PLANTS are versatile organisms that can do more than just make your garden look beautiful.
According to Home & Gardens, there is even some greenery equipped to repel pesky snakes.
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Marigolds
French and American marigolds give off a strong, spicy scent and are red, orange and yellow in color, which keeps snakes at bay.
“These bright, beautiful flowers look harmless, but the roots of marigolds grow deep and aggressive,” said the folks at Mo Plants.
“These sturdy roots are the snake repellents. They give off a strong odor that repels snakes, gophers and moles. They can also get anywhere a snake burrows and hides, so the smell will reach deep into the ground.”
ALLIUM OR BLOOMING ONION
Onions are great at keeping snakes away, with their high sulfone content and strong odor.
They also make beautiful blooms, with lavender and dark purple pompom flowers that will add great color to any garden.
LEMON GRASS
Lemongrass has a citrus scent that is known to keep snakes away.
It is best known for growing in warmer climates such as Sri Lanka and South India.
THE TONGUE OF THE MOTHER
This plant is also called sansevieria or snake plant. Its sharp-looking leaves will repel snakes.
It is not clear whether this is because they find the appearance of the plants threatening, or because of the sharp leaf edges.
Either way, these plants thrive outdoors in warm climates.
wormwood OR MUGWORT
Snakes, also known as artemisia, are not fans of the astringent scent. It is also easy to grow in a sunny spot and parts of the plant have been used to make the Absinthe liqueur.
However, it is more known for treating various digestive problems.
PINK AGAPANTHUS
As a member of the onion family, this plant’s strong odor also keeps snakes away.
Do not place the pink agapanthus in soil that is too saturated with water, as this will cause the bulbs to rot.
GARLIC
Like onions and alliums, garlic has high amounts of sulfonic acid, which gives off a strong odor that snakes are not a fan of.
SNAKEROOT PLANTS
Also known as the devil’s pepper, this plant has bitter leaves and roots that keep snakes from getting near it.
Although it is extremely poisonous to snakes, it is also harmful to animals, especially horses and goats.
YELLOW ELSEN
This plant has bright yellow buttercup-like flowers. It’s great to get rid of snakes.
The flowers are also attractive to butterflies.
BASIL
With a strong odor that deters snakes, basil is the perfect herb for repelling pesky critters.
Basil needs constant heat to grow and should not sit in wet compost as it will rot.
The tender leaves also burn easily, so keep your plant out of direct sunlight.