The key to deterring ants naturally with plants relies primarily on scent. These insects have four to five times as many scent receptors in their antennae as other insects, which is how they locate food sources.2 Not all plants produce essential oils, but those that are highly fragrant contain concentrated oils in various plant parts.3
Plants with high amounts of essential oils and strong scents create an environment too intense for an ant’s sensitive olfactory, causing the insect to avoid the source. Some plants also contain pyrethrins, a substance that affects the nervous systems of ants causing paralysis and other plants attract predators that feed on ants.
Here are 14 aromatic plants to grow around the foundation of your home and outbuildings to help deter ants. {read}