Creeping Pennyroyal

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Has anyone grown Creeping Pennyroyal (part of the Mint family) and used it as an insect repellant? If so what insects does it repel?

[tootles]

Fleas, apparently.
It is also extremely toxic.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Thanks Tootles. Just Googled and found out it repels fleas My idea was to plant it near the greenhouse to try and deter greenfly etc - another daft idea

[The amateur]

I'm thinking about getting some as it is an ant repellant as well, didn't know it was toxic though as the catalogue I've got only says pregnant women shouldn't drink the tea made from it's leaves.

[IgglePiggle]

didn't know it was toxic though as the catalogue I've got only says pregnant women shouldn't drink the tea made from it's leaves.

That's because it can cause a miscarriage if they have too much... I think

[Eyren]

Yes - pennyroyal is an abortifacient. I have a book (Home Ecology) with lots of ideas for alternatives to chemical cleaners, etc, and it says that, although you can use pennyroyal to get rid of fleas, you mustn't use it if your cat or dog is pregnant!