10 Mosquito Repelling Plants

Mosquito repelling plants make a beautiful addition to your landscape design and are a natural deterrent to pesky insects. Including these low-maintenance plants strategically in your landscape design provides color, texture and a natural method of controlling mosquitoes. Not only that, the aroma of rosemary, peppermint and other plants in this category, is as wonderfully appealing to humans as it is repugnant to bugs. It’s a big win/win all the way around.

1. Lavender

This hardy plant is known for the wonderful calming fragrance produced by the essential oils in its leaves.  Lavender thrives in warm weather and is drought tolerant, making it ideal for the Texas climate. It is a beautiful flowering plant that adds color and texture to any landscape.  Once established, it is low maintenance and just needs sun and good drainage.

2. Rosemary

This perennial plant is not only beautiful and fragrant, it is also used as an herb for many culinary dishes.  Not only is rosemary low-maintenance, it thrives in warm weather and does well both in pots and beds. This beautiful plant makes an attractive addition to any landscape and can be pruned into unique shapes and patterns. An added benefit is that it attracts butterflies.

3. Citronella

Citronella, also called mosquito plant, has a very distinct smell that is used in many mosquito repellent products. It’s pungent aroma is very effective at repelling the pesky insects. The living plant works even better that the extract. It is one of the most well-known mosquito repelling plants.

4. Marigolds

Marigold is an ornamental annual plant with beautiful yellow flowers. It is easy to grow and looks great in beds and borders, as well as in pots.  It not only repels mosquitoes but also other insects, making it a favorite of vegetable gardeners.

5. Scented Geraniums

These plants are a landscape favorite for their beautiful flowers but several varieties are available in scents like citrus and peppermint.  Lemon scented geraniums seems to work best at repelling mosquitoes as well as other pests. They are fast-growing and easily maintained in warm, dry climates.

6. Basil

Basil is a popular annual herb with a very strong scent that also works as a natural mosquito repellent. Although lemon basil seems to work best, other varieties are also effective.  There are many types, fragrances, and colors available.

7. Catnip

This herb is part of the mint family that also grows as a weed.  Many people think of it as an invasive plant that can take over your garden. For that reason, it may be better suited to growing in pots or contained areas.  It’s mosquito repellent powers are up to ten times more powerful than Deet, which is a chemical used in mosquito repellents.

8. Lemon Balm

Also called Sweet Balm, this strongly aromatic plant is used in many types of cooking. It’s leaves are often dried and used in products like sachets..

9. Lemongrass

Aromatic lemongrass is a low-maintenance plant that is also an attractive landscape addition. All parts of this perennial plant have a strong lemon smell, making it a good mosquito deterrent.

10. Peppermint

A member of the mint family, peppermint has a fresh aroma that smells wonderful to humans and is used to scent and flavor many products.  Catnip grows in stalks and gets up to three feet tall. It is an attractive plant but has a tendency to invade the space of other plants. It works best in pots and contained spaces.

Incorporating these mosquito repelling plants into your landscape design is a great way to get the most out of your investment. When used in commercial landscaping, customers appreciate the beauty and sweet smell of aromatic plants while enjoying the comfort of a mosquito-free environment.

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