While many people enjoy cultivating beautiful gardens, there are some plants that can attract unwanted visitors—namely, snakes. Certain plants tend to draw snakes because they provide cover, food, or ideal living conditions. If you’re looking to keep snakes away from your home, it’s important to be aware of which plants might inadvertently invite them in. Here are five types of plants that snakes love and why you should consider removing them from your garden.

1. Clover (Trifolium)

Why Snakes Like It:
Clover is a common ground cover plant that snakes find appealing because it provides excellent shelter and a habitat for insects, which are a food source for snakes. The dense, low-growing nature of clover also gives snakes the perfect environment to hide and slither unnoticed.

What You Should Do:
If you have clover in your garden, consider removing it or replacing it with other ground covers that don’t attract snakes, such as gravel or mulch.

2. Bushes and Shrubs (Especially Dense Varieties)

Why Snakes Like It:
Many types of snakes enjoy hiding in dense bushes and shrubs, especially those with low-hanging branches and thick foliage. These plants provide shade and cover, making it easy for snakes to stay concealed while they hunt for prey or rest. Plants like bush honeysuckle and boxwood are known to be snake-friendly.

What You Should Do:
Trim and maintain your shrubs and bushes, ensuring that they don’t create dense, dark hiding spots. Alternatively, consider replacing them with lower-maintenance plants that don’t attract snakes.

3. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Why Snakes Like It:
While lemongrass is often planted to deter pests due to its strong citrus scent, it also attracts certain types of snakes. This is because the dense, clumping nature of lemongrass provides a good hiding place. Additionally, some snake species enjoy the small rodents that are attracted to the area.

What You Should Do:
While lemongrass is often used to repel mosquitoes and insects, its dense structure can be a snake magnet. If you have lemongrass near your home, remove it or relocate it to an area further away from entrances.

4. Wood Pile Plants (Especially Mulberry Trees)

Why Snakes Like It:
Mulberry trees and other plants around wood piles or stacks of firewood can become a haven for snakes, as these areas provide shelter and a steady supply of insects and small rodents. Mulberry trees, in particular, are attractive to both prey animals and the snakes that hunt them.

What You Should Do:
Keep wood piles well-maintained and away from your home’s entryways. If you have mulberry trees or other similar plants, trim them back and avoid letting them grow too close to your house.

5. Morning Glory (Ipomoea)

Why Snakes Like It:
Morning glories are beautiful flowering vines that often grow quickly and can create dense, tangled areas of vegetation. Snakes find these tangled vines attractive because they provide excellent cover and easy access to prey such as insects and small rodents.

What You Should Do:
If morning glories are growing near your home, consider removing them or carefully controlling their growth. Be mindful of their spread and avoid letting them cover the ground or wrap around nearby structures.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Home?

To minimize the risk of attracting snakes, follow these additional tips:

• Seal Entry Points: Make sure there are no gaps, cracks, or holes in your home’s foundation, windows, or doors where snakes can enter.

• Keep Your Lawn Trimmed: Snakes prefer long grass where they can hide. Keeping your lawn well-mowed will discourage them from settling nearby.

• Use Snake Repellents: Natural snake repellents, such as essential oils like cinnamon or clove oil, can be used around the perimeter of your home to discourage snakes.

• Remove Hiding Spots: Clear away any piles of rocks, wood, or debris that might provide snakes with hiding spots.

Conclusion

While plants can make your garden beautiful, some can unknowingly attract snakes. If you have any of the plants listed above near your house, it might be time to consider removing them to reduce the risk of snakes lurking around your home. By being proactive and making a few simple adjustments, you can create a safer and more welcoming environment for your family, free from the threat of snakes.