6 Gorgeous Flowers to Plant in May that Keep Flies Away – They Look and Smell Lovely in Summer Containers

Time spent soaking in the peace of a backyard is precious. Whether your little slice of heaven is a chair on a deck or a lounger on a lawn, you’ll have spent a long time longing for those first stolen hours of summer warmth, nursing a morning coffee or evening glass of wine… only for a grim buzzing noise to disrupt the peace and vibrate repeatedly against your ear. You know the one I mean. Just like that, your backyard bliss is shattered, you’re smacking the air in frustration, and you face the prospect of swallowing a cloud of chemical bug spray or retreating inside, as gnats, horseflies or skeeters hijack spaces you’ve worked hard to enjoy.

Fortunately, there is a lovelier alternative to bug spray if you want to reclaim your yard, and no, I’m not talking about citronella candles. Creating a no-fly zone is as simple as creating a few well-placed containers filled with flowers that repel flies. Specific container garden classics and joyful new kids on the block don’t just look lovely, they also pack a serious punch – heavenly to us, unbearable to buggy interlopers. Packed with potent essential oils and natural compounds, these fragrant fly repellent flowers are nature’s way of nudging unwanted winged visitors towards the exit. So if you haven’t yet planted a few plants that repel flies, now’s your chance.

By growing these 6 potent container-based bloomers, you don’t just add color and fragrance to your yard, you gain the ultimate buggy superpower: mobility. You can station these flowers that deter flies where you need them most, whether that’s flanking the path next to your patio lounger or standing guard on a sunny windowsill. Now's the time to get these gorgeous natural security systems to work. Grab these aromatic container superheroes, and you can add color and clout while kicking those winged beasties out. Here are the 6 flowers that will keep summer's most annoying party-crashers at bay, and all while looking super fine.

Best Flowers to Repel Flies

Harnessing the power of flowers that keep flies away is a brilliant strategy for container gardeners. These Big 6 varieties represent the best of the best for flying pest control, offering a mix of hardy flowering perennials and fast-growing annuals. Some devote their entire aromatic punch into one glorious season of pest control, soaking the air with scent. Others are in it for the long haul, and can keep your yards protected in the loveliest way for many summers to come. Together, they create a layered defense that targets a range of common backyard nuisances, from houseflies and fruit flies to mosquitoes and midges.

Because these plants rely on the evaporation of natural oils to deter pests, planting them in May ensures they have ample time to establish robust root systems and lush foliage before summer heat pushes those potent fragrances to their peak. Whatever your USDA zone may be, the beauty of container gardening is that you can bypass poor backyard earth and give these plants the exact conditions they crave, whether that's a lean, sharp-draining, gritty mix for Mediterranean types or a moisture-retentive loam for hungrier flowering security.

To set your pest-busting flowers up to start repelling flies from day one, container preparation is key. Before planting, ensure your chosen pots have excellent drainage holes to prevent waterlogging (which can reduce a plant's health and oil potency). Use a soil meter to test your potting mixes before planting, ensuring it is primed for your perfumed fly-busters. You can buy the Dr Meter 3-in-1 Soil Moisture, Light, and pH Tester from Amazon for a battery-free check of moisture levels and pH needs.

Boosting starter plants with an organic root-growing stimulant during planting will also encourage rapid growth so your flowers can hit their stride in short order. You can buy Bonide Garden Rich Root & Grow Stimulator Concentrate from Walmart to help stimulate early root formation in these flowers dedicated to your no-fly zone.

1. Lavender

When it comes to fragrant pest control, lavender (Lavendula) is the classic purple powerhouse. Those iconic, slender flower spikes, in shades of deep violet, powdery blue, and soft pink, are loaded with linalool, an aromatic compound that acts as a cloaking device against houseflies, mosquitoes, gnats, and moths. To maximize its bug-busting potential, potted lavender needs a position that receives 6-8 hours of baking sunlight daily. These oils are most potent in mid-to-late afternoon heat. Station containers right next to outdoor seating, on steps, or on a sunny windowsill where a passing breeze can waft that protective scent hither and yon.

Avoid the temptation to pamper your container lavender. She thrives on neglect and detests wet feet, which can halt oil production. Opt for unglazed terracotta or clay pots that allow moisture to evaporate through walls. Fill with a lean potting mix, such as Soil Sunrise Custom Lavender Potting Soil Mix from Lowe’s, amended with plenty of coarse sand or perlite. Look for robust cultivars like ‘Phenomenal’ or ‘Munstead’. You can buy Hirt’s Garden’s Lavender 'Munstead' Plants from Walmart for dynamic purple spikes, compact growth, and natural oil potency for an explosion of aromatic blooms.

2. Scented Geraniums

Bright red zonal geraniums are a porch staple as summer rolls near, but if you’re after fly deterrents, it’s their scented-leaf geranium cousins (Pelargonium graveolens) you need to stockpile. Most of these flowering plants need blossoms to reach their full potential, but the potent oils of scented pelargoniums are stored in the cells of their foliage. The moment a winged guest brushes past, the cells rupture and release a cloud of fragrance that masks the environmental cues houseflies, mosquitoes, and midges use to hunt. Look for lemon-scented 'Citronella' (or 'Mosquitaway'), deeply sweet 'Attar of Roses', or citrus-packed 'Orange Fizz'. You can buy Citronella Geraniums from Burpee to get a headstart on skeeter season.

