10 Plants To Plant For Home Security

When creating a fortress of solitude, most people think about building a fence to keep unwanted visitors out. However, plants make a much better defense for home security.

Fences tend to draw curiosity, while plants seem to go unnoticed. That is until someone tries to walk through them!

Here are ten amazing plants you need to plant for a natural home security system.

If you’ve ever tangled with a berry patch or accidentally backed into a Spanish Dagger, then you know how painful they can be.

When strategically placed, plants can act as an effective form of home security defense without having to invest a lot of money.

Not only do plants, trees, shrubs, and bushes help with security, but many of them produce food. A win-win in my book!

#1- Gooseberries (Ribes Hirtwellum) For Home Security

Gooseberries are a shrub that grows all over in North America and in other parts of the world. They are extremely easy to grow (except in the desert) and require little care but prefer cooler climates.

Gooseberries are thorny bushes that are perfect for home defense due to their thorny stems, leaves and even fruit.

The bushes will grow about 3-4 feet high and will bear fruit up to 25 years. In addition to being a great defense plant, the berries are edible.

Learn how to make Gooseberry Syrup from Hank Shaw. 

#2- Century Plants (Agave Americana) Are Great For Your Home Security

Commonly called a Century Plant or Sentry Plant, unlike its name suggest, it typically only lives 10-30 years. This amazing home security plant has firm green leaves that grow 3-5 ft long with heavy spikes and a tip that can easily pierce the skin.

The century plant thrives in drought conditions and spreads easily. The leaves are pale green and look beautiful in landscaping.

Virtually disease free, this plant is easy to grow and maintain.

#3- Honey Locust (Gleditsia Triacanthos)

The Honey Locust is also known as the Thorny Locust which is why it made our top 10 list for plants for home security.

This is no tiny shrub but a huge tree, the Honey Locust can grow up to 100 feet tall. The branches of the honey locust are loaded with thorns ranging from 1 1/4″-4″ long.

Native to North America, the honey locust is highly adaptable to different environments and considered an invasive species.

Home Security for the Off-Grid (or any) Homestead

#4- Spanish Dagger (Yucca Gloriosa)

The Spanish Dagger is another evergreen that is easy to grow in warm climates. The long, stiff pointy leaves make this the perfect plant for home security.

When we were planning our home security garden, a friend recommended the Spanish Dagger. They simply took a machete to the stalk of the plant, pulled back a couple of the leaves and we stuck it in the ground.

Within no time at all, we had a natural home security defense garden. As they grow tall, their weight will make them fall over and then they will root and spread.

Often a focal point in tropical gardens, the Spanish Dagger is visually pleasing and a deterrent to trespassers.

#5- Osage Orange Tree (Maclura Pomifera)

When I asked my fellow homesteading friends about plant security, many of them recommended the Osage Orange Tree.

Osage Orange is a fast growing tree and was used in place of barbed wire during the early 19th century.

The Osage Orange Tree produces a strong timber that resists rot and outlasts most lumber.

Outside of its ability to grow fast, this unique tree produces many sharp, steel strong thorns that make it the perfect tree for home security.

#6-Japanese Barberry (Berberis Thunbergii )

The Japanese Barberry is a spiny shrub that looks beautiful in landscaping but doubles as the perfect home defense shrub.

Pruning can be quite painful with its sharp spines. Japanese barberry can tolerate a range of varying site and soil condition and is considered an invasive species.

This shrub will grow from 3-7 feet and produces beautiful ornamental red fruit. 

#7- Rose Bushes

“A rose is a rose” indeed, but every rose has a thorn and a rose bush is an excellent plant for home security when placed in the right location.

The woody, thorny branches offer a painful sting which can spread disease and infection.
From miniature to climbing, roses grow in almost any climate which makes them the ideal plant for home security.

#8-Berry Bushes

How about a home security system that feeds you? Now you won’t see ADT making that claim!

Many berry plants like gooseberries, blackberries, raspberries all produce delicious fruit that is high in antioxidants, but more importantly– thorns. 

Berries are generally fast growing and hardy to zone 3.

From trellising to hedgerow, berries can be incorporated into any landscape and may be used for both home security and food.

#9- Firethorn (Pyracantha)

Firethorns are an evergreen shrub that grows well up to planting zone 6.

Ranging from 6-16 ft tall, the firethorn shrub grows well in dry to moist soils. 

It has prickly leaves that will poke and snag, perfect for home security. Care is easy and pretty much hands-off. 

#10- Citrus Trees Make An Edible Home Security Option

Another home security tree that has the added benefit of food are citrus trees. Several lemons, lime, orange, and grapefruit trees produce thorns along their trunks, branches, and twigs.

We have several citrus trees on our property and the thorns are like no other. We have them planted below our bedroom windows with plenty of room to grow.

We chose this placement for two reasons. One- for security. Anyone not knowing about the 3″ long, piercing thorns are in for a treat if they try to enter through our windows.

Two- our house provides our citrus trees with radiant heat which helps them thrive. Any thorny plant is a great addition for natural security barrier. 

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Where To Plant Your Home Security Plants? 

As I mentioned above, placement is imperative when planting for home security. Keep in mind the growth rate and size so you don’t plant in an area that will interfere with your building structure. 

• The Osage Orange Tree makes a great perimeter tree. Creating a fast-growing hedgerow, the Osage Orange will be your first line of defense.
• Plant your home security plants below every window (making sure the residents still have a safe escape in case of emergency) and by every point of entry.
• The climbing roses and berry bushes will do an amazing job at protecting you when planted below upper-level windows.
• And finally, Spanish Daggers mixed with Century Plants make the perfect home security hedge closer to the home.

Whether planting shrubs, small trees, or ground covers, you can incorporate nature to help protect your home.

Add aesthetics and security to your home with the protection that only nature can provide. No one will ever know you have a secret fortress.

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