10 Plants That Repel Pollinators In Your Garden

Pollinators like bees, wasps, and hummingbirds are often a welcome sight especially if you want your garden to thrive. These creatures help plants reproduce by transferring pollen grains from one plant to another.

When plants are fertilized well, they are able to produce not just the next generation of plants but also the fruits and crops in our garden.

However, there are times when gardeners don’t want certain pollinators to flock to certain parts of their garden. Some people are highly allergic to bees or wasps while some people are easily bothered by the buzzing sounds they make. 

If you want to know what plants NOT to plant in areas where you want pollinators, then this post is for you. Today, we will be talking about ten plants that repel pollinators in your garden. Let’s get started!

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are a refreshing addition to salads. However, if you want to limit the number of bees and wasps in your garden they can also serve you well. The bitterness and acidic nature of cucumber peels help deter these pollinators.

Cucumber plants don’t repel pollinators, but cucumber peels left in the garden do.

You might also like: 7 Plants That Help Repel Pests

Basil

The sweet, herby, and almost floral scent of basil may be delicious in your pasta dishes but its fragrance put off wasps and bees. It can also serve as a natural pest repellent in your garden.

If you let them bolt or go to seed, then the pollinators will swarm your basil. I usually let at least one of mine go to seed so that it will attract more pollinators to my garden.

Bolting or going to seed means that you let the plant flower and produce seeds for saving. Once that happens, for most plants, it makes the fruit or herb less palatable.

Geranium

Red geraniums will definitely limit bees in your garden. The red variety, in particular, is hard to detect for bees because of their color. These flowers also have little to no pollen and a scent that bees do not like.

Mint

Noted for its refreshing scent and cooling mouthfeel, it’s a common sight in many herb gardens. Apart from adding a kick to cocktails and beverages, mint can also repel bees because of its scent.

Citronella

Citronella is more popular for its ability to repel mosquitoes. However, the lemony scent of this plant is also unpleasant for pollinators like bees and wasps.

Marigolds

Most marigolds are double flowers, which makes it more difficult for bees to get to the pollen. Furthermore, they produce a strong odor that bees tend to avoid.

Roses

Much like geraniums, red roses are undesirable for bees. The compound buds make it difficult for bees to navigate and gather pollen effectively.

You might also like: How To Grow A Pollinator Garden And Plants That Attract Pollinators

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is another lemon-scented plant that bees and wasps hate. Its strong odor may be pleasant for us humans but it is unbearable for some pollinators.

Thyme

Much like basil, thyme is an easy-to-grow herb that can be found in many herb gardens. Not only does it add a wonderful flavor to roast chicken and soups but it is also a helpful insect repellent.

However Thyme can also stave off bees and wasps and keep them out of your garden meaning your other plants may not get pollinated.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus leaves may be a staple food for koala bears but its scent is off-putting for wasps and bees. Furthermore, the acidic properties of its fruit is also a deterrent for certain pollinators. 

The bee population is waning as it is, so its best to keep plants that will repel pollinators out of any areas where you need them.

Can you think of any other plants that are better planted away from your plants that need pollination? be sure to leave them in the comments below, I’d love to add them.

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