What Plants Keep Snakes Away

If you’re looking for a natural way to make your yard less inviting to snakes, you might be wondering what plants keep snakes away. Using certain plants is a popular and eco-friendly strategy to naturally repelling snakes effectively from your garden and home perimeter.

This method works by targeting a snake’s keen senses. Snakes rely heavily on their sense of smell and their sensitivity to vibrations. Some plants produce strong aromas that snakes find unpleasant, while others have dense, prickly growth that creates a physical barrier they don’t like to cross. It’s important to remember that no plant is a 100% guaranteed snake repellent, but they can be a fantastic part of a broader, sensible strategy.

Let’s look at the most commonly recommended plants for this purpose. The key is to understand how each one works, so you can place them strategically around your property.

Strong-Scented Plants: Confusing the Senses

Snakes use their forked tongues to “taste” the air and pick up scent particles. Overpowering fragrances can mask the smells of their prey (like rodents) and make an area feel confusing and unsafe to them. These are some of the best options.

Marigolds: Their distinct smell is often cited as a snake deterrent. The roots also give off a substance that can repel nematodes and other soil pests, which might indirectly reduce food sources.
Lemongrass: This plant is a source of citronella oil. The strong citrus aroma is unpleasant to many insects and snakes alike. It grows into a tall, grassy clump that can form a visual screen.
Society Garlic: As the name suggests, this plant has a strong garlicky odor from its leaves and flowers. It’s a tough, drought-resistant plant that’s easy to grow in sunny borders.
Onion & Garlic: Planting actual garlic or onions in garden beds can contribute to a scent profile snakes avoid. The smell comes from the bulbs underground and the greens above.
Wormwood (Artemisia): This silvery-leaved herb has a potent, bitter scent. It’s a perennial that prefers dry, well-drained soil and full sun.

Prickly and Dense Plants: Creating an Uncomfortable Barrier

Snakes have sensitive skin on their bellies. They generally avoid moving through rough, sharp, or densely tangled ground cover because it’s physically uncomfortable and leaves them exposed. These plants act like a natural barbed wire fence.

Holly: Both American and English holly have thick, prickly leaves that form a formidable, year-round barrier. Planting a holly hedge can block access to foundations or porches.
Rosemary: While its scent is also a factor, rosemary’s dense, needle-like growth creates a scratchy mat that snakes typically won’t slither over. It’s excellent in sunny, dry areas.
Barberry: This thorny shrub is a champion at creating impenetrable thickets. Its sharp thorns are a deterrent to snakes, rodents, and even unwanted human or animal traffic.
Agave and Yucca: These succulents have sharp, pointed leaves that radiate from the base. Planting them creates spiky obstacles that are very effective at protecting specific spots.
Prickly Pear Cactus: In arid climates, few plants are more effective at creating a painful barrier. Their large pads are covered in spines that snakes will absolutely avoid.

Other Plants with Repellent Properties

A few other plants are often mentioned in this category, though their effectiveness can be more anecdotal. They’re still worth considering for your garden’s overall plan.

Lavender: Loved by humans for its calming scent, this aroma can be a deterrent to snakes. It also attracts pollinators, which is a great benefit for your garden.
Mugwort: Another strongly aromatic herb in the Artemisia family, mugwort has a long history in folklore for repelling pests, including insects and snakes.
Snake Plant (Sansevieria): Interestingly, the “snake plant” is sometimes suggested because its sharp, upright leaves might create an uncomfortable surface. It’s more of a visual namesake than a proven repellent, but it’s a tough houseplant you can use on patios.

How to Use These Plants in Your Landscape

Simply buying a marigold won’t solve your snake concerns. Strategic placement is everything. You need to think like a snake and block their likely travel routes and hiding spots.

Step 1: Identify Key Entry Points and Habitats

Walk around your property and look for areas that attract snakes. These include:

Gaps under sheds, decks, or porches.
Cracks in your home’s foundation or around utility pipes.
Wood piles, rock piles, and dense brush.
Areas with heavy mulch or ground cover where rodents might live.

Step 2: Create a Protective Perimeter

This is your main defense line. Plant a border of deterrent plants around the edge of your yard, especially along fence lines or property boundaries near woods or fields.

Use a combination of strong-smelling and prickly plants for a dual effect.
Space plants closely to they grow together into a continous barrier.
For foundations, plant a band of these species about 2-3 feet wide all the way around your house.

Step 3: Fortify Specific Zones

Protect high-risk areas directly. Circle wood piles with a ring of holly or barberry. Plant agave or yucca near the entrance to a crawl space. Use pots of lemongrass or lavender on your patio or around doorways.

Step 4: Maintain a Tidy Yard

Plants are just one tool. To be truly effective, you must remove the reasons snakes come in the first place: food and shelter.

Keep grass mowed short.
Remove leaf litter, debris, and excess mulch.
Store firewood on a rack well away from your house.
Seal up rodent burrows and use traps to control mice and vole populations.

Important Limitations and Safety Notes

It’s crucial to have realistic expectations. No plant is a magical force field.

Some snakes may still pass through if they are motivated enough by prey or shelter. Also, be aware that creating dense plant barriers can sometimes provide cover for rodents if not managed, which could attrack snakes—the opposite of your goal. Always tend to your plantings.

Furthermore, correctly identify any snakes in your area. Many species are beneficial and non-venomous, eating pests like slugs and rodents. Your goal should be gentle deterrence, not harm. If you have a serious snake problem, especially with venomous species, always contact a professional wildlife removal service.

Complementary Natural Deterrents

For a stronger defense, combine your snake-repellent plants with other natural methods.

Essential Oil Sprays: Mixes of clove, cinnamon, or cedarwood oil with water can be sprayed around borders. Reapply after rain.
Vibrations: Snakes feel vibrations through the ground. A low-frequency solar-powered sonic stake placed in the garden can help.
Clean Borders: A simple, wide gravel or path around your property is unappealing for snakes to cross, as it offers no cover and is abrasive.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

What smell do snakes hate the most?

Snakes are known to dislike strong, pungent smells like cinnamon, clove oil, ammonia, and the scents of many plants listed above, such as garlic and lemongrass.

Does planting marigolds really keep snakes away?

Marigolds can help as part of a broader strategy. Their smell may deter snakes, and they can help with other garden pests. But relying on marigolds alone is not a complete solution.

What is the most effective plant to repel snakes?

There isn’t a single “most effective” plant, as results vary. Many gardeners find that combining prickly barriers like holly or barberry with strong-scented plants like society garlic gives the best results for keeping snakes at a distance.

How to I stop snakes getting in my house?

Focus on exclusion. Use snake-repellent plants around the foundation, seal all cracks and holes with mortar or steel wool, install tight-fitting door sweeps, and keep your yard clean to remove attractants like rodents.

Are there any trees that repel snakes?

Not specifically. The concept works better with ground-level shrubs, herbs, and grasses that create scent or physical barriers where snakes travel.

Using plants to deter snakes is a smart, natural approach that enhances your garden’s beauty and biodiversity. By choosing the right plants—like marigolds for scent, holly for prickly barriers, and lemongrass for its strong aroma—and placing them strategically, you can make your outdoor space much less attractive to these reptiles. Remember, consistency is key. Maintain your plantings, keep your yard tidy, and combine methods for the best chance of success. This holistic strategy is the most reliable way to enjoy your garden with greater peace of mind.