10 Plants That Repel Gophers (Plants Gophers Hate) - Pond Informer (2024)

Known for creating extensive burrow systems in the ground, gophers can be problematic residents in vegetable and ornamental gardens. These expert diggers are often associated with holes and mounds of fresh dirt, which can easily become hazards to unsuspecting gardeners and domesticated pets. The hollows they make can cause layers of soil or constructed materials to eventually buckle over, causing significant damage to the landscape.

As small rodents living a predominantly subterranean lifestyle, gophers rarely venture onto the surface in search of food. Instead, they stealthily target the root systems of both mature and young plants, especially those with adaptations for storing moisture. Before you know it, a gopher may leave your vegetable and flower patches bare!

Gopher control and eradication can be quite challenging, even for professionals in pest management. Of course, the best preventive and control measures are those which are humane and environmentally friendly. These include creating mechanical barriers and making use of nature-based repellents. As gophers are sensitive to organic compounds in the ground, you may also grow the following plants to help keep their numbers at bay.

1) Gopher spurge (Euphorbia lathyris)

As this plant’s common name suggests, it has the potential to deter troublesome gophers. A member of the Euphorbiaceae family, the gopher spurge possesses a toxic, milky sap or latex that can cause dermal irritation upon contact. Ingesting its roots and seeds may also cause unpleasant symptoms; even humans and livestock are not immune to their poisonous effects.

To discourage gophers from coming too close to your nutritious vegetables and ornamentals, you may plant rows of gopher spurge around susceptible patches. Apart from serving as a natural barrier, stands of this species should add lovely color and structure to low-growing arrangements. The coarse texture of the leafy shoots, which grow to a maximum height of about 2 feet (61 cm), is both visually appealing and functional (e.g. as a natural barrier).

Though gopher spurge is frequently grown as an annual, it occurs as a biennial plant in the wild. It is hardy to USDA zones 5 – 9, and it prefers to be situated in substrates with good drainage. Occasionally allowing its soil to dry out should help strengthen its roots. Its charming golden-yellow blooms appear in April – June, during which they can attract bees to your garden.

2) Silver dollar tree (Eucalyptus cinerea)

Gophers generally dislike the strong scent and taste of eucalyptus plants, which are some of the best natural repellents for herbivores. This particular species, the silver dollar tree, is great for gardens as it grows to a manageable height. Moreover, it possesses eye-catching, ornamental features that contribute subtle colors and dappled shade all year round.

The oils in eucalyptus plants, which include potent compounds like eucalyptol, citronellol, and pinene, are remarkably fragrant and potentially toxic. Pure extracts of the essential oil should serve as a more active and targeted type of repellent. Nonetheless, the mere presence of an intact eucalyptus tree has its merits and ecological contributions apart from just keeping out pests.

If gophers seasonally visit your area and are known for wreaking havoc in the landscape, the silver dollar tree would be a great species to plant along the periphery of your backyard. Its well-established roots should dissuade subterranean mammals like voles, moles, and gophers from tunneling too close to your property. They should also help oxygenate the substrate, improving its capacity to cycle nutrients.

3) English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Lavender is often avoided by gophers and many other herbivorous mammals, largely due to its strong scent and the bitter taste of its roots and shoots. Many gardeners have attested to the effectiveness of lavender plants in repelling these territorial animals. When all other plants fail, lavender seems to be one of the few that stay out of a gopher’s range of destruction. Its volatile organic compounds, the very components that create its alluring scent profile, are absolutely detested by pests.

English lavender essential oil, which is found in varying concentrations throughout the plant’s root and shoot structures, contains chemicals like linalool, camphor, and 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol). These presumably function as a natural means of defense against grazers and the like. This means that both the plant and its pure extracts can be used as a repellent. In the absence of mature lavender plants, you may spray its store-bought oils onto suspected gopher holes.

The challenge of growing stands of lavender lies in its need for dry conditions. It should only be grown in areas with sandy or loamy substrates. Poor drainage can quickly lead to the decay of its roots and shoots. Fortunately, amending your yard’s substrate to increase drainage rates should also help repel gophers, which prefer moistened soils.

4) Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

Packed with toxic compounds like thujone and pinene, wormwood has a reputation for being one of the most stealthily dangerous plants around. Often used as a prime example of poisonous botanicals, this plant’s oil is a major ingredient in absinthe. While its extracts are not lethal in small and responsibly sourced concentrations, consumption of its fresh cuttings can be harmful.

Just as wormwood shoots and roots are toxic to herbivores like deer and livestock, they are toxic to subterranean mammals like gophers and voles. It is highly unlikely that a hungry gopher would tunnel close to mature stands of wormwood, especially when there are other, less toxic plants around. Thus, you can take advantage of this species’ toxicity by growing it along your garden’s fences or around susceptible vegetable patches.

Unfortunately, wormwood is not the safest plant to grow in areas that are frequented by pets and children. It should only be grown as a gopher repellent in properties that are supervised or are free of potential victims.

5) Daffodils (Narcissus spp.)

Daffodils are the perfect spring bloomers for adding interest to a pest-repellent garden. As soon as temperatures begin to rise, these perennial bulbs are frequently planted as eye-catching ornamentals. Heralding the onset of warmer conditions, they produce yellow, white, or orange flowers to attract dozens of beneficial insects. The most commonly cultivated daffodils are varieties with ruffled floral cups and bi-colored blooms.

