Are you one of those who wonder if are there plants that attract snakes? My direct answer will be yes there are some plants that attract snakes.
Highly scented flowering plants such as jasmine, morning glory, and rosemary attract snakes to your garden easily.
Snakes are attracted to the flower’s fragrance as they have a smell sensor called Jacobson’s organ. This special organ called Jacobson’s organ is very useful for snakes to smell chemicals when they bring their tongue back into their mouth.
These plants not only attract snakes because of their fragrance. They also act like a chill and bed-like appearance for them to reside in your garden.
Snakes are mainly attracted to a place where they find food, shelter, and water.
So let’s explore some of the important plants that will attract snakes so that you can avoid planting them in your garden.
List of plants that attract snakes:
Snakes play an important part in the ecosystem. They repel and control pests and rodents in most of the gardens. But only for these minor reasons will we not like snakes in our garden because they make us feel scared and very dangerous because of their venom.
If you are scared of snakes, please stop planting these listed plants in your garden.
First, we will explore some of the important tree varieties which will attract snakes to the garden.
Cedar tree – Cedrus
If you are wondering which trees attract snakes the most then it would not be wrong to say that the Cedar tree is a snake’s favorite plant since its wood emits aromatic scents.
The vines can provide a tempting living space for snakes due to their proximity, shade, and dampness, offering protection from predators.
The dark area beneath the vines also becomes an attractive nesting site for rodents, further attracting snakes.
It is an important structural timber in native regions but is infrequently used elsewhere.
Distillation of the wood releases an aromatic oil. Cedarwood is used for totem poles, carvings, masks, longhouses, etc.
Indigenous communities utilize cedar smokehouses and cedar racks to preserve fish.
Additionally, they craft bentwood boxes from Western red cedar, which serve as containers for storing food and various items.
Citrus tree- Citrus
The citrus tree lures snakes as their preferred prey, such as birds and rodents are attracted to ripe fruits that fall under the citrus tree.
One of the most commonly used snake-repelling scents is citrus “Mecham.”
Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits contain a chemical called limonene, a natural snake repellent.
The fruits of the citrus tree mainly attract the snakes. Snakes are drawn to citrus trees because they find food, shelter, and sometimes water there.
They don’t eat the citrus fruit, but they hunt the rodents that eat the fruit.
The thick leaves of the citrus tree also give the snakes a hiding place and sometimes a small pool of water.
Cypress tree- Cupressus:
In cypress trees, the snakes are not attracted to particular scents or fruits. Their favorite prey often builds nests underneath to protect themselves from their hunters.
The dense foliage of Cypress trees provides a favorable nesting ground for their preferred prey, prompting snakes to follow.
Cypress trees have cultural and symbolic significance in various traditions. They are associated with longevity, endurance, and mourning in some cultures.
In ancient mythology, cypress trees were often linked to the realm of the dead and were planted near cemeteries or used to construct burial monuments.
Sandalwood- Santalum album
The captivating fragrance of sandalwood mesmerizes snakes to the extent that they coil themselves around the trees.
These sandalwood trees attract birds and rodents on which the snakes can feed.
Everyone likes sandalwood smell because of their enticing scent, and it is known as the purest tree according to tree mythology.
In the Hindu religion, people use sandalwood to worship lord Shiva and goddess Lakshmi because of its purity.
Sandalwood oil is obtained by extracting it from the wood for various purposes. Sandalwood is renowned as one of the world’s costliest types of wood.
The active ingredient of sandalwood album oil, alpha-santol, has been used to remedy several ailments, including the common cold, urinary tract infections, and digestive problems.
Oak – Quercus spp
Oak trees provide a habitat for many animals including snakes, as they provide shelter, nesting sites, and food sources for snakes such as rodents and insects.
Additionally, snakes use the bark and branches of oak trees for climbing and basking in the sun.
But some non-venomous snakes benefit the garden as they can help control rodent populations and serve as a food source for other wildlife.
As a gardener, it is obvious that you don’t know how to find venomous and nonvenomous snakes at first sight, they make you fear.
Palm trees:
Palm trees can provide hiding places for snakes, especially if the fronds are left untrimmed and allowed to accumulate debris, such as dead leaves or branches, creating a suitable environment for snakes and hunting for prey.
Reducing their habitat and food sources is a good idea such as keeping the area around palm trees clean and debris-free.
Oak trees provide acorns that attract small animals like rodents, a common food source for some snakes.
Clover (Trifolium)
Clovers are generally short-lived herbs and feature alternate compound leaves, usually with three-toothed leaflets.
The very small fragrant flowers are crowded into dense, nearly spherical heads or spikes and can be white, pink, red, or yellow.
These plants act as a ground cover or bed for snakes to hide and stay in to hunt their prey.
