14 Plants That Effectively Repel Pesky Fruit Flies

Sep 26, 2023

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A fruit fly infestation — or even just a few here or there in the kitchen — remain a common issue in many households, especially in the summer and fall. While they aren’t harmful in nature, they might be a harbinger of unclean home conditions. It’s usually not worth calling an exterminator, but the fruit fly traps at the store can be off-putting, unnecessarily sticky, and downright gross.

If you keep a tidy home but just can’t seem to get rid of the pesky fruit flies whizzing around your kitchen in the summer and fall, consider bringing in a plant or two that naturally repels fruit flies.

Below, discover 14 plants that effectively repel fruit flies — as well as tips for repelling fruit flies through other means, too.

Fruit flies are tiny — only 1/8 of an inch. Unless you get a good look at one under a microscope, you wouldn’t even know they have distinctly-colored red eyes and a brown or light tan body.

More than anything, fruit flies look for moist environments and overripe food. They like food waste and will feed on it whenever they get the chance. The most common places to see fruit flies in your home are, of course, the kitchen, or anywhere you keep fresh fruits and vegetables. Fruit flies may also buzz around drains and garbage disposals because they have both water and food waste.

Under the most ideal conditions, a fruit fly will live between 40 and 50 days. This departs sharply from the myth of only 24 hours. It’s important to catch fruit fly infestations quickly because they multiply fast. Female fruit flies will lay several batches of eggs in their less-than-two-month lifespan, and each “litter” can be up to 500 eggs.

Usually, fruit flies lay their eggs inside decaying organic material. That might mean the skin of a tomato, the flesh of a berry, or the interior of an apple.

Before humans had the technology and knowledge to manufacture bug repellent or become exterminators, populations used specific plants to accomplish tasks. One of which: keeping their food sources free of contamination from bugs.

Depending on the plant, different characteristics or chemical compounds repel fruit flies from coming too near. Sometimes it’s the herb’s taste; other times, it’s the oils or chemicals in the herb itself that are painful or unattractive to the fly.

Repellant plants remain a handy second line of defense for households that choose to abstain from using chemical cleaning products. Besides keeping a tidy home free from rotting produce, using repellent plants provides another source of passive home health.

Discover which plants most effectively repel pesky fruit flies, including historical favorites like basil, lavender, and rosemary.

©AN NGUYEN/Shutterstock.com

Basil plants usually grow outside, so attempt to pot them in places like windowsills or other entry points to deter fruit flies from coming in. The phytochemicals in many basil subspecies will compromise the nervous system of a fruit fly if they ingest or smell too much of it. The very scent of basil’s freshly-crushed leaves will deter fruit flies — as long as it overpowers the smell of the rotting or decaying produce.

Try to pick strains of basil that are not sweet because fruit flies look for sweet scents.

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For generations, humans have used lavender to calm themselves and fall asleep. Insects like fruit flies have a different experience with lavender, though: the scent and taste are too overpowering, so they avoid it when they can.

Lavender’s phytochemicals include linalyl acetate, linalool, tannins, and caryophyllene, all of which contribute to nervous system damage in a fruit fly if ingested in significant amounts. It’s abundantly safe for humans to eat, though!

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No longer just a scent for the holidays, mint (and more specifically the plant peppermint) will repel fruit flies thanks to its overpowering smell of menthol. Crush up some leaves, have a full plant, or place sprigs in your fruit basket.

You can also use hybrids of the plant: watermint and spearmint will repel fruit flies too.

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Fruit flies avoid lemongrass’s phytochemicals and oils, like peppermint’s, at all costs. As a rule, many insects hate lemon-scented things, so this is an easy plant to keep at home for the continual repelling of fruit flies.

©Hulya Poyraz/Shutterstock.com

Rosemary has a harsh scent to fruit flies, immediately making the insect turn tail. However, there’s more to rosemary than meets the eye — and a specific reason that it repels fruit flies so well. The plant’s phytochemicals, including rosmarinic acid, camphor, and carnosic acid, make the plant bitter and naturally unappealing to many animals and insects.

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This is a perfect plant to have in the house during the summer for its color and effective chemical properties. Not only will a marigold naturally repel fruit flies; it also repels mosquitos as well! These annual flowers self-seed, so planting one means it will come back again and again.

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Along the same line as marigolds, chrysanthemums have a powerful phytochemical called pyrethrum, which helps repel flies naturally. As it’s a perennial bloom, planting a chrysanthemum and caring for it to be in good health during its season will beget another bloom later that year, and again.

©H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0 – License

More commonly referred to as “bay leaves,” the plant bay laurel will deter fruit flies with its freshly-harvested leaves and stems. This use extends to other insects and arachnids, too. Bay laurels’ phytochemicals, depending on the species, find their household use as a natural pesticide. In addition to freshly-harvest leave bundles, you can crush up bay leaves and put them in a pouch. As long as you replace them to maintain the strong scent, they’ll continue acting as a natural and effective fruit fly repellent.

