Grasshoppers avoid plants with strong aromatic oils, bitter alkaloids, or fuzzy and tough-textured leaves. No plant is truly grasshopper-proof, but certain herbs, shrubs, and perennials are so low on their list that hungry grasshoppers will move on to easier meals nearby. Planting these strategically around your garden can reduce damage without pesticides.
Herbs Grasshoppers Strongly Avoid
The most reliable grasshopper-resistant plants are aromatic herbs with potent essential oils. Research on grasshopper feeding behavior shows that alkaloid compounds strongly deter feeding, while the volatile oils in many herbs create scents grasshoppers find repulsive. The following herbs consistently show up as “not preferred” in feeding trials and field observations:
- Rue: One of the most frequently cited grasshopper deterrents. Its bitter, pungent leaves contain compounds that grasshoppers reliably reject.
- Russian sage: The silvery, aromatic foliage is highly unappealing to grasshoppers.
- Mexican oregano: Much more pungent than common oregano, with oils grasshoppers avoid.
- Lemon mint (horsemint): The strong citrus-mint scent acts as a natural repellent.
- Artemisia: This family includes wormwood and mugwort, both packed with bitter compounds that deter a wide range of chewing insects.
- Salvia greggii (autumn sage): A tough, fragrant perennial that grasshoppers consistently pass over.
Cilantro is another herb grasshoppers tend to leave alone, though it bolts quickly in hot weather, limiting its usefulness as a long-term barrier plant.
Shrubs and Perennials That Resist Feeding
Beyond herbs, several ornamental plants receive little to no grasshopper damage. Mexican bush sage, bee balm, and Persian lilac all fall into the “little preferred” category, meaning grasshoppers may take an occasional nibble but won’t cause significant harm. These plants work well as border plantings or as buffers between vulnerable crops and open fields where grasshoppers breed.
Mexican mint marigold (a type of tarragon, not a true marigold) also ranks among the plants grasshoppers reject. This distinction matters because of a common misconception about regular marigolds.
The Marigold Myth
Standard garden marigolds are one of the most frequently recommended “pest-repelling” plants online, but the evidence doesn’t support this. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources has specifically debunked the claim, noting that marigolds won’t ward off garden pests. In fact, grasshoppers will happily eat marigold foliage when other food is scarce. If you plant marigolds expecting them to protect your tomatoes, you’re likely to end up with damaged marigolds and damaged tomatoes.
Mexican mint marigold is a different species entirely. It’s an anise-scented herb in the tarragon family, and its strong flavor profile is what grasshoppers dislike. The name overlap causes real confusion, so be specific when shopping at nurseries.
Garlic Spray as a Deterrent
If you want to protect plants that grasshoppers do enjoy, garlic spray is one of the better-documented organic options. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommends garlic spray for grasshopper control, noting that the odor helps deter them. You can make a simple version by blending several garlic cloves with water, straining the mixture, and spraying it directly on vulnerable plants. It needs reapplication after rain and every few days during peak grasshopper season.
The same principle explains why grasshoppers avoid so many aromatic herbs. Strong-smelling volatile compounds interfere with the chemical signals grasshoppers use to identify food sources. The more pungent the plant, the less likely a grasshopper is to land on it and start chewing.
Why No Plant Is Completely Safe
One important caveat: as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center puts it, eating plants is what grasshoppers do, and if the insect is hungry enough, there’s not much it won’t eat. During severe outbreaks, when grasshopper populations explode and food is limited, even normally avoided plants can sustain damage. The lists above reflect normal feeding preferences, not guarantees.
Grasshoppers also vary by species. Some are generalists that eat almost anything green. Others specialize in grasses or broadleaf plants. The deterrent plants listed here work against the most common garden-raiding species, but regional differences in grasshopper populations can shift what works best.
How to Use These Plants in Your Garden
The most effective strategy is interplanting deterrent herbs among the crops or ornamentals you want to protect. Rather than grouping all your basil or lettuce together (an easy target), scatter rue, Russian sage, or artemisia throughout your beds. This creates a confusing scent landscape that makes it harder for grasshoppers to zero in on their preferred food.
Border planting also helps. A thick row of lemon mint or salvia along the edge of a vegetable garden creates a fragrant barrier between open grassland and your crops. Grasshoppers typically migrate into gardens from surrounding dry or mowed areas, so the perimeter is where deterrent plants do the most good.
For raised beds or small gardens, combining garlic spray on vulnerable plants with a few pots of rue or artemisia placed at the corners gives you both chemical and physical deterrence. Pair this with tall grass or a “trap crop” planted away from your garden (something grasshoppers prefer, like clover or young wheat) to draw them in the opposite direction.