and oils are used in lotions, sprays and shampoos for repelling fleas in pets.
6. Clove– Also known as Eugenia caryophyllus, Syzygium aromaticum or Eugenia aromatiu, clove essential oil is used in cosmetics, in toothpaste manufacturing and also for flea and mosquito repellence in form of sprays and shampoos
7. Basil– 100% essential oil of basil leaves can be applied topically to deter mosquitoes, fleas and other bugs. The leaves also thermally expel compounds in the air that can keep your home and garden free of insects. Basil is very easy to plant in a pot which can be placed indoors for instance in your kitchen window.
8. Lavender– This very pretty plant is tall and spiky with purple flowers. The scent of lavender flowers make a great addition to any home garden and also deters beetles, aphids and spider mites.
9. Bushmint/wildhops– A field study conducted on the leaves of bushmint plant consisted of smoldering the leaves on charcoal. This provided protection against mosquitoes and fleas for at least 2 hours. Fresh leaves of the herb placed in a room can also repel fleas and other bugs.
10. Garlic– Garlic is a natural antimicrobial and is used for planting beneath many kinds of flowering plants to protect them from being devoured by garden insects.
11. Patchouli– Used mainly in Chinese medicine, 100% essential oil obtained from the Pachouli plant can give protection against all kinds of bugs, especially through topical application.
12. Rose Germanium– A laboratory study has proven the efficacy of topically applied extracts of alcohol obtained from the Rose germanium plant. This gives protection against fleas and other bugs for over 3 hours. Roses should always be planted with garlic growing underneath.
13. MugWort/St. John’s Wort or Wormwood– A. vulgaris or Mugwort plant gives out camphor-like extracts that can repel fleas and other household insects for more than 5 hours.
14. Mint and Peppermint– Essentials oils give 100% protection against flea and mosquito bites. These can be planted indoors and outdoors for deterring insects and bugs. Biting bugs don’t like the scent of peppermint, so you can crush up the leaves and rub it on your skin to ward them off. As an added bonus, peppermint also can also do double-duty as itch relief if you do get bitten!
15. Turmeric– Leaves and extracts obtained from different parts of turmeric plant can be combined with 5% vanillin for topical application against fleas and mosquitoes.
16. Marigolds– Marigold extracts, also called Calendula, deter cutworms and fruit flies.
17. Rosemary– A natural aphid and flea repellent, rosemary essential oil has found its way in many cosmetic and medicinal products for repelling fleas, ticks etc from pets. Rosemary is also a member of the mint family. Be careful when planting Rosemary, however. You want to make sure to get the herb plant, which is safe for pets and not Rosemary Pea or Rosemary Bog because they are toxic for dogs and cats.
18. Green beans– If you have a vegetable garden, make sure you plant green beans to repel cutworms.
19. Oak– Oak leaves are often mulched by landscapers to be placed near herbs and vegetable gardens to repel worms, bugs and other plant-eating insects.
20. Catnip– As far as flea repelling plants are concerned, Catnips have been proven even more effective than DEET. Crush and rub some catnip on your cat’s skin (or allow the animal to roll in some catnip bushes) to deter fleas naturally. Catnip can also be used for repelling cockroaches termites.
21. Pennyroyal– As a flea deterrent . Dried pennyroyal leaves can be scattered around pets’ bedding area, and you can roll up some fresh stems in you dog’s bandana before you go tromping through the woods. Pennyroyal oil used in flea collars has largely been phased out because it caused miscarriages in cats, so only use the fresh leafy stuff, please. If a pet or person could be expecting, don’t use pennyroyal at all. As a pest repellent. Crushed pennyroyal stems stuck in your hat and pockets really will repel gnats and mosquitoes. Dog owners often see their dogs rolling in pennyroyal patches, and dog instincts can usually be trusted. Dog owners should use caution when using pennyroyal, it has been known to cause liver problems in random dogs.
22. Chamomile– Chamomile is a good plant to have in gardens because it not only repel fleas, but itCat-Animated‘s believed the Chamomile plant can help keep other plants in the garden healthy. I’ve never tried it myself, but it’s been said that if you have a sickly looking plant that’s not growing well, plant a Chamomile next to it. This plant has little daisy like flowers.
23. Chrysanthemums– Chrysanthemums are beautiful flowers to have in your garden that deter both fleas and ticks as well as other insect pests. The chemical pyrethrum is a naturally occurring organic compound found in chrysanthemums, also called chrysanthemum extract, that disables the nervous system of fleas, thus fleas staying away. Plant the flowers randomly around other plants and along the edges of your yard to create an attractive barrier that also scares off pests.
24. Fleabane Daisy– The fleabane daisy does indeed live up to its name! This lovely flower from the daisy family is tall which makes it perfect for working into your garden not only as landscaping, but for its ability to repel fleas and ticks. This plant is also known to work as a natural repellent against mosquitoes, gnats, and flies. For added protection, rub a light coating of the fleabane daisy’s leaves on your skin or your pet’s fur.
25. Citronella– Sort of “the original” for bug repelling, with a powerful lemony scent. It’s used in many commercial bug repellents and candles. I’m a little hesitant to plant it though, as I understand it can be a skin irritant. It’s also not quite as portable as lemon balm or the others listed below. It’s a grass-like plant that grows up to 6 feet tall! If you’re looking for citronella, make sure you get the varieties Cybopogon nardus or Citronella winterianus, as some other citronella varieties won’t have the same effect—some aren’t even true citronellas, they’re just citronella-scented.
26. Marigolds– In addition to mosquitoes, marigolds repel garden pests, too! We have lots of marigolds growing in the Gerson Institute’s garden to keep the bugs away from our veggies. The flowers are edible as well, and add color and flavor to salads or can be a gorgeous garnish when you want to dress up a dish.
27. Geranium– Caution: All parts of this plant are toxic to dogs and cats. So if you have outside cats or have other cats that wander in your yard, it’s best to not plant geraniums. Most dogs and cats will instinctively avoid plants that are toxic to them, but not all of them do. If you have a safe spot in your garden for geraniums, they are said to repel ticks. To help keep cats out of your garden, especially if you have plants that are toxic to them, you can plant rue. It’s also a garden plant that repels fleas.

There are more like Lemongrass, how could I forget Lemongrass??? There are all kinds of plant’s and/or essential oils you can use to keep whatever particular bug / animal away from you home and/or garden areas. Lemongrass is great for Misquotes and other pests…