Managing Pests in Gardens: Plants that are low emitters of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Pests in Gardens and Landscapes

Plants that are low emitters of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Common names	Family
ash, jasmine, lilac, olive	Oleaceae
azalea, heather, manzanita, rhododendron, strawberry tree	Ericaceae
Brazilian pepper tree, Chinese pistache, smoke tree	Anacardiaceae
buckthorn, ceanothus	Rhamnaceae
catalpa, chitalpa, desert willow, jacaranda	Bignoniaceae
coast redwood	Taxodiaceae
cypress, juniper	Cupressaceae
elm	Ulmaceae
hawthorn, pome fruit, pyracantha, rose, serviceberry, stone fruits, toyon	Rosaceae
honeysuckle	Caprifoliaceae
magnolia	Magnoliaceae
maple	Aceraceae
pecan, walnut	Juglandaceae
sago palm	Cycadaceae

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of nitrogen oxides and sunlight result in ozone formation. Air pollution damage to plants in California is caused mostly by ozone (O₃).

For more information on plants with low emission of volatile organic compounds, and which plants are high emitters of VOCs, see Urban Trees and Ozone Formation (PDF).

Discoloration from ozone

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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How to Manage Pests

Pests in Gardens and Landscapes

Plants that are low emitters of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)