Mosquitoes are disease-carrying, blood-suckers that no one likes. These tiny insects can quickly ruin an outdoor event and drive people indoors on summer days.
Using a spray repellent on your skin that’s loaded with chemicals works to repel the blood-thirsty mosquitoes, but it’s not a healthy option. Burning citronella candles and using other forms of store-bought or homemade repellents provide marginal relief from the mosquitoes, but it’s not enough.
Several plants repel mosquitoes naturally and are easy to grow in your garden and landscape. These plants will add beauty to your yard, create no side effects like chemical repellents might, and some are of the plants are edible.
Check out this list of plants that repel mosquitoes and grow some of them in your garden this summer so you can reclaim your outdoor living space.
Table of Contents
Basil
This tasty herb produces a scent that repels mosquitoes. Plant plenty of this herb so you can enjoy fresh, homemade pesto and a mosquito-free backyard. Basil grows well when planted in-ground or in containers.
Basil is toxic to mosquito larvae and is an ideal plant to place around ponds or other water features to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water.
Bee Balm
Bee Balm is a multi-tasking garden plant that is ideal for planting in low-lying, moist areas where mosquitoes like the breed. While bee balm is busy repelling mosquitoes naturally, it will also add fragrance, texture, and height to a flower garden.
Bee balm is a member of the mint family and attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. The entire fragrant plant is edible and the leaves can be dried and used to make herbal tea.
Catnip
Here’s an herb that cats love and mosquitoes hate. The nepetalactone in catnip is a natural insect repellent and mosquitoes avoid this plant.
Cats will also help promote the mosquito-repelling ability of this plant each time they roll around on it. The nepetalactone is released into the air and insects chased away. This herb is easy to care for and should be planted in a cat-friendly location.
Citronella
Living citronella plants are far more effective at repelling mosquitoes than candles that contain a small amount of oil from the plant.
Citronella is a large-growing, attractive, low maintenance plant that makes an ideal container plant. It also repels houseflies with its potent fragrance.
Floss Flower
These attractive annual flowers contain a natural chemical called coumarin that repels mosquitoes. The plant grows well in light shade and will produce fluffy purple blooms. The plant will grow in mounds that can reach up to 2 feet in height.
Most floss flowers create low-growing plant mounds that are 6-8 inches tall.
Garlic
Garlic is easy to grow and you probably have some seeds for this mosquito repellent in your kitchen right now. The seeds are the cloves on the outside of the garlic bulb but don’t separate them until you are ready to plant them.
Garlic grows best in full sun and well-draining soil. Snap off the outside cloves from the garlic bulb and place each clove 2-inches deep with the pointed tip facing upwards. Plant the cloves 3-5 inches apart. Garlic can be grown in containers or the ground.
Geranium
Geraniums come in many forms, colors, and growing heights and all produce a scent the mosquitoes hate. The vibrant colored flowers have been a garden staple plant for centuries. Geraniums grow equally well when planted in containers or in-ground. Add a pinch of sugar to the soil before planting geraniums to promote deeper foliage and bloom color.
Lavender
Fragrant purple spikes of flowers that have an aroma that will calm your nerves and repel mosquitoes. Lavender is easy to grow and makes an ideal border or edging plant. Plant seeds or plants in a sunny location in well-draining soil.
Dry lavender by harvesting the stems, creating a small bundle and hanging bundle upside down in a warm, dry location. Fresh and dried lavender is used to make several health and beauty products.
Marigolds
Marigolds are hardy little annuals that can be planted the first time from seeds, and then re-seed themselves and return year after year. These bright little flowers are also natural mosquito repellents.
Sow marigold seeds directly into the soil after all danger of frost has passed in the early spring. Lightly cover seeds with soil and keep the soil moist until seeds germinate. Thin sprouts to 6-18 inches, depending on the mature size of plant type.
Marigolds can be grown in containers or the ground. Marigolds repel several varieties of insects and act as an organic pest repellent in the garden. Grow these hard-working plants around all other plants to keep them (and you) pest-free.
Organic Repellents
Using organic methods to control mosquitoes in your landscape is safer for you, your family, and for the planet.