19 Plants Voles Don’t Eat: Our Top Picks

Voles are troublesome rodents that eat tender crops, flowers, and herbs! They’re difficult to control once they’re present. Grow plants that they don’t like eating to prevent them from establishing in your yard. Seasoned grower Jerad Bryant shares 19 of the best ones to try.

Written by Jerad Bryant Horticulture review by Sarah Jay Last updated: May 2, 2025 | 8 min read

Fritillaria imperialis with bright yellow bell-shaped flowers dangling under a crown of green leaves.

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Voles are similar to other ground-dwelling mammals that invade our gardens and mess with growing plants. They’re small, round-shaped, and covered with fuzzy hair. Many are native to the U.S. and are a beneficial part of our wild ecosystems.

Though the following plants are vole-resistant, they’re not vole-proof. No plant is vole-proof! These rodents are famous for eating many different crops like sunflowers, broccoli, and hostas. They girdle young trees and shrubs and particularly love eating young seedlings.

To banish voles from the yard, plant these plants while also making the garden uninhabitable for them. They often make vast aboveground tunnels under weeds, lawns, and dense vegetation. Remove weeds, keep the lawn short, and sow seeds indoors rather than outdoors. In combination, these strategies will help reduce the vole population in your yard.

Whether you grow veggies, herbs, flowers, or all three, there are plants on this list that will help in your battle with voles.

Garlic
Chives

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Common Chives

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Vegetables

Capsicum annuum showing clusters of long, glossy red fruits hanging from thin green stems. — Vegetables that deter rodents may still get eaten; combining repellents and barriers helps protect crops.

Let’s start with the vegetables that help deter these pesky rodents. Some voles are persistent and may eat them anyway; use repellants and exclude them from the garden with sharp gravel. A combination of methods may be necessary to keep them away.

Pea

Pisum sativum with green vines, curling tendrils, and soft green leaves growing along a metal trellis. — Cultivating soil, removing weeds, and planting peas reduce vole habitat and food options.

	common name Pea
	botanical name Pisum sativum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 2-11

Annual pea crops help prevent vole infestations. A study found that fields with peas, amongst other annuals, have lower numbers of voles. Grow juicy, pea-filled pods without worrying about nearby rodents.

Planting peas is one primary way of keeping voles out of the yard. Cultivating the soil, removing weeds, and planting seeds is a helpful means of reducing habitat space. They’ll have fewer hiding spaces and plants to eat.

Chili Pepper

Capsicum annuum with green elongated fruits growing along leafy green stems. — Mature pepper plants deter rodents because spicy fruits contain capsaicin, which pests dislike.

	common name Chili Pepper
	botanical name Capsicum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 3-11

Pepper seedlings may not resist rodents, but full-grown pepper plants help keep them away. Spicy peppers have an abundance of the chemical capsaicin. This chemical is undesirable for voles, moles, and gophers.

Some pest repellants use capsaicin as a primary means of control. Apply them per the instructions on the label. Avoid making homemade pepper sprays, as an abundance of capsaicin is dangerous for us gardeners, too!

Onion

Allium cepa growing upright with hollow green leaves and visible orange flowers at the base — These plants repel voles with their scent; young seedlings are vulnerable, but large bulbs resist damage.

	common name Onion
	botanical name Allium cepa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 5-10

Onions have a repelling scent that prevents rodents from infesting the garden. They’re popular pest deterrent crops in integrated pest management systems. Young seedlings are easy for them to eat, but large bulbs present a considerable challenge for the critters.

The best onion to grow depends on your growing region. Choose from short, intermediate, or long-day onions. Short-day types are excellent in southern regions, long-day ones work well in northern gardens, and intermediate types work well in the states in between.

Garlic

Harvested Allium sativum bulb lying on grassy soil with attached dry stem — This plant’s pungent smell and strong flavor both help keep voles away from the garden.

	common name Garlic
	botanical name Allium sativum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Garlic plants, like onions, repel voles with their aromatic, pungent fragrance. Garlic’s strong taste may also deter them after they taste the cloves.

Elephant garlic, though not true garlic, is another plant that works well in repelling pests. It’s a close relative of leeks, though it’s a better garlic replacement than a leek one. Plant it in autumn around your cold crops to protect them from damage.

Common Chives

They repel voles like onions and garlic and sprout anew each spring season.

	common name Common Chives
	botanical name Allium schoenoprasum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Common chives are like onions and garlic in their growth habit. Unlike the two other crops, chives are perennial plants that sprout anew in spring. Most plants in the Allium genus, like chives, ornamental onions, and garlic, are excellent repellents for voles.

