Flies buzzing around your home and garden are more than just annoying, as they can carry diseases, contaminate your food, and ruin any hope of a peaceful afternoon outside. Sure, chemical sprays get the job done fast, but they can leave you worrying about what else you’re breathing in or exposing your pets to.
Natural plants offer a more sustainable, less harsh way to keep flies away. Some herbs, flowers, and even carnivorous plants have compounds that naturally repel or trap these pests. If you’re clever about where you put them, you can build a protective barrier that works year after year.
1) Basil
Basil is a classic fly repellent thanks to its strong aromatic compounds like estragole and citronellal. Flies can’t stand the scent, so it works for pest control indoors or out.
Try keeping basil plants by doorways, windows, or outdoor tables, basically anywhere flies tend to show up. Genovese, Thai, Lemon Basil…they all work, and you get fresh herbs for your kitchen too.
2) Lavender
Lavender keeps flies away with its natural oils. Plus, it looks great and smells even better. This tough perennial brings color and a built-in deterrent to gardens or homes.
Plant it near entrances, patios, or wherever you eat outside. Indoors, dried lavender sachets work surprisingly well in spots where flies hang out.
If you’re into DIY, a spray made from lavender oil and water is an easy, safe way to keep flies at bay.
3) Rosemary
Rosemary packs natural oils that flies and other pests just don’t like. Plant it by outdoor seating or near doors to make your home less inviting to insects.
The strong scent helps mask the smells that attract flies in the first place. Rosemary oil has research behind it, but honestly, just growing the plant seems to help. Plus, you’ll have fresh sprigs for cooking.
4) Mint
Mint’s fragrance is a natural fly barrier – flies hate it! The aromatic oils in the leaves create a zone that pests avoid.
Grow mint in containers (it spreads like crazy otherwise) and place them by doors, windows, or your favorite outdoor chair. Crush a few fresh leaves and leave them where flies sneak in for an extra boost indoors.
5) Marigold
Marigolds are more than just cheerful, they pump out a scent that keeps flies away. Plant these bright flowers near patios or garden beds and you’ll notice fewer pests, including aphids and mosquitoes.
French marigolds are especially pungent. Use them in pots or as borders where flies are a problem. The flowers look good and keep bugs at bay, what’s not to like?
6) Citronella
Citronella is famous for keeping flies (and mosquitoes) at arm’s length. Its strong scent covers up the odors that typically attract insects, making it tough for flies to find food or places to breed.
You can use citronella as a plant, oil, or candle. Growing citronella plants by entryways or in your garden gives you a natural shield during the warmer months.
7) Lemon Balm
Lemon balm gives off a bright, citrusy aroma that flies just don’t care for. Plant it by patios or porches to help keep your outdoor hangouts fly-free.
This herb is easygoing and grows in all sorts of conditions, even shady corners. Crush the leaves and rub them on your skin if you want more personal protection from biting flies.
8) Catnip
Catnip isn’t just for cats, as it contains nepetalactone, which flies hate. It’s a tough perennial that doesn’t need much fuss once it’s going.
Grow catnip near outdoor gathering spots or doors for a natural fly barrier. It does well in sun or partial shade and handles drought. Crush the leaves to release more of those repelling oils if you need a little extra punch.
9) Bay Leaf
Bay leaf plants put out aromatic foliage that flies and other flying pests steer clear of. The scent works whether the leaves are fresh or dried, so you can use them inside or out.
Stick fresh bay leaves near windows, doors, or outdoor tables. Dried leaves are handy in pantries to keep pests out of your food.
Bay laurel is an evergreen shrub that does well in pots or garden beds, as long as it gets decent sun and drainage.
10) Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus keeps flies away with its intense, fresh scent. The oils in the leaves are strong enough to make flies think twice about hanging around.
Try putting eucalyptus branches in a vase near doors or spots where flies gather. The plant likes full sun and well-drained soil, and doesn’t need much water. Whether you grow it in a pot or the ground, it adds a nice fragrance and some solid fly control.
11) Tarragon
Tarragon has a unique licorice aroma that most flies don’t appreciate. There’s French tarragon (the one chefs love) and Russian tarragon (hardier, but milder in scent).
Plant tarragon close to where you spend time outside or by doors. It might not have the range of some plants, but it’s still a decent option for keeping flies off your back in small spaces.
12) Pitcher Plant
Pitcher plants are carnivorous, and they literally trap and eat flies. Their pitcher-shaped leaves are filled with sweet nectar that lures insects inside.
Once a fly goes in, it’s stuck thanks to slippery surfaces and downward-facing hairs. The plant digests the unlucky bugs for nutrients.
Put pitcher plants in your garden or near doors to help cut down on flies the natural way.
13) Venus Flytrap
The Venus flytrap is less about repelling and more about catching flies. This carnivorous plant lures bugs with nectar, then snaps shut to trap and digest them.
Each plant has a handful of leaves that can catch a fly every few weeks. Realistically, you might see about 10 flies caught a month. They need distilled or rainwater and a bit of care, but they’re definitely a conversation starter.
14) Garlic
Garlic’s strong odor, especially when you crush or chop the cloves, is a huge turnoff for flies. The smell comes from allicin, one of the plant’s natural defenses.
Plant garlic around your garden’s edge or near outdoor tables. You can also whip up a garlic spray by blending cloves with water and spritzing it where you need protection.
15) Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums have pyrethrin, a natural insecticide that repels flies and more. Plant them in the garden or keep potted mums by doors or on the patio.
Their scent (from both flowers and leaves) helps keep flies away. Chrysanthemums also deter mosquitoes, fleas, and ants, so they’re a good all-around choice for pest control.
16) Neem
Neem is a heavy hitter when it comes to natural fly repellents. Its unique oils mess with flies’ senses and keep them from hanging around.
Grow neem in pots indoors or out, depending on your climate. The leaves give off compounds that make flies steer clear.
Neem oil from the plant is also handy as a spray if you want extra coverage.
17) Thyme
Thyme’s strong oils make it a solid pick for keeping flies away. Grow it by outdoor seating or near doors for a handy natural barrier.
This herb likes sunny spots and well-drained soil. Dry some leaves and tuck them into sachets indoors if flies are a problem inside. Once thyme’s established, it pretty much takes care of itself.
18) Sage
Sage gives off aromatic oils that flies can’t stand. It’s a good option for pots by doors and windows to help block flies from coming inside.
Grow sage in full sun and well-drained soil. You’ll get fresh leaves for your kitchen and a little less hassle from flies all season.
19) Geranium
Geraniums have a scent that flies avoid, so they’re great for both indoor and outdoor spaces. The leaves and flowers are packed with compounds that make flies think twice.
Keep geraniums by doors, patios, or windowsills to help keep flying pests out. They need moderate sunlight and regular watering. Geraniums are pretty easy to care for and add a pop of color while doing pest control duty.
20) Peppermint
Peppermint is a surprisingly handy natural fly deterrent, mostly thanks to its bold, unmistakable scent. If you plant peppermint near doorways, patios, or wherever flies seem to gather, you’ll probably notice fewer of them hanging around.
Its aromatic oils help keep flies at bay and, honestly, the fresh scent isn’t a bad bonus for your garden or porch. Some folks dab peppermint essential oil on cotton balls and stash them in trouble spots, or whip up a quick spray if they’re feeling ambitious. It’s simple, but it works.
