Mosquito Repellent Plants – Natural Ways to Keep Bugs Away
If you’re tired of dealing with pesky mosquitoes and other annoying bugs, why not turn to nature for a solution? There are several plants you can add to your garden or patio that act as natural bug and mosquito repellents. Not only will these plants help keep bugs away, but they also add beauty and fragrance to your outdoor space. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best mosquito repellent plants.
1. Lavender
Lavender is not only a beautiful and aromatic plant, but it also acts as a natural bug repellent. The strong scent of lavender is disliked by many insects, including mosquitoes. Plant lavender in pots or in your garden to enjoy its fragrance and keep bugs away. Bonus: lavender attracts bees and butterflies, making it a great addition to any pollinator garden.
2. Basil
While we all love the smell of basil, mosquitoes, moths, and flies are not fans. Use basil to repel flies and moths in your garden, and crush leaves and rub on your skin while your working in the garden as a mosquito repellent!
3. Thyme
This plant comes in many varieties, and it makes a wonderful ground cover for dry, rocky areas. Thyme certainly earns its reputation as a mosquito repellent plant.
4. Mint
Mint is another natural bug repellent, but one that you should use with care because it spreads aggressively and may take over a planting. Plant it in pots and place it near doorways.
5. Lemongrass
This beautiful grassy plant is packed with citronella, which is one of the best-known alternatives to synthetic repellents like DEET. Crush the leaves and rub on the skin (test a small area first).
6. Alliums
This member of the onion family is known for tall spikes that produce gigantic balls of purple flowers (although there are also smaller varieties). Alliums are one of the best defenses against a variety of pests, including cabbage worms, aphids, carrot flies, and slugs, as they dislike the smell.
7. Chrysanthemums
Use these flowers as a border planting around your home to keep out bedbugs, fleas, lice, roaches, ants, and more. These plants contain naturally-occurring pyrethrin, an insecticide. They repel ticks, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and other garden pests. Try making this DIY pest spray!
8. Petunias
Known for their many colors and a profusion of flowers, petunias help repel leafhoppers, squash bugs, tomato hornworms, and aphids—simply plant near brassicas (cruciferous veggies), beans, basil, tomatoes, grapes, corn, and peppers. Roses also do well when this natural insect deterrent is planted nearby.
9. Marigolds
The marigold is one of the most well-known insect-repelling plants and with good reason — they have a scent that will keep pests like mosquitoes, nematodes like cabbage worms, and other pests away. Plant marigolds to attract beneficial insects that attack and kill aphids. Ladybugs are especially fond of aphids.
10. Mosquito Plant
Mosquito Plant (citrosa geraniums or Pelargonium citrosum) is an attractive tropical plant with lacy green foliage and beautiful flowers and a member of the geranium family. It is prized for its citrus aroma that comes from the oils in the foliage. They’re certainly beautiful plants to grow in the backyard, but if you’re planting them because of the promise of fewer bugs flying around your yard, you’ll have to crush the leaves to obtain any bug-repelling properties. Unfortunately, the effects are not very long-lasting—only for about 30 minutes.
Remember, these plants are not a foolproof solution and may not completely eliminate mosquitoes and bugs. However, they can certainly help reduce their presence and create a more pleasant outdoor environment. Combine these mosquito repellent plants with other preventive measures, such as removing standing water and using screens on windows, for optimal bug protection.
Be sure to check out Farmers’ Almanac’s Gardening By the Moon calendar to pick the best days to plant!
Amber Kanuckel
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.
- Amber Kanuckel#molongui-disabled-link
- Amber Kanuckel#molongui-disabled-link
- Amber Kanuckel#molongui-disabled-link
- Amber Kanuckel#molongui-disabled-link
I bought a cintranella (spelling) plant for $10 at Rural King and it works really well! I have it sitting on my front porch next to where we all sit and mosquitos don’t bite. I didn’t know the repellant came from a plant. lol.. I thought it came from some sort of chemicals 😳😂🤦🏽♀️
I have a huge bamboo hedge that my neighbor planted it’s grown exponentially. Since it’s gotten so bad I now have flying roaches that are huge. I’ve sprayed cut the bamboo back but nothing is working. Can you suggest a fix?