The basal leaves of daffodils are borne on bulbs that are anchored into the soil by adventitious and contractile roots. The bulbs are the main mechanism by which this plant repels gophers and other subterranean herbivores. They contain toxic compounds (e.g. lycorine), usually classified as alkaloids, that can cause symptoms like vomiting and other digestive disorders soon after consumption.

The presence of these alkaloids prevents gophers from tunneling too closely to the bulbs or perceiving them as sources of nutrients. There are now first-hand accounts that attest to the phenomenal effectiveness of daffodils at eradicating gopher populations when other natural barriers fail. If you thought daffodils were merely decorative plants for a pretty garden, think again!

6) Crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis)

Named for the resemblance of its inflorescence to the appearance of an emperor’s crown, F. imperialis is a stunning member of the Liliaceae family. Its whorls of blooms are set apart by their vivid orange color, their downturned orientation, and the tufts of smaller leaves that grow upright just above them. The blooms appear in spring, serving as statement pieces in ornamental gardens.

Though the enchanting blooms of crown imperial may compel one to come toward the plant for closer inspection, their odor may do the exact opposite. Likened to the aroma of a fox or that emitted by startled skunks, the scent of the blooms and bulbs is known for deterring mammals like moles and gophers. It’s likely that it simulates the illusion that a potential predator, such as a larger carnivore, is lurking nearby.

This plant’s infamous smell is unpleasant enough to discourage many gardeners from planting its dense stands. However, its springtime appearance and its ability to deter pests easily make up for its drawbacks. Just make sure to avoid planting it close to areas that receive strong gushes of wind. You definitely won’t want this plant discouraging you from spending time on your own property!

7) Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

Widely cultivated as a culinary herb, rosemary produces fragrant, needle-like leaves with a distinctly bitter flavor. Its scent and flavor profile is attributed to its potent essential oil, which includes phytochemicals like camphor, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid. Largely concentrated in its inflorescences and leaves, the oil naturally repels many types of grazers.

Though rosemary roots don’t have as high a concentration of phytochemicals as the aerial parts of the plant, they are still quite effective as gopher repellents. The fibrous roots are presumably bitter enough to dissuade even the hungriest of gophers. Thus, this herb makes for a fine choice when considering which herbs to plant around more susceptible vegetables and flowering perennials.

Apart from serving as a pest-repellent, rosemary is always a fantastic addition to well-draining gardens because its upright stems and dark foliage can contrast the appearance of many other plants. Its blue-to-purple blooms, which appear in spring and summer, add a touch of elegance to the plant and can attract all sorts of beneficial insects. Moreover, once its shoots have matured, this low-maintenance herb can withstand some of the toughest ambient conditions.

8) Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Known for its large and tough fruits, which contain sweet and delightfully juicy seeds, the pomegranate plant occurs as a deciduous shrub or small tree. Now often cultivated in dedicated orchards, this charming perennial has many ornamental qualities. Some of its cultivars are unable to bear fruits, but they continue to be valued in cultivation for their vivid blooms.

Interestingly, though pomegranates are devoid of unpleasant odors and are not necessarily known for having toxic properties in their roots, they are generally left alone by gophers. The ‘Wonderful’ variety, specifically, is lauded for being one the most gopher-resistant types of pomegranates. Other cultivars may have borderline-resistance properties.

Though the pomegranate’s mechanism for repelling gophers continues to be a mystery to horticulturists, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to test its pest-repellent properties by growing it in your own garden. As a bonus, it should bear nutrient-rich fruits for your family’s personal enjoyment!

9) Oleander (Nerium oleander)

It’s no mystery why gophers are unlikely to wreak havoc around stands of oleander. These shrubs, which can also be grown as small trees, are considered to be highly unpalatable to both humans and animals. Moreover, their bitter-tasting stems and leaves contain an entire array of toxic compounds. Many of these are associated with unpleasant symptoms like vomiting, an irregular heartbeat, and various digestive ailments. Direct contact with the plant’s sap may also cause eye and skin irritations.

Once associated with hallucinations, oleander has been shown to have more dangerous effects on mammals, particularly horses, than on birds that may feed on its seeds. If you suspect that your area is seasonally visited by gophers and other unwanted grazers, consider planting a few specimens of this species around the perimeter of your backyard. Avoid cultivating it, however, if you have dogs or cats that may frequent your garden.

10) Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.)

Though they appear to be quite delicate as flowering ornamentals, geraniums are some of the most effective pest-repellents in a low-growing garden. These lovely plants emit a distinct odor, one which can cause hesitation in approaching grazers, regardless of whether they are found above or below ground. Even the most voracious gophers are unlikely to feed on geranium roots and shoots.

Though most geraniums produce scented oils, some are more repulsive to gophers than others. Scented-leaf geraniums and zonal geraniums, for example, are more likely to repel gophers than their ivy-leafed counterparts. Keep this in mind when looking into cultivars. For best results, you might wish to cultivate a wide variety of these plants.

Hardy to USDA zones 9 – 12, geraniums favor warm conditions and full to partial sun exposure. They are frequently grown to add complexity and color to flower beds, particularly those with substrates that may quickly dry out. Use them to create a grazer-resistant patch of annual or perennial shoots. Their summer colors and strong fragrance should help promote pollination rates and prevent pest infestations in nearby plants.