Gnats can turn into a real nuisance around your home and garden, harming plants and making things uncomfortable. They’re tiny, but they love moisture and organic debris, so houseplants are a favorite hangout!
Certain plants naturally repel or trap gnats through their aromatic oils, sticky surfaces, or carnivorous mechanisms, offering an effective solution without harsh chemicals. By working a few strategic plants into your indoor or outdoor spaces, you can tackle gnat issues and add some greenery at the same time. Some plants keep gnats away with their strong scents; others actually catch and digest them!
This list rounds up twenty different plants that help get rid of gnats, from bug-eating varieties to fragrant herbs that shoo them off.
1) Venus Flytrap
Venus flytraps can catch and digest gnats, so they’re a classic pick for natural pest control. Their traps snap shut when triggered by an insect brushing up against their sensitive hairs.
That said, gnats are sometimes too small to reliably set off the trap, and each plant only has a handful of active traps at a time. Venus flytraps are fun, but they’re more of a novelty for the occasional gnat than a solution for a bigger infestation.
2) Pitcher Plant
Pitcher plants use their quirky tube-shaped leaves to trap gnats and other bugs. The plant’s nectar draws gnats inside, where they slip down and get stuck in digestive fluid at the bottom.
These carnivorous plants keep working away at gnat populations without chemicals. Nepenthes species are especially good for indoor use. Put them near spots where gnats are most active for the best results.
3) Spider Plant
Spider plants don’t kill gnats outright, but they can help cut down on them if you care for the plant right. These houseplants with their long, arching leaves often get fungus gnats if you overwater.
Letting the soil dry out between waterings is key. Less moisture means fewer places for gnats to lay eggs, so you break their life cycle and stop larvae from developing.
4) Lavender
Lavender’s strong fragrance is a turn-off for gnats, making it a solid natural repellent indoors or out. You can keep potted lavender near problem areas or even use lavender essential oil in a spray.
Try mixing 5 drops of lavender oil per ounce of water and spritzing it on houseplants. The aromatic compounds mess with gnats’ senses and drive them away.
5) Basil
Basil sends gnats packing with its strong aromatic oils that mess with their senses. Set a basil plant near your kitchen or wherever fruit flies are bugging you, and you might notice a difference in just a couple of days.
For extra oomph, crush some basil leaves to release more scent, or mix basil essential oil with water to make a spray for your home.
6) Mint
Peppermint, spearmint, basically any species of mint, gives off a scent that gnats just can’t stand. Plant mint in pots by your doors or along walkways, and you’ll put up a pretty effective natural barrier.
Of course, you’ll want to keep the soil from staying too damp, too. Letting the top inch dry out between waterings makes a big difference in keeping gnats from breeding.
7) Rosemary
Rosemary has a strong, distinct aroma that gnats tend to avoid. It’s a good pick for deterring pests wherever you grow it.
Grow rosemary in containers or garden beds; it loves warm, sunny, dry spots. When it gets cold, you can bring potted rosemary inside and still get the benefit of its pest-repelling scent.
8) Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is loaded with essential oils that gnats really don’t like. Its strong scent throws off their ability to find your plants or kitchen scraps.
Try a eucalyptus oil spray (10 to 20 drops mixed with water and vinegar) if you want to hit problem spots directly. It’ll kill gnats on contact.
If you’re up for it, grow eucalyptus as a houseplant to keep the aroma going and keep gnats at bay.
9) Marigold
Marigolds have a scent that’s pretty off-putting for gnats. Plant these bright flowers near doors or in garden beds to build a barrier against pests.
They’re easy to grow in pots or directly in the ground, and their compounds disrupt gnats’ senses. Mexican Marigolds are especially good at chasing off flying insects.
10) Citronella
Citronella is a tall, grassy plant that’s famous for repelling gnats and other bugs. Its natural compounds (citronellal, geraniol, citronellol) are what do the trick.
Put citronella plants by doors, patios, or anywhere gnats are a problem. It works best as a spatial repellent, creating a sort of “no-fly zone” around your outdoor hangouts.
11) Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a citrusy herb that naturally keeps gnats and other flying pests away. Its scent masks the odors that usually attract gnats, so they lose interest.
It grows well in pots or garden beds, so tuck it near patios or among other plants for a little extra protection. Plus, it’s handy for cooking and tea if you’re into that sort of thing.
12) Catnip
Catnip does more than drive cats wild, as it’s a natural gnat repellent too. The compounds in catnip are unpleasant to gnats, so planting it near trouble spots helps create a barrier.
Bonus: Catnip will also help keep away other pests like deer and rabbits. Pretty versatile, honestly.
13) Geranium
Geraniums give off natural compounds that gnats and other flying insects don’t care for. Their scent can keep gnats from laying eggs around your other houseplants.
Set geraniums near places where gnats gather. The fragrant oils do the work, no chemical sprays needed.
They look nice, too, and when you combine them with good watering habits, they’re even more effective.
14) Pothos
Pothos won’t kill gnats, but how you care for it can help reduce their numbers indoors. These houseplants prefer their soil to dry out between waterings, which makes life tough for fungus gnats that love moist dirt.
So, if you let the top couple inches of soil dry out, you’ll make things a lot less comfortable for gnat larvae. It’s a simple tweak to your watering habits that can pay off.
15) Snake Plant
Snake plants don’t attack gnats directly, but they’re not fans of wet soil, so won’t make good breeding grounds for gnats. These plants do best when watered sparingly and allowed to dry out completely.
That dry soil is a turnoff for gnats, who need moisture to lay eggs. So, your snake plant’s low-maintenance style is actually a natural deterrent for pests.
16) Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums make pyrethrin, a natural insecticide that knocks out gnats and other bugs by messing with their nervous systems. It’s pretty effective for garden pest control.
Plant mums near spots where gnats are a problem. Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium and painted daisies are the best for high pyrethrin content.
17) Garlic Plant
Garlic plants chase off gnats with their strong sulfur compounds. That pungent smell we love in cooking? Gnats hate it.
Stick garlic near plants that tend to attract gnats, or plant it out in the garden. The aroma confuses gnats and keeps them from finding good breeding spots.
Plus, you get fresh garlic bulbs at the end of the season – not a bad deal!
18) Thyme
Thyme, especially lemon thyme, repels gnats with its scent. The lemony fragrance is nice for us, but gnats steer clear.
Grow thyme in containers and set them near patios or balconies. It does well in sunny, well-drained spots, and contains thymol, which helps keep various pests away.
19) Aloe Vera
Aloe vera doesn’t kill gnats, but it can help manage them if you’re careful with watering. Fungus gnats love aloe when the soil stays moist.
Let the soil dry out completely between waterings to get rid of the dampness gnats need to survive. If you’re still seeing adults, yellow sticky traps nearby can help catch them.
20) Peppermint
Peppermint gives off a strong scent that tends to keep gnats and other pesky flying bugs at bay. The plant’s essential oils mess with gnats’ senses, so they’re just not as interested in hanging around.
Try growing peppermint in pots near the spots where gnats show up most, like by your windows or around plants that always seem to attract them. If you’re leaning toward a more hands-on approach, mix some peppermint essential oil with water, toss it in a spray bottle, and spritz your plants. It goes after not just the adult gnats, but their larvae hiding out in the soil, too.
