Top 15 Best Plants To Repel Mosquitoes

If you are looking to find which are the best plants to repel mosquitoes, you are in the right place.

Since the warmer days bring a lot more outdoor barbecues and parties, it’s almost impossible not to have some uninvited guests: mosquitos. More than their disturbing sound, these pesky bugs are both annoying and also a major risk factor for your health.

Mosquitos are craving human aroma, which is mostly what really attracts them. For instance, these bugs enjoy the smell of carbon dioxide, which you breath emirates.

Truth be told, the insects are also attracted by the compounds in your sweat, warm bodies, and so on. So there is no wonder why people are dealing with their tiny bites on your skin every summer.

If you are tired of using those chemical sprays on your body, which, truth be told, are not healthy at all, then look for the natural alternatives: plants.

Today’s article is about the most useful plants to repel mosquitoes, a genuinely natural, beautiful-smelling way to keep the flying enemies away.

All the plants I listed below, such as lavender, basil and mint have particular smells and natural oils that humans enjoy.

However, their scent is repulsive for mosquitoes. If you want to find a much more natural way to get rid of the biting insect, take a look at the following repelling plants and learn to choose them wisely.

What Are Mosquito Repelling Plants?

How many times have you enjoyed the scent of basil, lavender, citronella grass, or catnip? All these plants are excellent repellent herbs that are naturally emitting odors, very disturbing for mosquitoes.

These particular odors are the main result of essential oils’ release and sap. However, for some insects, the smell is unbearable.

Since thousands of years ago, people have soon noticed that some insects were trying to avoid the perfumed plants.

That was when they started keeping an eye on which herb was avoided by mosquitoes. The result? A helpful collection of plants to use in repelling flies, mosquitoes, and many other biting insects.

How Do Mosquito Repelling Plants Work?

There is no standard answer to this question, as each plant has its particular way to keep the insects at a distance. But the common repelling combination is the sap and the essential oils, which create offensive scents or irritating smells that have a terrible effect on the eyes and nostrils.

Science has discovered that some smells are even causing a burning sensation, scratching, and itching to the flies. These herbs’ pungent smell is mainly interacting with the biting insects and keeps them away.

However, some of the most popular mosquito repellent plants don’t even repel these insects as you might think. Actually, what they do is mask the CO2 exhaled and cover your bodies’ smell with their strong perfume.

The exact process of these herbs, too so, and how they can manage the “fight” with mosquitoes, is still a mystery, but a beautiful, helpful one.

What Are The Best Plants To Repel Mosquitoes?

Luckily, there are many best plants to repel mosquitoes. From rosemary to mint or lemon balm, choose the ones that suit the area you want to place them in, or the smell you enjoy best:

Before going to the full review section, I want you to take a minute and see the most important highlights of the day.

• Best Overall: Callicarpa Pearl Plant
  “Beautiful look, attractive landscape plant, can be pruned to the desired shape.”
• Best Budget: Lemon Grass Plant
  “Exquisite flavor, rich source of minerals, the zesty lemon smell keeps the mosquitoes away.”
• Best for Hot Weather: Citronella Mosquito Plant
  “Grows very tall, attractive ornamental grass, the powerful smell, to keep away insects.”
• Best for Sea Climate: Rosemary Edible Aromatic Herb Plant
  “Versatile usage, easy to grow and plant woody scent, keeps insects away.”
• