7 Plants That Repel Spiders Indoors & Outdoors

Look for plants that repel spiders? Here are some species that resist these insects.

Spiders present a problem for many homeowners due to their activities. These arachnids take up residence around homes and properties and weave unsightly webs. The most worrisome problem has poisonous spiders around.

Keeping spiders at bay is the logical thing to do. Now, there are several methods or strategies for doing this.

Here, we’ll be discussing the use of plants to repel spiders. Using plants to repel these pests is a safe, natural, and effective way to take back control of your property.

Which plants keep spiders away? We’ll look at some examples.

Indoor and Outdoor Spider Repelling Plants

There are multiple plants with repelling properties that you can plant around your home. Having multiple alternatives enables you to handle any spider infestation, however difficult it is.

More importantly, having repelled spiders within and around your home, these plants serve as excellent preventive treatments.

A few of the several plants with spider repelling properties include Mint, Basil, Geraniums, Marigolds, Lemon Verbena, Chrysanthemums, Rosemary, and Citronella Grass.

Others include Lemon Balm, Dwarf Citrus Tree, Lavender, Lemon Thyme, Chives, and Osage Orange.

1. Mint

Mints are low-maintenance plants that offer a wide range of benefits, including repelling insects and spiders. A wide variety of plants fall under the mint category.

They include pennyroyal, peppermint, spearmint, apple mint, wild mint, water mint, and chocolate mint, to name a few.

• How it Works

These plants have a minty aroma which though pleasant to humans, has an overwhelming effect on spiders.

Spiders will always move away from areas where these plants are present. Apart from repelling spiders, mint also helps a wide range of insect pests and rodents.

• How to Use Mint Plants

Using mint plants to repel spiders isn’t as complex as you think. You only need to pick your preferred variety of mint plants and have them planted around spider-prone areas.

These plants can be potted or planted in prepared plant beds or wherever you choose.

• Side Effects

Mints have a wide range of health benefits aside from serving as a food source. However, there may be side effects associated with its use.

Such mild effects are likely to result from allergic reactions. You may experience dry mouth, heartburn, nausea & vomiting, and diarrhea.

2. Basil

Basil plants are among the most effective herbs with spider repelling properties. This plant can either be potted or planted in raised beds. The best soils for growing basil are neutral or slightly acidic soils.

Basil serves as food as well as insect and spider repellent.

• How it Works

Basil plant contains aromatic oils that serve to repel spiders and flies, mosquitoes, carrot flies, asparagus beetles, and whiteflies.

• How to Use Basil for Spider Control

Having established the fact that basil plants are great spider repellents, having an understanding of how to use them is equally important.

Having these planted around your property, along with entryways and spider-prone areas of your home, will give you the spider-repelling effect you seek.

• Side Effects

When using basil for spider control, it’s not advisable to ingest it.

Doing so will increase the risk of getting liver cancer. Why so? This is due to estragole (a chemical compound) contained in basil plants. Any other possibility of a side effect may arise from allergic reactions.

3. Geraniums

When it comes to plants that give off pleasant scents, geraniums rank high among them.

As a result, it’s a favorite among gardeners due to its ease of cultivation. The best part is; that geraniums help repel spiders.

• How Geranium Works to Repel Spiders

As mentioned a short while ago, geraniums give off a pleasant scent.

However, this scent is only pleasant to humans but irritating to spiders. So, it’s to your benefit to have a sweet-smelling plant around your home while achieving deterrence to spiders.

• How to Use Geranium Plants for Spider Control

Geranium plants are easy to grow.

Apart from having them in your garden, this plant can be introduced to spider-prone locations around your home. You only need to get these plants close enough for the best results.

• Side Effects

Geraniums are largely considered to be safe for use. However, you can never downplay the possibility of allergic reactions. This may result in rashes or itchy skin, among others.

Medical advice should be sought whenever this is noticed.

4. Marigold

Apart from the color and beauty added to your property by planting Marigolds, this plant also serves to repel spiders effectively. It is an annual flower that thrives on well-drained soils and needs adequate sunlight to grow.

