10 Mosquito Repelling Plants that Anyone Can Grow

There’s nothing quite as unpleasant as having to swat mosquitoes away from your face while you’re trying to enjoy a Friday night barbeque.

Want to enjoy more time outdoors? Grow these 10 best mosquito repelling plants in your home and garden!

1. Lemongrass

This plant is also known as lemon verbena. Lemongrass has a high level of citral, an oil used in mosquito repellants. This ornamental plant tastes great in soups and other dishes.

2. Marigolds

These cheerfully bright, annual ornamentals contain pyrethrum, a natural form of the compound, pyrethrin that is found in most commercial insect repellants. Marigolds emit this botanical insecticide from their flowers, leaves and roots.

Grow them in pots and place them near your patio or entrance to your home to keep bugs out.

3. Geraniums

Scented geraniums have beautiful, bold, fragrant blooms known for repelling mosquitoes and other insects. The lemony fragrance is thought to be reminiscent of citronella grass and overpowers the mosquito’s ability to smell.

4. Garlic

Eating garlic by the handful won’t prevent mosquitoes from bothering you, but planting it in your garden helps. The natural odiferous compounds given off by the plant are strong enough to keep insects at a distance.

5. Peppermint

This fast-grower can easily invade your garden if left unchecked, but it’s not as invasive as other plants in the mint family. Peppermint oil is not only great for repelling mosquitoes, but can also help with relieving discomfort from itchy mosquito bites.

6. Lavender

Essential oils in the leaves of lavender plants give off a soothing fragrance that acts as a natural mosquito (and sometimes deer and other critters) repellent. Once established, lavender plants are drought-tolerant and very hardy. If you have problems with mosquitoes in the house, try growing a potted lavender plant on an indoor windowsill.

7. Rosemary

Fragrant rosemary leaves and flowers are good at repelling mosquitoes. This herb not only finds usages in cuisines but also in getting rid of pesky insects, thanks to its intense-scent.

8. Catnip

Catnip is among the best mosquito repelling plants; it contains nepetalactone chemical compound, which drives cockroaches away from it as well. The odor of catnip is 10-times more effective for repelling mosquitoes than DEET.

9. Basil

When most people think of basil their mind automatically thinks of its culinary uses in pesto and tomato-based dishes, but the plant is an effective mosquito deterrent too. The pungent smell deters pests. Basil grows well in containers or in the ground, making it a feasible option for people with no ability to garden traditionally.

10. Lemon balm

Another citrus-scented plant, lemon balm is a fast-growing plant that is easy for beginning gardeners to grow. It is both drought- and shade-tolerant.