Lavender’s popularity for its calming scent often leads people to wonder if its powerful aroma can also serve as a natural insect repellent. This aromatic herb is frequently used in home remedies and commercial products to deter various pests. The specific query that arises is whether the familiar, fragrant purple spikes of the plant possess properties strong enough to keep bees away from outdoor spaces.
The Scientific Answer: Lavender is an Attractant
The answer to whether lavender repels bees is a definitive no. In fact, the plant is a highly effective and popular pollinator attractant, often referred to by beekeepers as a “bee buffet.” It provides a rich, reliable food source for many species, including honeybees and bumblebees.
The plant’s deep purple flowers are an important resource that supports colony health from spring through mid-summer, when other flowers may be scarce. The relationship is mutually beneficial, as lavender relies on bees for cross-pollination to ensure its reproductive cycle. Lavender’s abundance of nectar and pollen is why it is frequently recommended for planting in pollinator gardens.
Understanding Bee Attraction to Flowers
The intense appeal of lavender to bees is based on a combination of visual, structural, and chemical factors fine-tuned by evolution. Lavender flowers are exceptional sources of both nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (proteins and fats) required for larval development. The structure of the tubular flower heads also offers easy access for foraging bees to collect these rewards.
The visual component is particularly significant because bees perceive the world differently than humans, seeing colors in the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. The purple and violet hues of lavender are highly attractive to bees, as these colors fall within the range of blue and UV light that they see most vividly. The petals often contain UV patterns, invisible to the human eye, which act as “nectar guides” that direct the bees straight to the pollen and nectar.
The physical design of the flower favors efficient foraging, especially for certain species. Bumblebees possess longer tongues that allow them to extract nectar from the tubular lavender flowers far more quickly than honeybees. Studies show that bumblebees spend an average of 1.1 to 1.4 seconds per flower, compared to about 3.5 seconds for a honeybee. The strong, sweet fragrance of lavender, primarily from compounds like linalool, also acts as a chemical beacon, guiding bees to the flowers from a distance.
Plants That Actually Deter Bees
For those seeking to limit bee activity in specific areas, certain plants contain compounds that act as natural deterrents. Plants with very strong, pungent aromas often confuse or irritate the sensitive chemoreceptors of bees, effectively masking the inviting scent of nearby flowers. This masking effect is a common mechanism in plants like peppermint, whose robust, minty scent is generally disliked by bees and wasps. Other herbs, such as basil, also possess aromas that put off these flying insects.
The tall, grass-like plant citronella is known for its potent lemony fragrance, which can be pervasive enough to act as a barrier to bees. Similarly, lemongrass contains natural citronella oil and is often cited for its insect-repelling qualities. Plants that offer little reward are also naturally avoided. For example, red geraniums are used as a deterrent because they produce very little pollen. Bees cannot perceive the color red as an attractive signal; to them, red appears dark or black, making the flower visually unappealing. Planting these alternatives relies on either an offensive aroma or a lack of the visual and nutritional cues that bees instinctively seek out.