Lizards are an essential part of the ecosystem, keeping insect populations at bay. They also eat away numerous harmful pests and can be regarded as companions of gardeners.
However, some of us are not accustomed to living with these creatures. The sight of them running and crawling around might completely spook you. That’s why you want to repel them and ensure they rarely show up.
We show you an eco-friendly way of going about this— growing plants that repel lizards.
Let’s take you through the list of these plants.
Source | https://www.rentokil.com.sg/
Plants That Deter Lizards
Plants that deter lizards fall into two categories, indoor and outdoor:
- Peppermint
- Japanese Mint
- Herb of Grace plant
- Pencil tree
- Nilgiri plant or Eucalyptus
- Stinking Hellebore
Indoor Plants That Repel Lizards
The list below contains indoor plants that repel lizards. We talk about each plant in detail.
1. Peppermint Plant (Mentha piperita)
Source | https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/
The Peppermint plant also goes by the name Mentha Piperita, a perennial herb that grows to 2.9 feet. The plant repels lizards because of its pungent scent, which is stronger than most other plants in the yard.
The scent confuses the lizards and makes them unable to prey on insects.
Peppermints are low on maintenance costs. They prefer moist environments with well-drained soils. You should also water them daily while protecting them from direct sunlight.
2. Japanese Mint (Mentha arvensis)
Source | https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/
Japanese Mint is a herbaceous plant that has the potential to keep lizards away. The plant is widespread in Europe and Asia and a popular farm crop in China and Japan.
Like Peppermint, the Japanese Mint produces a strong menthol scent that causes confusion in lizards and repels them effectively. The plant grows up to 60cm and comes with lanceolate to ovate leaves. These are slightly serrated.
The plant carries purple flowers, which are in dense pseudo whorls.
3. Herb of Grace Plant (Ruta graveolens)
Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/
The Herb-of-Grace is also referred to as Rue or Common Rue. It is a species of Ruta that is commonly grown as a herb or ornamental, thanks to its bluish-green leaves. The plant is native to southeast Europe, particularly the Balkan Peninsula.
The plant has a moldy smell that deters lizards, keeping them out of your house or indoor environment. Like other house plants, the Herb of Grace loves well-drained soils.
It also thrives best in direct sunlight or under a partial shade. Maintain the watering regime at an interval of 2-3 weeks. The plant also scares away geckos and snakes from your property.
4. Pencil Tree (Euphorbia tirucalli)
Source | https://www.thesill.com/
The Pencil tree goes by other common names such as Indian tree spurge and Pencil Cactus. It’s a succulent shrub that loves growing in semi-arid tropical climates. It’s widely spread in Africa and prefers black clay soils.
Their branches grow to 7 meters, and the stems are cylindrical and fleshy with extensions of succulent twigs. Their leaves are oval, growing 1-2.5 meters long and 4mm wide. The leaves fall off early.
Yellow flowers usually appear at the end of their branches.
For the best results when growing it indoors, ensure abundant sunlight. Also, the soil should be fertile and well-draining.
Their watering requirements differ among seasons. You should water them once a week during summers and once a month during winters.
Pencil tree has a toxic latex that is poisonous to lizards and insects and has the potential to cause temporal blindness.
Outdoor Lizard Repellent Plants
We also list some outdoor plants you could plant in your garden to help repel lizards.
1. Eucalyptus Plant
Source | https://www.amazon.in/
The Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia. They are multi-stemmed and grow up to a height of 10 feet indoors. Outside, they can grow above 60 feet.
Their branches are slightly fibrous, and the leaves contain oil glands. These oil glands give the eucalyptus tree a strong scent that helps to keep lizards at bay.
You should grow them around the openings of your house, specifically the doors and the windows, if you intend to keep lizards from finding their way in.
Eucalyptus loves abundant sunlight in soils that contain a low amount of phosphorus. Only water the plant when the soil gets dry.
2. Stinking Hellebore (Helleborus spp.)
Source | https://www.groww.fr/
Stinking Hellebore is a powerful gecko deterrent in your garden. It gets its name from the foul smell that emanates from crushing its leaves.
The plant is toxic to humans and most animals. You should keep it away from children and pets or avoid growing it entirely.
The stems are straight, thick, and green-yellow, with large leaves on the upper side of the plant. Their lanceolate leaflets are arranged in a fan-like pattern finishing up with a rounded top about 50 cm in diameter.
The foliage is evergreen and looks beautiful throughout the year. Handle the plant with gloves to avoid poisoning or contamination.
Wrap Up
Lizards may be a vital part of the ecosystem, but their presence is often undesired, especially when you can’t stand their sight in your home or garden.
Splashing chemicals around your house to drive them away is not safe. We recommend growing plants that repel them effectively.