Spiders stand no chance of hanging around with this plant around your home.

• How Marigolds Work to Repel Spiders

Certain marigold varieties release more scents than others.

Now, there are many varieties, out of which the French marigold is the favorite among those with a strong pleasant scent. Although this plant smells good, it harms spiders.

Thus making them keep their distance.

• How to Use Marigolds

You can plant marigolds in a variety of ways. One of these includes having them placed in pots along with your patios and outside and around areas with the spider presence.

Before long, your home becomes unsuitable for spiders to hang around.

• Side Effects

Allergic reactions are unlikely when it comes to marigolds spider repellents. However, it cannot be ruled out.

Side effects may include difficulty breathing, dizziness, swelling, rash, and itchy skin. You should seek medical advice immediately.

5. Lemon Verbena

Organically fertile and well-drained soils are best for planting lemon verbena. This plant has spider repelling properties and is a natural pest control measure.

Lemon verbena can either be potted or planted outdoors. Whatever method is used, it still serves the purpose.

• How Lemon Verbena Repels Spiders

This perennial plant with rough, glossy leaves emits a pungent smell that overwhelms spiders. While this scent is overpowering to spiders and other pests, it is pleasing to humans.

Thus, it is one plant you should consider having around your property.

• How to Use Lemon Verbena for Spider Control

To have spiders keep their distance from your property, you’ll need to know how to use or deploy this plant.

Luckily, it isn’t as difficult as you think. Whether you seek to plant in pots or outdoors, adequate sunlight will be necessary. Frequent fertilization is also essential.

Have them planted around areas with the most spider infestation. It’s also important to have potted plants to help with the easy movement to new spider-infested areas.

• Side Effects

Dermatitis or skin irritation is one of the common side effects associated with lemon verbena.

It is advisable to either discontinue its use immediately after you notice an allergy or find better ways to avoid direct skin contact with the plant.

6. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are one plant with repelling properties for a wide range of pest issues, including spiders.

This plant comes in different species, each with its unique climatic growth requirements. In other words, certain species perform best under specific climatic conditions.

As such, consideration of your location’s climatic condition is necessary when choosing a plant species.

Common species include chrysanthemum Indicum, crown daisy, Dalmatian pellitory, marguerite daisy, and chrysanthemum Vesitum.

• How it Works to Repel Spiders

Pyrethrin is a chemical compound that is widely used for pest control. This is contained in chrysanthemum plants.

Just having this plant around your property is enough to repel spiders and other types of insects.

• How to Use Chrysanthemums

Having discussed its efficacy in repelling spiders and other pests, it’s necessary also to discuss the “how” of using it.

Chrysanthemums are best used when they’re at their fullest. Pick the flowers and place them in a dark and cool area with good ventilation. This should be allowed to dry.

Next, grind the dried plant into a powder and apply or sprinkle around spider-infested areas. Before long, your spider problems should be long gone.

• Side Effects

Common problems associated with chrysanthemum use include itchy skin, rash, swelling, and redness of the skin.

Consider seeking medical advice whenever any of these signs are noticed.

7. Rosemary

Rosemary is among plants having good spider repelling properties.

In areas with temperate climates, it’s best to move them indoors when it gets too cold as this can affect their growth. Rosemary plants need well-drained soil in addition to adequate sunlight to thrive.

• How Rosemary Plant Repels Spiders

Besides being used for cooking, rosemary is used as a natural spider repellant. Its unique scent does the magic as it can be overwhelming to all kinds of pests, including spiders, thus keeping them away.

• How to Use

The scent given off by rosemary gives it its repellent property.

Therefore, to ensure it achieves the objective, you must plant it around areas with spider presence. Potted plants will be easy to move as such can be taken to newly infested areas with ease.

These are a few of several plants that repel spiders. You have the option of either choosing one or more of these plants. This natural alternative to spider control is the most effective and safest despite its side effects.