How To Repel Ticks With A Simple But Overlooked Flower (It's Not Geranium)

Although ticks can and do find their way into your house all by themselves, it's more common for them to hitch a ride on someone passing by. They latch onto clothing or pet fur and make their way to a convenient spot on the skin, where they can spread diseases as they feed. There are simple ways to repel them, but an effective method that is often overlooked is planting and using Dalmatian daisies (Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium, also known as Tanacetum cinerariifolium or Pyrethrum cinerariifolium.)  

The Dalmatian daisy is actually a chrysanthemum, and like all mums, it produces pyrethrum, a powerful natural insecticide. This particular mum produces it in higher concentrations than any other variety, which is why it is also known as the pyrethrum daisy. The effectiveness of pyrethrum for insect control was proven during the construction of the Panama canal, when it was credited with the drastic reduction or elimination of mosquito-borne diseases over a two-year period. Pyrethrin is a widely available insecticide derived from pyrethrum, and it quickly kills many insects, including ticks. Simply growing these flowers in your garden may deter a few ticks (and even rodents), but the real power comes from a concentrate of pyrethrins, the active ingredients in the flower petals.

The Dalmatian daisy is a perennial that grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 10. It needs full sun and well-draining soil, and it flowers in June and July. Because it naturally deters insects, including ticks, it's a good plant to grow if you want to reduce the risk of picking up a stray tick when in the garden. Daisies generally attract pollinators, but that isn't true of this species (which isn't a true daisy), so if you love bees, you'll want to surround it with other pollinator attracting plants.   

Although adding it to your garden may repel pests, you can take things a step further and use its flowers to make a more potent, targeted tick deterrent. To make your own DIY tick repellent, cut the flowers, dry them, and crush them into a fine powder. Pyrethrin is concentrated in the center disk of the flower, where the seeds are made, so use the whole seedhead. You can dust the powder where it's needed or  mix it with water and a little liquid dish soap to make a spray. Use the spray as quickly as possible, because sunlight will degrade the effectiveness of natural pyrethrum. Some people are sensitive to pyrethrum, and it can also cause a severe allergic reaction, so proceed with caution. The active ingredient is also toxic to fish, and can harm cats and dogs, so do not use the spray or powder on your pets. Hopefully, you've seen the last of ticks by planting and using the Dalmatian daisy. For proven tick protection, cover up with a long-sleeved shirt and tuck your pants into your socks to prevent ticks from latching onto exposed skin, or use an EPA-approved tick repellent when venturing into the great outdoors.