10 Plants that Are Effective Natural Mosquito Repellents

If there is something you cannot tolerate in your house or in your outdoor space at all, that is mosquitoes. They are as annoying as the sound they make when they buzz around and quite unfriendly as they give us deadly diseases like Chikungunya, Dengue, Malaria, and Zika. To stop these insects from biting you or feasting on your blood, you usually use chemical sprays or coils that can have negative effects on your health or kill them with mosquito swatters. However, these methods are not as convenient as they should be. There are plenty of flowers or plants that not only make your garden or flower pots more beautiful but also act as highly effective and natural mosquito repellents. Having these plants in your garden is the most effective way to repel these evil bugs and keep them away from your house. The following list includes 10 amazing flowers or plants that repel mosquitoes:

1. Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm, also known as horsemint or bee balm, belongs to the mint family and has the fragrance of lemon. It not only repels mosquitoes but also attracts eminent pollinators like bees and butterflies. It grows quite fast and is an invasive plant, so try to grow it in a pot so you can move it anywhere you wish to. You can also crush its leaves and rub them on your skin to repel mosquitoes. It is drought resistant and has plenty of healing properties.

2. Geranium

Geraniums are one of the most popular mosquito repellents. Their flowers are incredibly beautiful so you can grow this plant in a pot or a vase for decorative purposes. However, ensure that you do not water this plant too much as its leaves tend to turn yellow and it gets damaged. So, it is important to check if the soil has dried out properly before you water it again. The lemon flavoured form of geranium is the most efficient mosquito repellent.

3. Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal is a natural mosquito repellent that attracts butterflies. Many people use it to add a little bit of flavour to a variety of dishes. It is associated with the mint family and is quite invasive so it starts to spread quickly if its growth is not controlled. So, grow it in a pot or a container in order to avoid a takeover. You can grow it somewhere outside your house as well as indoors.

4. Marigolds

Marigolds are annual plants and known for having beautiful dazzling flowers so you can grow these flowers in pots or containers and then place them outside your house or close to the entrance of your house. They comprise of this compound called Pyrethrum that many bug repellents have and their eccentric fragrance annoys mosquitoes to a great extent. They not only make good mosquito repellents, but also add immense beauty to your flowerbed.  

5. Rosemary

Rosemary is a lovely flowering plant that acts as an effective natural mosquito repellent. It is mostly used to add flavour to lamb or fish dishes. However, you can take some rosemary leaves and burn them to keep mosquitoes away from you and your house, as the smell it gives is quite unpleasant to these deadly bugs. This plant grows best in full sun and can be grown indoors as well as outside your house.

6. Basil

Known for being one of the most pungent plants, the fragrance of basil is so strong and unpleasant to mosquitoes that just the presence of this plant is enough to keep them away from your house. It is widely used to add flavour to plenty of dishes. You can grow it in vases or pots and broaden the diversity of your garden. If mosquito bites are annoying you too much, just crush the leaves of basil and rub them on your skin to get rid of these evil souls.

7. Peppermint

This plant’s name is quite self-explanatory. It belongs to the mint family, has a pleasant smell, and has a lot of health benefits. It is an organic mosquito repellent that can be grown outside your home in your garden or indoors in a pot or vase. If you find some mosquitoes inside your house, just take some peppermint leaves and rub them on your skin to ward off these irritating creatures. It also heals mosquito bites pretty fast.

8. Catnip

Catnip is quite famous amongst cat owners as cats love to have this plant around them. Cats love to nibble on or smell catnip leaves and love to have it sprinkled on their toys. This plant belongs to the mint family and contains a chemical called nepetalactone which repels mosquitoes and attracts felines. It is known to be way more effective than DEET. You can also rub the crushed leaves of catnip on your skin to avoid mosquitoes.

9. Citronella

Citronella, also known as the Citrosum plant, is the most common mosquito repellent. It is an attractive perennial plant that grows best in full sun and can grow up to 6 feet. It has a quite strong fragrance that keeps mosquitoes away and is quite easy to grow. You can grow this plant in pots or directly in your garden space. Even in drought-prone areas, this plant grows quite well as it is drought-tolerant.

10. Lavender

Known for being an exquisite flowering plant with a sense of relaxing fragrance, lavender is widely loved and valued by plenty of gardeners. It not only acts as an effective natural mosquito repellent but also makes the insides of your house smell like heaven. You can grow it indoors as well as outside in your yard or flowerbed to ensure that these disease-carrying bugs stay as far away from your house as they can.  

Certainly, you cannot sit idle at home all day holding a swatter and waiting for mosquitoes like a serial killer. It is significant to ensure that you cope with this issue in a way that is not only hassle-free but also extremely effective. So, grow these plants in your garden area or inside your house in pots or vases to prevent yourself and your family from getting affected by the deadly diseases that these mosquitoes carry.