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Vampires might not be real, but the annoyance of fruit flies is! Plants of garlic will repel fruit flies both indoors and outdoors, as well as other insects like beetles and cabbage butterflies. The strong, overpowering scent of garlic’s bulb and leaves deter flies from coming too close to the kitchen — and provide an aromatic green addition to you!

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The eucalyptus plant’s phytochemical cineole has a strong smell that most insects try to avoid. Usually, it works best as a repellent when you break open the leaves and fill the air with its oils. When deciding where to position eucalyptus, doorways and windows — or other entry points you know of — make great choices.

©Dominicus Johannes Bergsma / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons – License

While tansy does a great job of repelling fruit flies, it’s also slightly harmful to humans. If you choose this plant to have in your kitchen, make sure you wear gloves when you handle it, as its sap can cause contact dermatitis.

Tansy pulls double-duty in the home, not only repelling fruit flies but warding off ants, ticks, and fleas as well.

©iStock.com/Kanjana Wattanakungchai

A lesser-known plant that shows effective repellent natures to fruit flies, pennyroyal can be used both fresh and dried. Fresh cutting of pennyroyal will release an oil repugnant to fruit flies and other pests, while dried sprigs in pantries do their best to keep ants away.

Like some others on the list, pennyroyal is toxic to pets and children if ingested in large amounts.

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Citronella isn’t just a helpful candle for summer nights on the deck — it’s a grassy plant that has a powerful citrus aroma similar to lemongrass that keeps fruit flies at bay. Be careful where you place citronella, though, as it is a toxic plant to pets. Especially-curious cats are at the most risk of ingesting the plant.

©iStock.com/Yuliia Bilousova

Lastly, researchers have been studying the effects of thyme on repelling insects like fruit flies and ants. Because the plant has proven effective against mosquitos and stick bugs, it may be a good candidate for a natural fruit fly repellent.

If the plants listed above aren’t working — or if you’d like to support their repellant with other methods — try one of the following in tandem with the plants that effectively repel fruit flies to rid yourself of the pests for good.

The most common household DIY fruit fly trap needs just two handy ingredients: apple cider vinegar and dish soap.

Take a ramekin, bowl, or jar and fill it up about halfway with apple cider vinegar. This acts as the bait for the fruit flies. On top of the vinegar, drop a few dabs of dish soap and then cover it with a secured piece of plastic wrap. Finally, poke holes in the plastic wrap so the fruit flies can enter the trap.

Along with preventative measures, this is the most successful way to trap fruit flies.

Did you know the essential oil form of the plants mentioned above has the same effect of preventing and repelling fruit flys in your home? Basil, peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, clove, and lemongrass are the best choices if you choose to go the essential oil route.

It’s easy to do — almost easier than opting for plants in your home! Simply purchase the essential oil you want to use, dip a tea bag or cotton ball in it, and hang it around your kitchen. You can also use a professional essential oil diffuser if you have one.

A note about using essential oils: ensure you practice proper precautions when diffusing. Peppermint essential oil is toxic to both dogs and cats, so you may want to choose another oil if you have a pet-filled home. Also, if you choose to use a diffuser, only use it for 30 to 60 minutes. A longer duration won’t make the oil work more; it will put a strain on your body instead. Lastly, don’t diffuse or use essential oils next to your gas stove, as oils are highly flammable.

Lastly, maintaining proper food storage and waste will ensure fruit flies don’t frequent your kitchen or mysteriously spawn out of thin air.

Because fruit flies remain attracted to overripe or rotting fruits and vegetables, it’s imperative you keep a close eye on your produce and their expiration dates. Some fruits and vegetables decay faster than others. For example, bananas, avocados, and berries will spoil much faster than an apple or watermelon. Blueberries are an exception; they last longer in the refrigerator than many other berries. Other quick-to-rot fruits and vegetables include peaches, potatoes, kale, and broccoli.

Most of the time, the best method of preserving fruits and vegetables is to pop them in the fridge. Interestingly, some fruits and vegetables will spoil faster if placed in the fridge. Tomatoes are one such fruit: within a few days of entering the fridge, a tomato will become soft, mushy, or mealy rather than crisp and ripe.

Depending on the fruit or vegetable you’re trying to preserve, different methods exist to elongate its life. Here’s a chart of the best ways to preserve fruits and vegetables — and to keep fruit flies out of your kitchen.

Keep to the produce’s lifespan to prevent fruit fly congregations (or worse, infestations). You’ll also avoid making you or your family potentially sick by eating fruit that might have harmful bacteria — even if it doesn’t look spoiled yet.

Instead of investing in fruit fly traps, consider getting a plant to repel fruit flies from your outdoor spaces, indoor kitchens, and anywhere an infestation seems to occur. These natural remedies provide beauty as well as function. When you do choose a plant to act as a fruit fly deterrent, ensure it’s safe for use among all your household’s needs and allergies.

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