Grow This Scent-sational Herb to Keep Your Outdoor Space Wasp-Free

Did you know there’s a natural way to deter stinging wasps without resorting to harmful chemicals? Believe it or not, the solution might be growing in your garden.

Wormwood is a fragrant herb that makes a natural wasp repellent.1 Planting wormwood in your garden can transform it into a wasp-free zone.

What Is Wormwood?

Grow This Scent-sational Herb to Keep Your Outdoor Space Wasp-Free - wormwood plant dp346373552
Image Credit: orestligetka.ukr.net/Deposit Photos

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a perennial herb known for its silvery-green foliage and distinctive, pungent aroma. 

This hardy plant is native to Europe and Asia but has naturalized in many parts of the world. While wormwood has a long history of medicinal and culinary uses, its potent scent is what makes it a valuable asset in the garden as a natural pest deterrent.

What Makes Wormwood So Effective against Wasps? 

Grow This Scent-sational Herb to Keep Your Outdoor Space Wasp-Free - fresh wormwood plant dp385562888
Image Credit: vo_studio/Deposit Photos

The strong, bitter fragrance of wormwood is the key to its wasp-repelling powers. Wasps are highly sensitive to smell and find the odor of wormwood unpleasant. 

This natural aversion helps to deter wasps from building nests or lingering in areas where wormwood is present. In addition, wormwood contains compounds like thujone, which are believed to have insecticidal properties, further enhancing its effectiveness against these stinging insects.

How Can I Plant Wormwood in My Yard? 

Grow This Scent-sational Herb to Keep Your Outdoor Space Wasp-Free - planting wormwood wc
Image Credit: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wormwood thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, making it a relatively low-maintenance addition to your garden. You can start wormwood from seeds indoors about six to eight weeks before the last frost or sow them directly in the ground after the danger of frost has passed. Space plants about 18-24 inches apart to allow for their mature size.

What Should I Know before Growing Wormwood? 

Grow This Scent-sational Herb to Keep Your Outdoor Space Wasp-Free - wormwood with sign dp155597646
Image Credit: Moskwa/Deposit Photos

Before planting wormwood, be aware that it can spread aggressively through self-seeding and underground rhizomes. Consider planting it in a container or a designated area where you can control its growth. 

While wormwood is generally safe to handle, some people may experience skin irritation from its oils, so it’s best to wear gloves when pruning or harvesting. Lastly, remember that while wormwood is effective at deterring wasps, it may also repel beneficial insects like bees, so plant it strategically away from pollinator-friendly flowers.

Source:

  1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346663440_Isolation_of_extracts_of_wormwood_-_effective_natural_insecticides_of_the_terpenoid_group
nancy
Author & Editor | + posts

Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.