Do Caterpillars Like Lavender

Caterpillars do not like lavender, and in fact, lavender is one of the best plants to grow if you want to keep caterpillars away from your garden.
 
While many caterpillars are hungry leaf-eaters that will munch on almost anything green, the strong scent and bitter taste of lavender act as a powerful natural deterrent that caterpillars simply cannot stand.
 
If you’ve been noticing chewed-up leaves on your prized vegetables or ornamentals, you might be wondering if caterpillars like lavender enough to bother it, but the answer is a firm no.
 
Understanding why caterpillars avoid lavender can help you use this fragrant herb as a clever companion plant to protect your other greenery from these munching pests.
 
In this post, we’ll dig into why caterpillars do not like lavender, how you can use lavender to repel them, and which types of lavender work best for keeping caterpillars at bay.
 
Let’s explore this fragrant defense strategy together.
 

Why Caterpillars Don’t Like Lavender

Caterpillars don’t like lavender because of its intense aromatic oils and tough, fuzzy foliage that make it unappealing and difficult for them to eat.
 
Unlike tender leaves like cabbage or kale, lavender is packed with chemical compounds that overwhelm a caterpillar’s senses and digestive system.
 
Here’s a closer look at the reasons caterpillars like lavender is practically nonexistent.
 

1. Strong Essential Oils Act as a Natural Repellent

Lavender contains high concentrations of essential oils, especially linalool and camphor, which give it that signature calming fragrance.
 
These same oils are incredibly potent to insects, and caterpillars have highly sensitive receptors on their antennae and mouthparts.
 
When a caterpillar approaches lavender, the volatile oils hit those receptors and signal danger or distaste, so they quickly turn away.
 
This is why caterpillars don’t like lavender even when they are starving and other food sources are scarce.
 

2. Fuzzy Leaves Make Feeding Difficult

Another reason caterpillars do not like lavender is the texture of its leaves.
 
Lavender has fine, silvery hairs covering its foliage, which gives it that soft, velvety appearance.
 
For a tiny caterpillar, these hairs are not just a nuisance but a physical barrier that makes gripping and chewing the leaf nearly impossible.
 
Many caterpillars rely on smooth, soft leaf surfaces to get a good grip, so lavender’s fuzzy leaves simply don’t offer the right texture for feeding.
 
The combination of smell and texture means that when caterpillars encounter lavender, they look for easier meals elsewhere.
 

3. Bitter Taste Compounds Deter Herbivory

Beyond the oils and texture, lavender also contains bitter-tasting compounds called tannins and phenols.
 
These chemical defenses evolved specifically to discourage herbivores, including caterpillars, from eating the plant.
 
When a caterpillar does take a tentative bite of lavender, the bitterness immediately registers as unpalatable, and it will usually drop off and crawl away.
 
This is a classic example of a plant using chemical warfare to protect itself, and it explains why caterpillars like lavender is a myth among gardeners.
 

How Many Types of Caterpillars Avoid Lavender

Nearly all common garden caterpillars will avoid lavender, but there are a few specific species that are especially repelled by it.
 
Understanding which caterpillars don’t like lavender can help you know exactly what pests you’re deterring.
 
Let’s look at which ones are most likely to steer clear of your lavender plants.
 

1. Cabbage Worms and Loopers

Cabbage worms and cabbage loopers are notorious for destroying brassica crops like broccoli, cabbage, and kale.
 
These green caterpillars are voracious eaters that can strip a plant in days, but they won’t touch lavender.
 
Planting lavender near your vegetable bed creates a fragrant border that these caterpillars will refuse to cross.
 
The strong scent confuses their ability to locate host plants, making lavender an excellent sacrificial barrier.
 

2. Tomato Hornworms

Tomato hornworms are large, intimidating caterpillars that can decimate tomato plants overnight.
 
While they are relentless on nightshades like tomatoes and peppers, they don’t like lavender at all.
 
