No, the claim that verbena keep bugs away is a myth that doesn't hold up. Garden verbena does not work as a bug repellent at all. It does the exact opposite and draws insects right to your yard. That's a great thing if you love butterflies and bees visiting your flowers, though.
I tested this one summer by planting verbena next to citronella and lavender on my back patio. Mosquitoes buzzed around the verbena just as much as near my bare skin. The lavender and citronella kept a small clear zone around them. The verbena had zero effect on pest bugs at all. Butterflies and bees swarmed the verbena flowers and ignored the repellent plants right next to them.
The myth about verbena insect repellent powers starts with a name mix-up. Garden verbena has no compounds that push bugs away. Lemon verbena is a whole different plant from a separate genus. Lemon verbena has citral and other oils that show up in natural bug sprays. These two plants share a name but do opposite things around insects.
NC State Extension lists verbena as a top choice for pollinator gardens. It draws in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds from across your yard. I counted over 20 butterflies on my purpletop verbena one afternoon last year. If you want fewer bugs, verbena is the wrong pick. If you want more pollinators buzzing around, it's one of the best plants you can grow.
I also tried rubbing crushed lemon verbena leaves on my arms during a garden session to test the claim. The citrus scent was strong and pleasant, and I noticed fewer mosquito bites on those arms than on my bare legs. It wasn't a magic fix but it did help. That showed me lemon verbena has real merit as a mild deterrent. Garden verbena, though, has zero effect on bugs.
For actual lemon verbena pest control, grow this citrus-scented plant and crush its leaves to release the oils inside. The citral gives off a strong citrus scent that many biting insects avoid. You can make a simple spray by steeping crushed leaves in hot water and straining the liquid into a bottle. This works as a mild deterrent rather than a total bug shield, so don't count on it alone. You can also dry the leaves and place them in small sachets around your outdoor seating.
Ornamental Verbena (Verbena genus)
- Bug effect: Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to your garden, making it a pollinator magnet rather than a repellent.
- No repellent oils: The flowers and leaves contain no citral, geraniol, or other compounds that push biting insects away from you.
- Best use: Plant it to bring life to your garden and enjoy watching pollinators visit your yard all season long.
Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora)
- Bug effect: Contains citral and other oils that give off a citrus scent many biting insects prefer to avoid in close range.
- How to use: Crush fresh leaves and rub them on your skin or steep them in water to make a mild natural bug spray for outdoor use.
- Limitations: Works as a gentle deterrent rather than a full barrier, and you need fresh leaves to get any real effect.
Your best bet is to plant both types in the same garden for a full combo. Grow ornamental verbena near your flower beds to bring in pollinators. Then put lavender, rosemary, or lemon verbena around your seating area to push bugs back. You'll get a yard full of butterflies and a patio where you can sit without getting bitten all evening. This setup gives you the best of both worlds without giving up garden color or comfort.
Read the full article: Verbena Plant: Varieties, Care and Uses
