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Do cicadas like lavender? The honest answer is that cicadas don’t have strong feelings about lavender specifically, but they do interact with it in fascinating ways.
These noisy insects are drawn to trees and woody plants, not necessarily to the fragrant herbs we love in our gardens.
If you’ve been asking whether cicadas like lavender, you’re likely trying to figure out if this plant can help repel them or if it will attract more of them.
The truth is that cicadas don’t feed on lavender, and they don’t find it particularly attractive or repellent in a dramatic way.
In this post, we’ll dig into why cicadas might not care about lavender, how they choose their host plants, and what role lavender plays in your garden during a cicada emergence.
Let’s explore the relationship between cicadas and lavender so you can plan your yard with confidence.
Why Cicadas and Lavender Have a Complicated Relationship
Cicadas and lavender share a garden space, but their interaction is more about coincidence than preference.
Understanding why cicadas don’t flock to lavender starts with knowing what these insects actually need.
Cicadas are not like aphids or beetles that munch on leaves and flowers; they have a very different lifestyle.
Let’s break down the reasons why cicadas don’t rely on lavender for survival.
1. Cicadas Prefer Woody Plants Over Herbaceous Lavender
The main reason cicadas don’t like lavender is that they are programmed to seek out trees and large shrubs.
Female cicadas use their ovipositors to slice into small twigs and branches to lay their eggs.
Lavender stems are too thin, soft, and fibrous to support this egg-laying process effectively.
When cicadas look for a home, they scan for pencil-sized branches on oaks, maples, or fruit trees.
Lavender, with its woody base but delicate flowering spikes, simply doesn’t register as a suitable nursery.
So while cicadas might rest on lavender briefly, they won’t choose it for reproduction.
2. Cicadas Don’t Feed on Lavender’s Leaves or Nectar
Another key point is that adult cicadas don’t eat leaves, and they certainly don’t sip nectar like bees or butterflies.
Adult cicadas have straw-like mouthparts designed to pierce tree bark and drink xylem sap.
Lavender doesn’t provide the kind of fluid flow that cicadas need.
The xylem in lavender is too narrow and located too close to the ground for cicadas to access easily.
Even if a cicada tried to feed on lavender, it wouldn’t get the hydration or nutrients it requires.
This feeding behavior is why cicadas ignore lavender in favor of towering trees.
3. Lavender’s Scent Isn’t a Deterrent or Attractant for Cicadas
Many gardeners assume that strong-smelling plants like lavender repel insects, but cicadas are an exception.
Cicadas don’t rely heavily on scent to find their host plants; they use vibrations and visual cues instead.
The aromatic oils in lavender, which repel mosquitoes and moths, have little effect on cicadas.
So, do cicadas like lavender? No, but they also aren’t bothered by it.
Lavender won’t keep cicadas away from your yard if you have large trees nearby.
And it won’t lure them to a spot where they’d otherwise be absent.
Lavender is essentially neutral ground for these buzzing insects.
What Lavender Really Does During a Cicada Emergence
Even though cicadas don’t like lavender, the plant still plays a supporting role in your garden’s ecosystem.
During a mass cicada emergence, which happens every 13 or 17 years for periodical species, lavender can become a temporary perch.
Cicadas will land on anything, including lavender, when they are looking for a place to molt or rest.
But this isn’t a sign of preference; it’s just opportunism.
Lavender also attracts beneficial predators that might feed on cicada nymphs.
Here’s what you can expect from lavender when cicadas are active.
1. Lavender Provides a Safe Resting Spot, Not a Food Source
When cicadas first emerge from the ground, they climb up the nearest vertical surface to shed their exoskeleton.
A tall lavender stalk can serve this purpose if it’s right next to their emergence hole.
You might spot a cicada clinging to lavender for a few hours while its wings harden.
Once the cicada is fully formed, it will fly away to find a real tree for feeding and mating.
So do cicadas like lavender as a nursery? Not really, but they won’t pass up a convenient perch.
2. Lavender Attracts Natural Cicada Predators
Lavender is a magnet for pollinators and predatory insects in a way that could indirectly affect cicadas.
For example, lavender flowers attract wasps, which are known to parasitize cicadas.
Giant cicada killers, a type of large wasp, are sometimes seen hovering near lavender patches.
These wasps hunt cicadas, paralyze them, and use them as food for their larvae.
If your lavender is near trees, you might see more of these wasps patrolling the area.
But that’s more about the wasps liking lavender than cicadas liking it.
3. Lavender Helps Mask the Buzz, But Not the Bugs
Some gardeners wonder if planting lavender can reduce the noise or damage from cicadas.
While lavender won’t stop cicadas from buzzing or breeding, it can make your garden more pleasant during the ordeal.
The calming scent of lavender offers a sensory counterpoint to the relentless drone of male cicadas singing.
You’ll still hear cicadas, but at least you’ll have a soothing aroma to enjoy.
Lavender also provides nectar for other insects, which helps maintain balance while cicadas dominate the scene.
Best Way to Use Lavender in a Cicada-Prone Yard
If you want to plant lavender but worry about cicadas, you can still do so without any trouble.
Since cicadas don’t like lavender, you don’t have to worry about them destroying your herb garden.
The real concern is protecting young trees, which cicadas can damage during egg-laying.
Lavender won’t protect those trees, but it can enhance your landscape in other ways.
Here’s how to position lavender for maximum benefit during cicada season.
1. Keep Lavender Away From Vulnerable Young Trees
Place lavender as a decorative border, but don’t rely on it as a shield for saplings.
If you have young fruit trees or newly planted shade trees, you’ll need netting to keep female cicadas away.
Lavender nearby can attract beneficial insects that won’t harm your trees.
But cicadas will still find those trees regardless of where your lavender sits.
2. Use Lavender in Containers Near Patios
Growing lavender in pots lets you move it to areas where you spend time relaxing.
Cicadas might fly around, but they won’t care about your container lavender.
This way, you can enjoy the lavender’s fragrance without worrying about cicada interactions.
It’s a practical way to have your aromatic plants and peace of mind too.
3. Pair Lavender With Other Repellent Herbs for Comfort
Even if cicadas don’t like lavender, you can combine it with rosemary, mint, or marigolds.
These plants won’t stop cicadas, but they will give you a sense of control in your garden.
The key is to remember that cicadas are temporary visitors that focus on trees.
Your lavender will thrive and bloom long after the cicadas have gone.
So, Do Cicadas Like Lavender?
So, do cicadas like lavender? No, cicadas don’t like lavender in any meaningful way.
Cicadas do not feed on lavender, do not lay eggs in it, and are not attracted to its blossoms.
Lavender is simply irrelevant to a cicada’s life cycle, which centers on tree sap and woody branches.
You can plant lavender freely without fear of attracting these noisy insects.
And you can equally breathe easy knowing that lavender won’t draw cicadas away from your trees.
The best approach is to enjoy lavender for its beauty and scent while managing cicada habitat separately.
If you want to reduce cicada presence, focus on wrapping vulnerable trees rather than relying on herbs.
Cicadas and lavender can coexist peacefully in your garden, as long as you understand their limits.
We hope this clears up whether cicadas like lavender and how to handle both in your outdoor space.
Happy gardening, and may your lavender always smell sweet, no matter how loud the cicadas sing.