Interplanting lavender with your tomatoes can mask the scent of the tomatoes, which hornworms use to find their food.
 
This companion planting trick is a smart, chemical-free way to reduce hornworm damage in your garden.
 

3. Cutworms and Armyworms

Cutworms and armyworms are generalist feeders that will attack almost any young seedling or leafy plant.
 
Even these less picky caterpillars will avoid lavender due to its overpowering aroma and unpalatable leaves.
 
While no method is 100% foolproof, lavender has a track record of keeping these destructive caterpillars away from more valuable crops.
 

Best Ways to Use Lavender to Repel Caterpillars

If you want to harness the power of lavender to keep caterpillars out of your garden, you need to use it strategically.
 
Knowing that caterpillars don’t like lavender is only half the battle, so proper placement is key.
 
Here are the most effective ways to make lavender work as a living repellent.
 

1. Plant Lavender as a Border Around Vulnerable Crops

Create a ring of lavender plants around your vegetable patch or flower beds.
 
This physical barrier of fragrant foliage confuses caterpillars and makes it harder for them to find their preferred food.
 
Because caterpillars don’t like lavender, they will often turn back at the edge of the border to search for food in a different area.
 
This method works best if you plant lavender thickly enough to create a continuous scent line.
 

2. Interplant Lavender Among Your Vegetables

Scatter lavender plants throughout your garden rows rather than just at the edges.
 
The goal is to break up the scent trails that caterpillars follow to their host plants.
 
When you interplant lavender with cabbage, tomatoes, or lettuce, the air becomes filled with lavender oils that mask the attractant scents.
 
This makes it much less likely that caterpillars will ever find your crops in the first place.
 

3. Use Dried Lavender Sachets and Sprays

If you don’t have space to grow lavender plants, you can still use dried lavender or homemade lavender spray.
 
Hang sachets of dried lavender near susceptible plants or sprinkle dried buds around the soil surface.
 
You can also steep lavender leaves and flowers in water for a few days to create a natural spray.
 
Strain the mixture and spray it on your plants weekly, but remember the spray will fade over time and need reapplication.
 

The Best Lavender Varieties for Caterpillar Deterrence

All lavender varieties repel caterpillars, but some have stronger essential oil profiles that make them more effective.
 
When you want maximum protection, choose the varieties with the most intense fragrance.
 
Here are the top performers for keeping caterpillars away.
 

1. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

English lavender is the gold standard when it comes to fragrance and oil concentration.
 
Its higher levels of linalool make it especially unpleasant for caterpillars and other pests.
 
This variety is also hardy and easy to grow, making it the best choice for most gardeners.
 

2. French Lavender (Lavandula stoechas)

French lavender has a slightly different, more camphor-heavy scent that some gardeners find even more intense.
 
This variety is also highly repellent to caterpillars because of its pungent oils.
 
French lavender thrives in warmer climates and produces distinctive, pinecone-like flower heads.
 

3. Spanish Lavender (Lavandula dentata)

Spanish lavender features toothed leaves and a sweet but strong fragrance that caterpillars avoid.
 
It’s a great option for containers and smaller spaces, so you can place it close to vulnerable plants.
 
No matter which variety you choose, caterpillars don’t like lavender from any member of the lavender family.
 

So, Do Caterpillars Like Lavender?

Caterpillars do not like lavender, and the evidence is clear on this point.
 
Caterpillars don’t like lavender because of its essential oils, fuzzy texture, and bitter taste that make it completely unappealing to them.
 
By planting lavender strategically around your garden, you can create a natural, fragrant defense that keeps caterpillars away from your prized plants.
 
Whether you use English, French, or Spanish lavender, you can trust that caterpillars like lavender is not a reality.
 
So go ahead and add more lavender to your garden, you’ll enjoy the scent while your vegetables stay safe from hungry caterpillars.
 
Your garden will thank you for this simple, effective, and beautiful solution.