11 Mosquito-Repellent Plants To Keep Your Garden Bug-Free

Mosquito-repellent plants are a must-have for any outdoor or indoor garden because the humid conditions created in a garden prompt mosquitoes and insects to lay eggs. Mosquitoes can be hazardous to both plants and humans, as they are carriers of many life-threatening diseases.

Therefore, growing insect-repellent plants that can also get rid of mosquitoes is necessary. These plants have a sweet fragrance that repels many bugs and mosquitoes, making them a great alternative to chemicals used to keep these pests away.

You can grow these mosquito-repellent plants anywhere and get rid of various bugs that can harm your garden and your health. So, without further ado, let’s explore some of the top insect-repellent plants and how you can grow them.

How do plants repel mosquitoes?

Plants have a natural fragrance thanks to the moderate amount of essential oils. These essential oils turn into vapors when temperatures are high, resulting in the distribution of a sweet fragrance that wards off many insects and mosquitoes.

This trait of plants has been used for thousands of years by humans to ward off various insects and mosquitoes. By growing or placing a variety of fragrant plants around the home, one can help get rid of dangerous insects. Moreover, these essential oils and extracts are also used in many modern-day chemical-based insecticides.

However, keep in mind that just placing mosquito-repellent plants won’t make your home and garden completely bug-free. But these plants can certainly bring in a change and are always better than relying on chemicals. Moreover, a complete elimination of these insects can harm the ecosystem as they are an essential part of it.

To keep a mosquito-free environment, you need to get rid of any standing water in and around your home, in addition to growing mosquito-repellent plants.

Top Mosquito-Repellent Plants

1. Lavender

These fragrant flowering plants are loved by every gardener because of their aromatic presence and easy care. Lavender is a great mosquito-repellent plant that is also drought-tolerant. These plants thrive in full sun and need well-draining soil.

The essential oils of lavender can also be used as a natural mosquito repellent. Moreover, lavender’s essential oils also nourish the skin and have therapeutic properties.

2. Basil

Basil is a flavourful plant with edible leaves. These mosquito-repellent plants contain various volatile compounds that ward off mosquitoes, such as citronellal, estragole, nerolidol, and more. Moreover, these plants also repel various other pests, such as flea beetles.

Basil thrives in damp conditions and prefers well-draining soil with full sun. You can grow these insect-repellent plants in pots or directly in the garden.

3. Lemongrass

Lemongrass is a low-maintenance, mosquito-repellent plant that looks well in large planters. This plant is used as a natural ingredient for many mosquito repellents and is known for its distinct smell. Popularly grown as annual plants, these plants do well in large planters or can be directly grown in the ground in warmer climates, as they can’t withstand frost.

The lush appearance and pungent smell of these insect-repellent plants can create an attractive display in your garden.

4. Nasturtiums

These mosquito-repellent plants have edible flowers and are great companion plants for tomatoes as they can repel many pests such as aphids, whiteflies, beetles, and more. The airborne chemical released by Nasturtiums repels many pests and mosquitoes in your garden.

Perfect for any vegetable garden, these insect-repellent plants are also easy to grow as they only need full sun, well-draining soil, and regular deadheading to thrive.

5. Venus Fly Trap

This carnivorous plant is the ultimate enemy of any pest and mosquito. Venus flytrap attracts various pests through its distinct smell and captures them in its claw-like leaves that snap shut. Then this plant “eats” the prey by releasing digestive enzymes.

Even though these mosquito-repellent plants are very effective in doing their job, they do need very specific requirements to thrive. If grown outside, the Venus flytrap needs full sun, and for indoor spaces, you’ll need to use artificial grow lights for these plants. Moreover, these water-loving plants like to sit in water, that too distilled or clean rainwater, as tap water can be too harsh for them.

6. Mint

Used as a refreshing element in a variety of dishes and drinks, the strong smell of mint repels many pests and mosquitoes. Mint is an easy-to-grow herbal plant that has many uses in a variety of culinary items, and you can also extract its oil and mix it with apple cider vinegar and any cheap vodka to make a mosquito-repellent spray.

Mint is best grown in pots as it has few care requirements and is a perfect mosquito-repellent plant for homes. However, if grown in the ground, it can spread aggressively and can be tough to remove.

7. Catnip

Catnips belong to the mint family and contains a compound called nepetalactone, which repels many pests and attracts cats, making it pet-friendly. The compound found in these mosquito-repellent plants is said to be more effective than chemicals like DEET.

Also known as catmint, this plant is grown for many commercial purposes and as a weed. It is very easy to grow and care but can be invasive. But if you can control their growth, then these are great insect-repellent plants.

8. Alliums

The tall and dramatic flowering stalks of these mosquito-repellent plants can create an attractive sight in your garden in addition to repelling bugs like slugs, aphids, cabbage worms, etc. Alliums are great companion plants for many edible plants such as potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, etc.

Moreover, these plants are also edible and easy to grow as they require full sun and well-draining soil to thrive.

9. Floss Flowers

These annual flowers are very attractive and feature vibrant, white, blue, and pink blooms from summer to fall. Floss flowers produce a chemical compound that is used in various commercial mosquito repellents. These flowers can easily add a pop of color to your garden while also getting rid of various bugs.

Moreover, these mosquito-repellent plants are low-maintenance and only need ample sunlight with well-draining soil to thrive.

10. Pitcher Plants

Another carnivorous mosquito-repellent plants, the pitch plant, have an exotic appearance and helps get rid of most pests by trapping and ingesting them. Pitcher plants have specialized leaves, “pitchers” that trap various pests by luring them with their sugary nectar, vibrant color, and fragrance. Once inside the pitcher, the pests find themselves on a slippery surface with downward-facing hairs. They then drown in a pool of water and die either from drowning or exhaustion.

These insect-repelling plants grow well in sunny and moist conditions. However, growing them in pots that are placed over saucers of water is much easier.

11. Lemon Thyme

One of the hardiest herbal plants, Thyme, is also among some of the easiest to grow plants. When grown densely, these fast-growing plants can repel mosquitoes easily with their strong scent. These plants are proven to be more effective when their leaves and stems are crushed to release a compound called citronellal.

You can also burn some twigs to keep mosquitoes away. Thyme grows easily in most conditions as it is highly adaptable, but these mosquito-repellent plants are sensitive to colder temperatures.

Conclusion

Mosquito-repellent plants are very easy to grow and can keep many pests at bay in addition to improving the aesthetics of your indoor or outdoor garden. These plants are a great alternative to many chemicals that we use to keep mosquitoes and bugs away. Therefore, you must grow some of these plants in your garden. Moreover, to learn about how you can care for these plants extensively, download the Plantora App. This app provides complete care for over 10K+ plants and also helps you diagnose various plant diseases.