Are Mosquito Repellent Plants Effective? 2024

Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, especially during the warmer months when they are most active. One way to try to deter these pesky insects is by planting mosquito repellent plants in your garden or around your outdoor spaces. But do these plants actually work to repel mosquitoes?

There is some evidence to suggest that certain plants can have a repellent effect on mosquitoes. For example, citronella is a commonly used mosquito repellent and is found in many commercial products. It is also used in some plants that are marketed as mosquito repellent, such as citronella grass and citronella geraniums. These plants can release a strong citronella scent when their leaves are crushed or when they are burned as a natural insect repellent. Some people find that the scent of citronella helps to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Other plants that are thought to have mosquito repellent properties include marigolds, lavender, and basil. These plants also have strong scents that may help to deter mosquitoes. However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of these plants as mosquito repellents can vary. Some people may find that these plants are effective at keeping mosquitoes away, while others may not notice much of a difference.

In general, it's important to keep in mind that using plants as a mosquito repellent is not a foolproof method. Mosquitoes can still find their way into your outdoor spaces, even if you have mosquito repellent plants present. To reduce the risk of mosquito bites, it's a good idea to use other methods of protection such as wearing insect repellent, using mosquito nets, and eliminating standing water around your home.

Mosquito Repellent Plants

• Because the leaves of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) and citronella grass (C. nardus) contain citronella oil, both of these types of grass are effective at warding off mosquitoes. Crushing the leaves and rubbing them on exposed skin is an effective method for warding off insects that bite. People living in areas with cooler winters need to keep their tall tropical grasses, lemon grass, and citronella grass in pots and bring them inside when the weather gets more relaxed in the fall. These grasses are the only ones that can live as perennials in areas that do not experience frost.

• The herb lemon thyme, scientifically known as Thymus citriodorus, is also a citrus-scented herb that has the potential to be used topically as an insect repellent. Burning sprigs of lemon thyme, for example, on an outside grill, is another efficient method for warding off pest insects and keeping them away from a specific location.

• Both lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and lemon thyme (Taraxacum officinale) have an aroma that is disagreeable to flying insects. It should be used topically. If you want to cultivate lemon balm, you should be aware that it is a member of the mint family. Because of this, you should grow it in a container, so it does not become invasive.

• The pungent aroma of lavender may be used to ward off pests such as moths, flies, fleas, and mosquitoes. You may either use it fresh, dry some of the blossoms to hang about the home, or mix it with your clothes to keep insects at bay. This is how you create sachets with lavender in them.

• Garlic is effective in warding off more than just vampires. However, for the cloves to be effective against insects, they must be rubbed into the skin, and this practice may be more unpleasant to other people than the insects themselves. (Unfortunately, there is no evidence to suggest that eating garlic can keep insects at bay.)

• Rosemary may keep mosquitoes and flies from spoiling a picnic. If the insect problem is severe, you may try throwing a few rosemary sprigs on the grill; the smoke from the rosemary will have a pleasant perfume, which will help keep the mosquitoes at bay.

• Basil, also known as Ocimum basilicum, is used in cooking and has the added benefit of warding off insects like flies and mosquitoes. It is one of the most aromatic herbs; you can even smell it without crushing the plant's leaves. Basil is your best pick if you're searching for an insect-deterring plant that you can "set and forget" about in your garden.

• In laboratory tests, the chemical compound known as nepetalactone, which is contained in catnip (Nepeta cataria), was discovered to be even more efficient at warding off mosquitoes than the widely used pesticide DEET. Unfortunately, when the crushed leaves of catnip were applied topically, it seemed that catnip had little to no impact on insect repellency. Due to this fact, you shouldn't rely on this herb to keep mosquitoes away from your home.

Even while we are confident that there are additional plants that have earned a reputation for their ability to ward off insects, we wouldn't rely on just a few plants to keep insects out of our yards. By eliminating standing water in an area or reducing the number of places where mosquito larvae can breed, you can take a few simple steps to reduce the number of mosquitoes in a room.

Finally, I want to introduce you to mosquito repellent plants, as you might now know what they are. Would you be able to suggest some ways I can keep mosquitoes and other insects are known to carry disease at bay? How would you feel about this article?