Plants That Keep Bees Away

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For those with bee allergies or flying insect phobias, this is a guide to plants that don’t attract bees.

While bees provide the incredibly important service of pollinating our plants and flowers, you can still create a thriving bee-free oasis in your backyard. 

Cucumber

We all know cucumber adds the perfect crunch to any salad, but did you know this plant also keeps bees, wasps, and even ants away? The reason has yet to be precisely pinpointed, but people assume that these insects do not like the bitterness of cucumber peels due to their cucurbitacin content.

Geraniums

Red geraniums prove to be fairly useful in keeping bees away. Because bees can’t see the color red, red flowers appear green to them and simply blend in with the surrounding foliage.

Photo by: Sabina Bajracharya, CC BY-SA 4.0

Wormwood

Wormwood emits a pungent scent that repels a variety of creatures including bees, deer, ticks and mites. The chemicals found in wormwood are so potent that farmers sometimes use it to ward off fleas that wreak havoc in chicken coops.

Photo by: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0

Marigolds

Red varieties of marigold are a decent option for keeping bees away but don’t expect them to deter a large population of bees. Although not based on scientific research, it has been observed that marigolds are unattractive to insects because of their pungent aroma.

Photo by sarangib

Citronella

Citronella is most commonly known for keeping away mosquitos, but it has been known to deter other insects as well, including bees.

Feverfew

Feverfew is a perennial that grows as tall as three feet and closely resemble daisies. Widely used for medicinal purposes, this potent flower produces a strong scent (slightly citrusy) that bees hate.

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