8 Plants that Repel Mosquitoes During the Summer

Summer is the best time to be outdoors for most people, but it comes at the risk of mosquitoes, biting flies, and other pests. I like to minimize my property’s mosquito risks by growing plants whose scents repel mosquitoes and other biting pests. Here are eight of my favorites.

1. Lavender

Lavender smells great, is easy to grow, and repels mosquitoes. Biting bugs hate the scent of lavender even more than I like it, which makes me love lavender. It also covers up the smell of lactic acid and carbon dioxide, which are natural attractants for mosquitoes. Lavender also looks great in a flower garden.

2. Citronella

Many mosquito-repelling products contain citronella oil, which I like to grow around my property. I plant citronella grass near walkways and in pots that I place on my patio and deck. Any commonly used outdoor area is a good place to grow citronella.

3. Basil

Basil is another aromatic plant that mosquitoes detest. It also has the added benefit of being a terrific cooking spice. Those are two great reasons to plant basil in the ground and in pots to keep the biting bugs at bay and make my meals more mouthwatering.

4. Rosemary

Rosemary is another great cooking herb that you can grow around your property. Its woody scent repels mosquitoes, and it grows equally well in the ground and in containers. I also can mix rosemary clippings with water to create a spray from the natural oils that I can use like a canned mosquito repellent.

5. Mint

Mint is yet another edible plant that repels mosquitoes with its distinctive scent. I can plant it like I do other plants that naturally repel mosquitoes and keep them away from the commonly used outside areas around my property. I also have mint available for garnishes, teas, mint juleps, and mojitos.  

6. Catnip

I have a couple of great cats that I like to let roam outside. They love fresh catnip and seek it out. Mosquitoes don’t, though. Mosquitoes hate the sweet and pungent odor of fresh catnip because it contains nepetalactone, which is one of the most effective mosquito repellents. Growing some catnip around my yard will help keep the mosquitoes away, while enabling my cats to enjoy their outdoor roaming even more.

7. Marigolds

Marigolds are beautiful flowers that look great in any garden. They also contain pyrethrum, which repels a variety of insects and flying things that bite. Mosquitoes hate it, but ladybugs and other beneficial insects love it. Marigolds might be the most beautiful of nature’s natural mosquito repellents.

8. Allium

Alliums are another great-looking plant that offers the dual benefit of repelling mosquitoes. It’s related to the garlic and onion families of plants and has a strong odor to match them. Many common garden pests also detest the scent of growing alliums, so I ensure my property has at least a couple that I grow near my home.

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