Which plants repel mosquitoes and other insects in the backyard and garden? Here’s a list of the best insect-repelling plants to use in your garden.
It’s not just mosquitoes; gnats, biting flies, ants, and other pests can take the fun right out of any outdoor activity.
Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance, too, as there are many mosquito-borne diseases out there, including viruses such as West Nile, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Dengue.
The Key: Blocking Insects’ Scent Receptors
Mosquitoes and many other insects target their victims by the odors and gases we give off—carbon dioxide, sweat, and smelly feet to name a few. They can be attracted from as far as 100 feet away.
Luckily, the scents of mint, fruit, and even chocolate can block the receptors that the bugs use to find us.
Since many plants give off these fragrances naturally, why not plant them around your yard or put some pots of them on your deck or patio to ward off the biters? It won’t magically make the area a bug-free zone, but it may help to reduce their presence.
Plants That Repel Mosquitoes and Other Insects
First of all, many plants that are listed as “insect-repelling” are, in fact, not. Here are a few plants that I have found to actually help repel the bugs that bug us:
- Lemon grass has proven mosquito-repelling abilities. Since it is hardy only in tropical zones, plant yours in a pot and bring it inside when the temperatures drop if you intend to keep it over the winter.
- While we are on the topic of lemon, there are a couple other plants with a strong, citrus fragrance that will keep bugs at bay. Try lemon thyme or lemon balm. Lemon balm is in the mint family, so confine it to a pot to keep it from spreading crazily.
- Lemon-scented geraniums are often marketed as “mosquito plants,” but there’s little evidence that they have much of an effect. Stick to the other citrus-scented plants instead.
- Lavender has a strong scent that repels moths, flies, fleas, and mosquitoes. Use it fresh or dry some of the flowers to hang around the house or put in with your clothing to keep bugs out. Here’s how to make lavendar sachets.
- Garlic keeps away more than vampires. It repels mosquitoes and cabbage moths, too.
- Rosemary may prevent flies and mosquitoes from ruining a cookout. If the bugs are really bad, like around dusk, throw a few sprigs of rosemary on the grill and the aromatic smoke will help drive the mosquitoes away.
- Basil is another culinary herb that does double duty by repelling flies and mosquitoes, too. It’s one of the most pungent herbs that is known to be effective.
- Peppermint exudes a strong fragrance that ants, mosquitoes, and even mice don’t like. Grow it in a pot to contain its rampant growth.
- Catmints including catnip have been found to be even more effective than DEET in repelling mosquitoes and ants. Just be sure to locate catnip away from plants that can’t take being rolled on by all the cats in the neighborhood.
- Marigolds have long been the gardener’s companion for repelling damaging nematodes (microscopic worms) that attack the roots of garden vegetables, but they can fend off mosquitoes as well.
I’m sure there are other plants that have acquired a bug-repelling reputation, but I wouldn’t depend on only a few plants to make my yard insect-free. One of the most effective things you can do to cut the mosquito population down is to eliminate any standing water where their larvae may be living.
► For more mosquito repellent advice, see Natural Mosquito Repellents and Mosquito Bite Remedies.
Do you have any tips for keep mosquitoes and other biting bugs away? Share them in the comments below!
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mosquito repellent
Many years ago when I worked at a lakeside campground, I would rub fresh pennyroyal (a member of the mint family) on my exposed skin and never had any trouble with mosquitos.
Mosquitoes
I rub Thieves Oil on exposed skin ( mix with an oil like olive oil or unscented lotion). I've found it to be effective.
Tansy
Tansy helps to repel mosquitoes. Crush a couple of leaves and rub on exposed skin. It has a pleasant lemony odor. Tansy is poisonous when eaten. However, my horses, dogs and cats leave it alone.
another bug analysis
This not scientific analysis, but personal observations about mosquitoes and black flies (VT’s state bird).
Body odor has a lot to do in attracting these bugs. For some reason I don’t attract mosquitoes, expect it’s some kind of odor or lack of it I’ve been outside with little problem but when a visitor comes, they are switching these insects off them. Don’t know what, fragrant soap they use if that’s the case, or being natural human insect bait. Found out that warmth does attract them. They will seek out my ears that gives off heat. Also when the mailman arrives and stops to talk, the vehicle is loaded with them, heat of the engine. Women seem to attract them more so than men.
Another observation. Noticed within the past 5 years or so, when driving in the warm evening, my windshield isn’t so loaded with splattered bugs. Something is going on. It use to be driving with headlights you could see many bugs over the warm tarred highway and had to use the windshield washer to see. Not so now. Don’t believe Global Warming or pollution (in VT?). No one I know of has observed. I’ve driven in many states and haven’t notice the windshield / bug splattering situation.
Great article.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass scent is used to attract honeybees to enter a hive.
Bug repelling Plants
Lemongrass is used to make Lemongrass Oil, NOT Citronella Oil
Citronella Oil is made from Citronella Grass, a grass quite different from Lemongrass. One should not be mistaken for the other. We should not mislead readers with improper information
Sorry Vijay! My intent is
Sorry Vijay! My intent is never to mislead! Since the 2 citronella grasses used to make citronella oil - Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winterianus are in the same family as lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) they are often confused. I have updated this. Thanks for pointing that out!
repels insects
I was amazed, I have almost everything there except lavender and catmint and yes, the lemon balm is very prolific. Since garlic was mentioned, I wonder if chives and green onions might also be a deterrent?
