These 5 Beautiful Container Plants Have an Unexpected Benefit – They'll Help Keep Flies and Mosquitoes Away
So you can enjoy dining outside this summer without intrusion from buzzing insects
It's easy to prioritize show-stopping blooms, but once warmer weather arrives, there's one thing that you'll never regret adding to your garden: fly-repellent container plants. From lavender, mint and lemon balm to nasturtiums and marigolds, these won't just create an impressive display; they will also keep mosquitoes, flies and other critters under control.
After all, while you might want a backyard that looks spectacular in the summertime, it's easy to overlook more practical matters – and that includes keeping your space pest-free. You won't be keen to soak up the sun if you're constantly batting away pests.
With this in mind, we asked experts to recommend the very best fly-repellent plants for containers. So, if you fancy cultivating a container garden that looks gorgeous and works just as hard, these are the varieties to choose.
1. Nasturtiums
Keen gardeners will be familiar with growing nasturtiums, but you might not know exactly how to use nasturtiums for pest control. These colorful blooms are, in fact, brilliant companion plants which give off a bitter scent that naturally repels flies.
'The distinctive, peppery aroma of nasturtium plants confuses and deters a whole list of typical garden pests, including flies,' explains Drew Swainston, Content Editor at Homes & Gardens.
'Give nasturtiums a sunny spot and keep the soil moist, and they will be happy. They don’t need lots of feeding, even in containers, as excessive nutrients mean lots of foliage, but few flowers.'
Drew has worked as a writer since 2008 and was also a professional gardener for many years. As a trained horticulturist, he worked in prestigious historic gardens, including Hanbury Hall and the world-famous Hidcote Manor Garden. He also spent time as a specialist kitchen gardener at Soho Farmhouse and Netherby Hall, where he grew vegetables, fruit, herbs, and cut flowers for restaurants. Drew has written for numerous print and online publications and is an allotment holder and garden blogger. He was shortlisted for the Digital Gardening Writer of the Year at the 2025 Garden Media Guild Awards.
Whether you plant them in pots or hanging baskets, nasturtiums are one of the most versatile fly-repellent varieties you can choose. I love displaying them in decorative containers (like this terracotta bergs pot from Magnolia), but I'm also keen to add them to wicker hanging baskets, like these from IKEA.
'There are so many ways to add this spicy deterrent to your garden,' Drew emphasizes. 'They also look stunning as they trail over the sides of pots, planters, or baskets, creating a waterfall of vibrant flowers.'
You can buy pack of live nasturtium plants from Walmart, or pick up Empress of India nasturtium seeds from True Leaf Market.
2. Lavender
Growing lavender is one of the best ways to create a wildlife garden in the summertime, attracting hosts of bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Yet just as it entices beneficial insects, it also drives away flies and mosquitoes.
'Lavender is the one plant I recommend to almost anyone who wants a low-maintenance, high-reward container plant,' says Nicole Burke, author and founder of Gardenary. 'It offers a scent that humans love, but flies and mosquitoes hate it.'
Nicole Johnsey Burke is the founder of Gardenary and the author of three books, including Kitchen Garden Revival and The 5-Minute Gardener. She has personally guided countless home gardeners through her courses, books, and social media platforms. Her mission is simple: make growing your own food feel ordinary, beautiful, and completely doable.
'What makes lavender so effective is a compound called linalool,' explains Nicole. 'Insects use scent to navigate toward their targets, and linalool essentially scrambles that signal. It's the same reason you'll find lavender oil in so many natural bug sprays.'
Thanks to a high concentration of linalool in the natural oil that lavender naturally secretes and stores, insects like flies and fleas can't help but stay away from these gorgeous plants.
Even better, they are low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, too; you can pick up 'sensational' lavender from Fast Growing Trees and English lavender from Home Depot.
3. Mint
You might be keen to grow mint in a herb garden, but this aromatic plant isn't just a tasty treat – it also boasts useful pest-repellent properties.
'Growing mint in containers not only gives you rich pickings for cooking, adding to drinks or cocktails, or making flavorful teas, but it is also a valuable deterrent,' Drew confirms. 'The strong menthol aroma keeps flies away, as well as ants and mosquitoes.'
It's worth noting that growing mint in containers is particularly useful, since the plants tend to become invasive if planted in borders or beds. (If you're shopping around for mint, you can find Bonnie sweet mint plants at Home Depot.)
'You actively want to plant mint in pots rather than in the ground,' advises Drew. 'These plants have a reputation for being thuggish; left to their own devices, they will spread and take over. Growing mint in pots keeps it contained, and it will grow happily for many years in full sun or partial shade.'
4. Marigolds
Marigolds are an enduringly popular container pick, and it's no surprise, since they are both colorful and strongly scented. Most importantly, however, marigolds also keep bugs away.
'Marigolds contain pyrethrum, a natural compound that deters mosquitoes,' says Nicole. 'Plus, their scent confuses flies. Plant them at the edges of your container arrangements and their fragrance creates a kind of invisible barrier.'
Growing marigolds in pots is a reliably straightforward task, no matter whether you add them to a patio, porch or balcony.
'Marigolds are one of the most forgiving annuals you can grow,' says Nicole. 'Give them full sun, regular water, and deadhead the spent blooms to keep new flowers coming.' (Classic French marigold plants are available at Walmart, while dainty 'strawberry blond' marigolds are on offer at Burpee.)
5. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is another herb garden staple – and while many gardeners love to grow lemon balm indoors, it's also the perfect fly-repellent container plant to add to your garden in the summer. You can buy a pack of two lemon balm plants from Home Depot.
'Lemon balm has a strong citrus scent that mosquitoes actively avoid, and it's incredibly easy to grow in containers,' says Nicole. 'It does well in partial shade, which makes it useful for patio gardens that don't get full sun all day. I'd keep it contained to a pot, though, because like mint it'll spread aggressively in the ground.'
If you're determined to create a pest-free garden this summer, check out our guide to natural pest control methods, or read up on container plants that repel mosquitoes.
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