What Plants Attract Scorpions

If you’re wondering what plants attract scorpions, you’re asking the right question for a safer yard. Creating a scorpion-friendly garden plants list is often about knowing what to avoid, not what to cultivate. This guide will help you understand the link between common landscaping choices and these arachnids, so you can make informed decisions that protect your home and family.

Scorpions seek three things: shelter, water, and prey. Your garden can unintentionally provide all of these. By learning which plants create the ideal environment for scorpions, you can adjust your landscaping to be less inviting. Our focus is on practical, actionable steps you can take.

It’s less about the plant itself and more about the habitat it fosters. Dense, ground-covering plants and those that require frequent watering are often the culprits. They create cool, damp, and protected spaces where scorpions can hide from the sun and hunt for insects.

High-Moisture and Dense Foliage Plants

Scorpions are prone to drying out, so they are drawn to moist soil and humid microclimates. Plants that need lots of water or that create thick mats of foliage are prime real estate.

Ivy (English Ivy, Algerian Ivy): Forms a dense, ground-hugging mat that offers perfect, shaded hiding spots. The soil beneath often stays damp.
Lantana: While beautiful, it can become a sprawling, tangled bush. It’s a favorite hiding place for scorpions and the insects they eat.
Pampas Grass and Fountain Grasses: These large grasses provide excellent cover at their base. They’re often used as privacy screens but can harbor unwanted guests.
Dense Shrubs like Juniper: Low-growing junipers and similar shrubs create a network of cool, dark spaces that are inaccessable and ideal for scorpions.

Plants That Attract Insect Prey

Scorpions eat insects. If a plant draws in lots of bugs, it’s essentially setting the dinner table. Reducing these insect buffets can make your garden less appealing.

Flowering plants that require high nectar: Some, like Jasmine or Honeysuckle vines, can attract high numbers of moths, beetles, and other insects, especially at night when scorpions are active.
Overripe fruit trees or vegetable gardens: Fallen fruit or decaying veggies attract crickets, roaches, and other prey. Poorly maintained compost piles have the same effect.

Mulch and Ground Cover Considerations

This isn’t a plant, but it’s a critical part of the garden. Thick layers of organic mulch, like wood chips or straw, retain moisture and create a habitat for both prey and predator. In scorpion-prone areas, using inorganic mulch like gravel or river rock is a safer bet, as it drains quickly and offers less cover.

Palms and Loose Bark Trees

Date palms or other trees with loose, shaggy bark (like some Eucalyptus) are notorious. Scorpions climb and hide within the dead fronds (skirts) at the top of palms or behind peeling bark. Keeping palms neatly trimmed and removing loose bark from tree trunks can help alot.

How to Design a Scorpion-Resistant Garden

Your goal is to create an open, dry, and well-maintained landscape. This removes the shelter, water, and food sources that scorpions rely on. Here’s a step-by-step approach.

1. Choose the Right Plants

Opt for drought-tolerant, low-growing plants with minimal dense foliage. These typically need less water and allow for better air circulation and visibility at ground level.

Succulents and Cacti: Agave, Aloe, and most cacti store water internally and don’t create moist hiding spots.
Herbs: Rosemary, Lavender, and Thyme are aromatic, low-water, and don’t form dense ground covers.
Native, arid-adapted shrubs: Choose plants naturally suited to your dry climate. They’ll thrive with less irrigation.

2. Modify Your Watering Practices

Overwatering is a major attractant. Implement drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to plant roots, minimizing surface moisture. Water in the early morning so the soil surface has time to dry during the day. Avoid sprinklers that leave the ground consistently wet.

3. Implement Smart Hardscaping and Zones

Create a dry barrier around your home’s foundation. Use a strip of gravel or stone between any planting beds and your house walls. This creates a “no-scorpion zone” that is hot, dry, and difficult for them to cross. Keep this area completely free of plants, mulch, and debris.

4. Prioritize Pruning and Maintenance

Regular garden upkeep is your best defense. Keep all plants, especially those near your home, trimmed up off the ground. There should be a clear space between the soil and the lowest branches or leaves. This eliminates the shady, protected corridor scorpions use for travel.

Prune tree branches so they don’t touch your roof or walls.
Remove dead leaves, piles of debris, and unused pots promptly.
Store firewood and lumber off the ground and away from the house.

5. Manage Insect Populations

Since insects are scorpion food, controlling them is key. Use yellow bug lights for exterior lighting instead of white lights, which attract fewer insects. Seal cracks in your home’s exterior to prevent bugs from entering. Consider natural pest control methods for your garden to keep the overall insect population in check.

What to Do If You Find Scorpions in Your Garden

Even with the best planning, you might still encounter a scorpion. Here’s how to handle it safely.

Stay calm and keep your distance. Most scorpions are not lethal, but their sting is painful.
Do not attempt to handle it with your bare hands. Wear thick gloves if you must work in the area.
At night, use a blacklight flashlight. Scorpions glow under UV light, making them easy to spot and avoid.
For removal, you can gently coax it into a jar using a long tool and release it far from your property, or use a long-handled tool to dispatch it. Contact a pest control professional for persistent problems.

FAQ: Scorpions and Gardens

Do certain plants actually repel scorpions?

There is no strong scientific evidence that specific plants reliably repel scorpions. The most effective strategy is to avoid plants that create their preferred habitat, not to seek out magic repellent plants. Focus on the overall garden design.

Is mulch always bad for attracting scorpions?

Thick, organic mulch can be problematic because it retains moisture and provides cover. If you use mulch, apply a thin layer and keep it at least 12 inches away from your home’s foundation. Inorganic mulch like gravel or rock is a much better choice in high-risk areas.

Can scorpions live in potted plants?

Yes, they can. Pots, especially those with saucers that hold water, create a cool, damp microclimate. Lift pots off the ground using stands, and avoid letting saucers accumulate standing water. Check under pots before moving them.

How does garden lighting affect scorpions?

Lighting itself doesn’t attract scorpions, but white lights attract their insect prey. By switching to yellow sodium vapor or LED bug lights, you attract fewer insects, which indirectly makes the area less interesting for scorpions to hunt in.

Should I remove all the plants that might attract scorpions?

Not necessarily. If you have a beloved plant that’s on the list, you can often mitigate the risk. For example, keep lantana heavily pruned and open at the base. Install drip irrigation for ivy to keep the surface dry. It’s about management, not total elimination, unless you have a severe infestation.

Creating a beautiful garden in scorpion country is about smart choices. By understanding that scorpion-friendly garden plants are usually those that provide dense, moist shelter, you can select alternatives that are both attractive and practical. The key is to design with openness, dryness, and good maintenance in mind. With these steps, you can enjoy your outdoor space with greater peace of mind, knowing you’ve made it less welcoming to these unwelcome visitors. Remember, consistency in garden upkeep is just as important as the initial plant selection.