None of my sources for this
None of my sources for this article mentioned onions and chives but it is worth a try. Let us know if they work for you.
mosquitoes
Mosquitoes don't bother me much , BUT my friend they think it's "meal time", I have helped her by running a fan on low and it helps a lot. The mosquitoes don't like "the wind".
Plants That Repel Mosquitoes and Other Insects
The author left out citronella plants. The best choice of all. And I would suggest that Citronella is made from citronella and not lemon grass. In addition to Citronella plants I use several of those mentioned.
lavender & moths
Well I do have lots of lavender in my garden and moths are still there. Just yesterday my youngest cat caught one.
mosquitoes
I've found one of the best ways to control mosquitoes is to allow rain water to accumulate in buckets around the house. Mosquitoes will lay their eggs in water and after they have hatched I dump the water out on the driveway. You can kill many thousands easily.
Slugs are in my raspberries!
What is the best way to get ride of slugs in my raspberries?
Slugs
Years ago my grandmother would put out jar lids with a little bit of beer in them. The Slugs would go for the beer instead of her plants and the beer would kill them.
Fresh Garlic
I plant fresh garlic by all my tomatoes. Does it keep the bugs from eating on green bean, collards, beets, etc. ? Thank you for any information you can help me with.. Linda
Garlic is amazing stuff!
Garlic is amazing stuff! Studies done by Cornell University have shown that garlic can repel Mexican bean beetles, potato bugs, and cabbage worms. It also improves the growth of beets. You can also make a spray using garlic and hot peppers to further repel insects that are munching on your crops.
Essential Oils?
Can you use essential oils to do the same things as plants inside of a room? I live on the north side of a building and not very good with plants.
Essential Oils to Deter Mosquitoes
Though we haven’t tried essential oils ourselves, we imagine certain ones would be effective at deterring mosquitoes. Try those that put off a very strong scent, like lavender or eucalyptus. The important thing is that the scents of the plants (or oils, in this case) cover up the scent of you!
Yes lemon thyme planted
Yes lemon thyme planted around my pond has done wonders. I haven't seen a single mosquito larvae in the pond this summer. Another bonus is you can spread it around once established and it smells wonderful.
Other plants to repel mosquitos
I have found that the wormwood that grows wild here is a great mosquito repellant. I always allow a couple of plants to remain in the garden and pick a couple of sprigs, crush them and tuck into my hat or shirt while gardening. We have also dried long stems of it, tied into wands with cotton string and used as "smudge" to repel bugs. And it is free! Other plants in the Artemisia family might also work.
Rosemary, basil and thyme
Snails and slugs love our flower beds. Mosquitoes and flies think we're tasty. We want to plant the herbs in our garden as natural deterrents and of course for their culinary benefits. I know the insects are repelled by their aroma. How far does their fragrance (radius) and how many would we need to plant to reduce the pest invasion?
This is an inexact science so
This is an inexact science so there are no hard and fast rules for how many plants to use or how far their effect extends. In some locations just a few plants scattered around the landscape might work fine while in others, such as where I live, we need to have a plant in tucked every pocket to keep the bugs at bay.
Citronella and lemon grass
As far as I know lemon grass is not the same as citronella even though the 2 plants look very similar. Lemon grass is edible but not citronella. They smell different too. So I do not think lemon grass produces citronella.
cintronella
Citronella oil is one of the essential oils obtained from the leaves and stems of different species of Cymbopogon (lemongrass).
Citronella
I am reading that lemon grass produces citronella, but what about a citronella plant? I'm confused. Thanks!
Citronella Plant
A citronella plant (or “mosquito plant”) is a particular type of geranium that produces a citronella-like scent. The plant itself does not repel mosquitoes, though some claim that rubbing its scented leaves on your skin discourages the insects from attacking you (this is unproven, however).
citronella [mosquito plants ] work well for me.
I have them by the porch and while I can see hordes rising from the bushes, none ever affect me. I don't have them hovering by the front door either. I read it doesn't work .... but it does .... for me. I go out in the garden and feel as if I've been the buffet of the day. I've planted mums in the garden beds and have free growing dill [from some planted several years ago], [quite aggressive regrowth] and they seem to do something to repel insect pests also. Am wondering if it doesn't affect whatever needs to pollinate the squash as I have loads of male flowers but no female fruit I can find.
Great plants
I need to plant all of them all over my garden and around the house ASAP! :) Those little guys are getting annoying, especially in the evening when I like to work in garden or just relax outside.
Citronella
Thank you for clearing that up as I was super confused!
Insect repellant plants
You can also light a sage smudge stick (available at your local coop) and hang it nearby. It smells good and keeps the insects away. An 8 inch smudge stick will burn for quite a long time, most of the evening.
Who knew that you could clear
Who knew that you could clear negative energy and repel mosquitoes at the same time with a smudge stick!