Mosquitoes Repelling Plants

Whole plants and extracts from plants have been used to repel mosquitoes. The natural way to control mosquitoes at home is by growing mosquitoes repelling plants. Not only the mosquitoes repelling plants will keep annoying insects at a minimum, they will also add a wonderful scent and green look to your garden or patio.

Here are some plants that are found effective to keep mosquitoes at a bay:

Citronella (Cymbopogan Nardus)
Citronella is known for its distinctive aroma. This smell will keep the mosquitoes away. Citronella can be grown directly in the ground in tropical climate. For aesthetic purpose, it should be planted as the background, behind small decorative flowers.

Lemongrass (Cymbopogan Citratus)
Lemongrass is often used as seasoning in Asian dishes, but lemongrass can be used to repel mosquitoes because it contains geraniol and citronellol.

Fragrant Roots (Vetiveria Zizanioides)
Fragrant roots or Vetiver grass is disliked by mosquitoes because of its smell. The etheric oil produced by this vetiver grass can also be used as fragrance to repel moths.

Catnip or catmint (Nepeta Cataria)
In a study at Iowa State University, catnip was found to be ten times more effective than DEET, the chemical used in most insect repellents.

Basil (Ocimum)
Basil is not only used as seasoning, but it can keep mosquitoes and flies away. For best control of mosquitoes, choose basil with the strongest smell.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Rosemary is used as seasoning, but this plant can be used as mosquitoes repelling plant. Rosemary plants grow best in a warm to hot, fairly dry climate.

Zodia (Evodia Suaveolens)
This zodia plant is originally from Papua and contains evodiame and rutaecarpine, which the scents are disliked by mosquitoes.

Lavender
Lavender is a wonderful plant to repel mosquitoes. The scent released from lavender is not favorable to mosquitoes. For best control of mosquitoes, keep the lavender plant pots around the seating areas.

Citrosa Mosquito
Citrosa mosquito plants release a strong lemon scent, this strong aroma from citrosa plants will keep the mosquitoes away.

Oil extracts from Basil (Ocimum) species are used against Afro-tropical mosquitoes. In Asia, extracts from Eucalyptus and Lemon Grass plants are used as repellents against mosquitoes. Essential oil extracted from Five-leaved chaste tree (Vitex Negundo) and West Indian Lantana (Lantana Camara) flowers have shown repellence activities against Aedas Aegypti.