But clover has a lot of health benefits; the important one is it helps cure prostate cancer.
People suffering from this problem should include clover in their diet to eliminate cancer.
Juniper bushes( Juniperus communis)
Juniper bushes may provide hiding places and shelter for snakes due to their dense foliage indirectly influencing snake habitat preferences.
Their evergreen foliage and low-growing branches can create an ideal environment for snakes seeking shelter and protection.
These plants offer natural cover, helping snakes remain hidden from predators and harsh weather conditions.
The bushes provide favorable conditions for snakes, but the two have no intentional association.
Hostas
Hostas beloved by gardeners for their low-maintenance nature and lush green foliage that adds a tropical touch to any garden, can encounter some challenges during growth.
Despite being a favorite, cultivating hostas may present certain issues for gardeners.
Snakes like to live under hosta plant leaves because they prefer rich and moist soil.
If you trim the leaves regularly when they become thick, you will see fewer snakes.
Which flowers attract snakes?
Some plants offer shelter and sustenance to snakes. We will explore some important flowers that attract snakes to your garden.
1. Night blooming Jasmine- Raat ki rani flower:
The alluring fragrance and dense foliage of jasmine vines provide an inviting shelter for snakes, making them feel secure and hidden from predators.
In some cultures, the jasmine vine is associated with snakes. For example, in Hindu mythology, the god Vishnu is often depicted sleeping on a bed of jasmine flowers with a multi-headed serpent named Shesha serving as his canopy.
Traditional Chinese medicine uses jasmine flowers and leaves to treat snake bites.
However, it’s important to note that these associations are cultural and do not have any scientific basis.
2. Milkweed- Asclepias:
Snakes hide beside these busy milkweeds to hunt their prey by hiding.
Small snakes are insect hunters and find an abundance of grasshoppers, beetles, bugs, and more insects in the milkweed community.
Green snakes surround themselves under this milkweed plant. The milkweed essence strengthens one’s inner spiritual power to persevere through ordinary and extraordinary challenges and rise from helplessness to hardiness, strength, and resourcefulness.
Milkweed leaves can make bright green purees for things like pasta dough—green pasta dough colored with milkweed leaves.
3. Honeysuckle( Lonicera spp):
Honeysuckle is a group of fragrant flowering plants where snakes are often found.
These plants are known for their sweet-smelling flowers and attract insects, including bees and butterflies. Due to their nectar-rich blooms snakes may be drawn to areas with abundant insect activity, especially if the insects serve as a food source.
In some cases, snakes might find shelter or resting spots near honeysuckle bushes as they prefer environments with ample hiding places.
The dense foliage of honeysuckle plants could provide a suitable location for snakes to seek refuge from predators or extreme weather conditions.
4.Petunias (Petunia spp):
The interaction between petunias and snakes is coincidental and not direct or intentional.
Petunias are flowering plants known for their vibrant and attractive blossoms. They are often cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and landscapes due to their beauty and low maintenance.
These plants also attract bees and butterflies with their nectar which serves as a food source for these pollinators.
However, it’s crucial to note that snakes do not have a specific relationship with petunias or other plants.
Instead, they seek suitable environments that provide food, shelter, and safety. The presence of petunias in a garden might indirectly influence the habitat preferences of snakes, but it is not a direct or intentional relationship.
Petunias and snakes share a coincidental coexistence where petunias may indirectly attract snakes due to the presence of insects, but there is no inherent or intentional connection between the two.
5. Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp):
Due to their large attractive flowers, mostly it is grown as ornamental plants in the garden.
Like other flowering plants, hibiscus plants produce nectar that attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Snakes being opportunistic predators may be drawn to where hibiscus is planted for its food source.
6. Lilies (Lilium spp):
Lilies are beautiful plants with various species in gardens and natural habitats worldwide.
They are known for their striking appearance and pleasant fragrance, often attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Lilies give both shelter and food for snakes because it attracts a lot of pollinators and rodents, which is the food of snakes.
Conclusion:
The allure of certain plants for snakes remains a fascinating aspect of nature. Understanding snake behavior and implementing proper garden maintenance can help create a harmonious coexistence between humans and snakes in garden spaces.
Frequently asked questions:
1. Does Aloe vera attract snakes?
Aloe vera does not attract snakes because it does not emit any specific scent or produce food sources that would attract snakes.
In some cases, apart from food due to its cooling nature sometimes snakes can vine along with aloe vera.
Aloe vera plants are typically not a primary factor in attracting snakes to a particular location.
2. Do fruit trees attract snakes?
Fruit trees may indirectly attract snakes if they provide a habitat for rodents or small animals attracted to the fruits.
Since snakes often prey on rodents and small mammals, they may be found in areas with abundant potential food sources.
Properly maintaining and managing the surroundings can help minimize snake encounters near residential areas with fruit trees.