Plant your chives in a location where they can live for many years. Some may persist for a decade or longer! Divide mature clumps after a few years and spread the divisions throughout the garden wherever you need pest-repelling plants.

Garlic Chives

Allium tuberosum with delicate white star-shaped flowers in umbrella-like clusters above thin green leaves. — This plant repels voles with its intense fragrance and grows easily in USDA zones 3 to 9.

	common name Garlic Chives
	botanical name Allium tuberosum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-18”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Garlic chives are slightly more hardy than common chives, thriving well in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 9. Its intense aroma is undesirable for voles. Plant them on the edges of your garden beds to prevent pest damage to your maturing crops.

Though their scent is helpful, their wild growth habit is not conducive to preventing rodents from establishing in the area. The plants tend to form dense patches of foliage that critters hide in and tunnel near. Mow your garlic chives patches once or twice a year in spring and fall to prevent the pests from creating channels in the soil.

Herbs

Dense cluster of Satureja montana tiny white blooms and needle-like green leaves — They repel pests naturally with their strong scents, pungent flavors, and powerful oils.

Herbs are pest-repellant because of their inherent qualities. They’re fragrant, pungent, and strong-flavored. Which herbs work best for your garden depends on your habits. If you like tea, grow herbs that make tea; if you like cooking, grow herbs that lend superb flavors to dishes.

Mountain Mint

	common name Mountain Mint
	botanical name Pycnanthemum spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Mountain mints are incredibly perfumed! Their fragrant foliage, flowers, and roots are unlikely to fall prey to vole pests. Use them in the herb garden or an edible tea garden with other mints.

Many mountain mints are native to the U.S. and are excellent for home yards. They’ll attract pollinators and beneficial insects to the site while also helping you in your battle against pests.

Peppermint

Glossy green Mentha × piperita leaves growing upright from a thick stem — It spreads faster than native mountain mints and deters rodents with its strong fragrance.

	common name Peppermint
	botanical name Mentha x piperita
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Peppermint is as fragrant as mountain mint but spreads more rapidly and widely than the U.S. native species. It’s a hybrid mint that spreads through underground rhizomes and seeds aboveground.

Avoid letting peppermint spread on the ground—it’ll create the perfect cover for voles. Instead, grow it in containers throughout the site and use its aroma to your benefit.

Thyme

Small Thymus vulgaris leaves sprawling across garden soil — Many varieties grow low or shrubby and make excellent vole-resistant groundcovers or herb garden staples.

	common name Thyme
	botanical name Thymus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-12”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Thyme comes in all shapes and sizes! It’s a low-growing groundcover or an herbal shrub, depending on the species. Use creeping thyme on your pathways and shrubby thyme in the herb garden.

Creeping thyme may help prevent vole runs in your pathways by covering the dirt. They’ll tunnel under the groundcovers if they’re loose-rooted; grow thyme with six to eight hours of daily direct sunlight to promote strong rooting.

Yerba Buena

Low-growing Clinopodium douglasii with round green leaves in a moist garden bed — Its aromatic leaves are great for tea-making and also attract helpful pollinators.

	common name Yerba Buena
	botanical name Clinopodium douglasii
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 6”
	hardiness zones 5-12

Yerba buena is Spanish for “good herb,” implying that this mint-like plant is beneficial. Its aromatic, oval leaves are perfect for tea-making when fresh or dry. The white flowers that appear in spring attract pollinating insects to the site.

Grow yerba buena like mint and mountain mint to repel rodent-like pests. Use it in a container to limit its spread, or let it roam along the ground near your other herbs and veggies.

Winter Savory

Upright Satureja montana with thin green leaves on woody stems — The hardy foliage adds savory flavor to dishes and helps protect gardens naturally.

	common name Winter Savory
	botanical name Satureja montana
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-18”
	hardiness zones 5-10

An especially hardy herb, winter savory is useful in the garden and the kitchen. Its foliage lends a unique and savory flavor that works well in roasts, soups, and sautés.

This perennial herb thrives in well-drained soil under direct sunlight. If other plants fail to resist vole damage, try growing the woody, aromatic winter savory.

Rosemary

Thin Salvia rosmarinus leaves with silver undersides on upright stems — Rosemary feeds pollinators, flavors food, and naturally deters voles with fragrant evergreen leaves.

	common name Rosemary
	botanical name Salvia rosmarinus
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-5’
	hardiness zones 8-10

Like winter savory, rosemary is a woody perennial with thin, fragrant leaves. It’s beneficial in a few different ways: it feeds pollinators, repels voles, and lends a tasty flavor to cooked dishes.