You have to dig the roots out.
You have to dig ALL the roots out, and they are extensive and like big balls, but, it’s the only way to really get rid of it.
I love bamboo, but it can really take over really fast.
I have have hosta and the ants and spiders area eating them. I’ve tried neem oil, and borax. What else can I use?
Cinnamon helps they hate the smell!!
Spread some Diatomaceous Earth around the plants but not too close to the base.
What plants and designs can I use around my small garden pond
How do I get rid of black flies. There are terrible biters. My kids love playing in the yard. They get bit. Anyone know how to help reduce that?
This won’t work for the whole yard, but put water in a gallon size zip-lock bag. The reflection hurts their eyes. Also you can place some honey or sugar on a plate at the far end of your yard, this will keep them from the patio or perhaps where your kids play area.
I also heard that it helps to place a penny in the bag of water. Haven’t tried it yet but I need to give it a shot. I have flies bad around my pool. 🙁
with the bag sealed? or how would one do that. Thanks.
Hi Rosa,
We explain this idea here — https://www.farmersalmanac.com/fly-repellents-18899
That makes no sense… I “heard” and either did not test myself or did not research is just a lazy post.
You could say that in a lot nicer way, shame on you for being so rude Frank Smith. Yes, hanging a clear bag of water deflects flies. We do it at our patio door, so do shavings of an irish spring bar of soap, they hate the smell.
Amay, thank you for your response to Mr. Smith. Some people lash out just to hear themselves rant. Praying for you Frank.
Hi Ashely W,
We do have an article her online https://www.farmersalmanac.com/black-flies-17347 the water in the bag usually works for houseflies but we’re not certain if works for black flies. They are terrible. Good luck
This site is wrong about petunias. Asiatic beetles come out at night and devour the blossoms!
I have aphids ON my marigolds…so clearly they don’t repel them.
They don’t repel them. Aphids actually prefer them over veggies. That’s why they’re planted together, kinda like a sacrificial flower to save your crops.
I had aphids on my rose bushes and they ate the leaves so I used dawn and water 1 tablespoon to 32 oz of water and spray my leaves once or twice a week and the leaves are shining and hard for them or other bugs to stay on and you have to spray under the leaves where they love to attack the leaves
From behind …
I’ve heard that echinacea repels deer from the garden.
So do dogs
Dogs (I have 2 large dogs) are great at deer chasing, HOWEVER, they will destroy plants in the garden, unlike echinecea plants.
I learned this from my Uncle who was a farmer for 60+ years and it works. When planting tomatoes plant the tomato then a hot pepper plant then another tomato plant then another hot pepper plant and so forth. The tomatoes do not turn hot and the bugs stay away including squirrels who like to taste peppers When they find out how hot it is they will turn and go and will not come back
Companion planting makes sense! Plants don’t typically grow by themselves, they grow with other plants – they all use each others defenses. If they didn’t, they would be extinct. Monoculture is ineffective – plant your veggies with other veggies and flowers to repel pests.
I heard planting marigolds like that will have the same effect — much prettier and they repel mosquitoes as well. Also “plant bulbs that deter squirrels such as daffodils, hyacinths, allium, garlic, lily of the valley, peppermint and geraniums” to repel squirrels & other small mammals. Otherwise I’d put out *water for any wildlife, and other food far away.
I had Marigolds growing in my garden last year. I made the mistakeof letting them come back from year before. They were so very thick. When I would go into the marigolds to harvest vegetables, the mosquitoes were thick within the marigolds and swarm and attack. A the time I thought they would repel?
I have a hibiscus with aphids I tried bug be gone and hand soap mixed with water, but nothing works I am thinking it’s the plant that has no defense mechanism or the aphids have become immune. Should I give up and forget about the plant or can I spend more time making sure every square inch is treated everyday till they are gone?
Bonide All seasons Horticultural oil. This stuff is like my cure all:)
Where do you find it? Is it expensive?
just about anywhere Amazon walmart Lowes