Though they produce pretty clusters of lavender or pink flowers from June to frost, their bug-busting potency remains active all summer, even before the buds emerge. Because they rely on physical friction, these tactile beauties are suited to patio tables or accent plants along paths or walkways. They thrive in containers, either lightweight plastic or glazed ceramic. Just use a well-draining soil mix like Espoma Organic 4-Quart Potting Soil Mix from Walmart for optimal drainage, mixed with a handful of composted manure. They crave a minimum of 6 hours of bright sun but will happily appreciate a little dappled afternoon shade in hot zones.

3. Floss Flowers

For a sprinkle of whimsical charm in your backyard, the floss flower or ageratum (A. houstonianum) is a delightful way to deter flying pests. Get ready for clusters of unique pompoms in powdery blue, lavender, or soft pink. You might only detect a faint floral scent, but this plant is packed with coumarin, a compound so effective at disrupting an insect’s sensory receptors that it is widely used in synthetic bug sprays. It blooms from late spring to first frost, so its pest-fighting window is impressive. It’s potent in bright, humid summer days, and works well on front porches, balconies, or near low patio walls, where houseflies and mosquitoes like to linger.

To keep these pretty annuals at their peak, they need a moist, well-drained root zone. Grow in plastic, resin, or glazed ceramic that holds onto moisture, filled with a rich potting mix. While floss flowers adore morning sun, their pest-busting power can stall in intense afternoon heat, so factor in a little dappled afternoon shade. Choose compact cultivars like ‘Blue Horizon’ or dwarf ‘Aloha Blue’, and deadhead faded blooms to trigger continuous fresh blooms. Buy fluffy 'Dondo Blue' Floss Flower Seeds from Eden Brothers to fill patio containers with robust, fly-repelling texture.

4. Nasturtiums

For a burst of cheerful, sun-drenched color that tumbles romantically over the edges of planters, the fast-growing nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a feast for the senses. One of my absolute favorites for color and edible accents, its peppery magic extends to flying pest controls. That peppery foliage scent is vital, but it’s the combination of that and the sweet aroma emitted from the flowers that creates a confusing sensory barrier for houseflies, whiteflies, and aphids. These vibrant annuals are especially effective in hanging baskets near patios or trailing from window boxes, where they can intercept flies trying to catch a ride inside.

Caring for nasturtiums is almost too easy, as they stop working if you treat them too well. Fertile soil or nitrogen-rich fertilizer prompts a mass of leaves, while hiding the pest-deterring flowers. For maximum potency, use a lightweight potting mix and hold off on the plant food. Try 'Jewel Mix' for its bushy habit or 'Alaska' for electric variegations. There are plenty of Nasturtium Seed Options at Burpee, including tangerine ‘Vesuvius’ and coppery ‘Orchid Flame’, for a lush tumbling curtain of fly-repelling color. Pair with upright chives and basil for a multi-tiered defense.

5. Chrysanthemums

Often affectionately known as mums, these densely packed mounds of tight petals explode into generous palettes of color – but don’t let their decorative appearance fool you. Chrysanthemums are capable of kicking some serious fly butt. Mums are loaded with pyrethrum, a powerful insect neurotoxin that insects hate. Their musky, herbal fragrance may smell like a crisp morning to us, but it causes flying pests to beat a hasty retreat. While traditional mums hit peak potency from late summer through fall, you can plant summer-blooming mum varieties in spring. Place them in porch pots or on your entryway steps to stop flies from slipping inside the house.

Mums require a bright, sunny location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, and a sturdy container that offers plenty of room for their expansive root systems and support for their top-heavy blooms. Use a fertile, moisture-retentive potting soil with plenty of rich organic compost, as mums are heavy feeders. Look for early-season cultivars like the 'Cheryl' or 'Prophet' series, or ‘Mammoth Daisy Coral’ Mums from Burpee. Pinch back growing tips until July to encourage more fly-fighting blooms.

6. Catmint (Nepeta)

Last but not least is nepeta or catmint, bringing a soft cottage-garden calm to patio pots, while deploying sneaky bug-blasting abilities. This airy perennial produces a cloud of fuzzy green-gray foliage, topped with loose spikes of lavender-blue flowers. Yet despite its gentle looks, it is packed with nepetalactone, which is believed to be up to 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes and common houseflies than DEET (used in commercial insect repellents). Given its lovely billowing habit, its minty pine freshness is perfect for large pots on the outer edges of decks, patios, or low retaining walls, for a beautiful protective perimeter.

When growing catmint in containers, the key to keeping its defenses potent is giving it plenty of bright, unfiltered sunlight and avoiding water-retaining soils. Catmint prefers a lean potting mix in a pot that allows roots to breathe. Shear back after its first major flush to trigger a fresh wave of blooms to guard your yard through to fall. Container-friendly cultivars include ‘Walker’s Low’ and ‘Cat’s Pajamas’, which start blooming weeks earlier than other varieties. Buy Proven Winners’ ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ from Fast Growing Trees for a dense long blooming cloud of bug-repelling beauty.

Shop Flowers to Keep Flies at Bay

Curating a pest-free patio doesn’t mean you have to compromise on visual dynamics. These high-potency floral varieties aren’t just effective for discouraging flying bugs, they also work beautifully in pots and look gorgeous from every angle. Treat your patio to these exception bloomers and get ready to make more of your joyful fly-free zone.

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