Drought-tolerant and sunlight-loving, rosemary is ideal in a warm, well-draining location. If voles do damage your shrubs, consider planting them in containers or raised beds to protect their roots.

Flowers

Blue Camassia quamash blooms rising above grassy green foliage — Blooms brighten gardens with colorful textures while helping deter voles and feeding pollinators.

Flowers are necessary in every outdoor space! Their lush textures and cheery colors are essential for brightening up the landscape. Use them to fight vole populations while also helping your local pollinators.

Lavender

Woody grayish stems with slender, silvery-green leaves hold tall spikes of small, tubular purple flowers. — These shrubby plants repel voles naturally and encourage pests to seek more tender plants elsewhere.

	common name Lavender
	botanical name Lavandula spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Lavender is a Mediterranean native shrub that voles don’t seem to like. They’ll move on to more tender, better-tasting plants if given the choice.

Plant lavender in rows or en masse for the maximum repellant effect. The plant does well with plenty of direct sunlight, little water, and free-draining soil.

Lacy Phacelia

Soft lavender Phacelia tanacetifolia blooms above fern-like divided green foliage — It reseeds itself freely, creating carpets of foliage and blooms that resist voles.

	common name Lacy Phacelia
	botanical name Phacelia tanacetifolia
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Lacy phacelia reseeds itself readily, creating a rich carpet of lacey leaves and lavender blooms. It’s native to California and Mexico, though it works well as a cover crop across the U.S.

Like peas, lacy phacelia was found to have fewer voles than nearby crops in the study from a university in the Czech Republic. The annual is a great choice for protecting the soil from erosion and pests early in the growing season and at the end of the season.

Castor Bean

Red Ricinus communis seed pods and palmate leaves in a sunny garden — This bean’s poisonous oil deters rodents.

	common name Castor Bean
	botanical name Ricinus communis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4-10’
	hardiness zones 9-11

Castor bean contains castor oil, which is incredibly poisonous for furry rodents and people. They’ll avoid this plant like the plague! Some cultivated varieties, like ‘Impala,’ are excellent summer annuals in regions with cold winters. This cultivar has maroon leaves rather than the green ones characteristic of the species.

Though castor bean is a useful defense, it’s an invasive species in California and Florida. It’s perennial in the two states and spreads with seeds. Consider an alternative in warm states without frosty winters. And never try to eat the beans. They are highly poisonous.

Daffodil

	common name Daffodil
	botanical name Narcissus spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Daffodils are bulbing perennials that vole pests don’t seem to bother! They sprout bright yellow, white, or orange blooms in early spring. The flowers have a trumpet-like shape that’s incredibly decorative.

These flowers are some of the first to emerge at the beginning of the growing season. Plant them in the fall and they’ll bloom the next spring.

Crown Imperial

Yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers with a unique crown of green leaves, supported by tall stems and lance-shaped foliage. — They produce tall stems and dramatic blooms with ringed leaf crowns that resist pests.

	common name Crown Imperial
	botanical name Fritillaria imperialis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Crown imperials are one of the showiest fritillaries for home gardens! They grow tall, erect stems from bulbing underground roots. Atop the stems, a ring of leaves grows above a circle of flowers like a collar.

Decorative, hardy, and resistant to rodent damage, crown imperials are ideal for the flower bed. Protect them when they’re young to help them establish in your yard.

Camas

	common name Camas
	botanical name Camassia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Fill your space with native bulbs to create a hardy, drought-tolerant landscape. Camas are one of the best to start with, as they’re resistant to most pests and diseases. Surprisingly, they’re edible after boiling, providing both ornamental and culinary value.

Many types of camas exist, with many species growing wild in the Pacific Northwest. Choose a species endemic to your region, or find cultivars at a local nursery that work well in your state.

Poppy

Dusky lavender-blue, ruffled petals with a dark center atop tall, hairy stems with feathery gray-green leaves. — Like peas, poppies resist voles and help prevent erosion as summer cover crops.

	common name Poppy
	botanical name Papaver somniferum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Poppies are annual, drought-tolerant flowers with edible seeds. They’re tasty on baked goods like poppy-seed muffins and cake. Many cultivars exist, offering a wealth of different colored blooms to choose from.

Like peas and lacy phacelia plants, poppies were found to be vole-resistant in the university study. They attract fewer pests than other common crops on farms. Use them as a summer annual to protect the ground from erosion and pests.

19 Plants Voles Don’t Eat: Our Top Picks

Vegetables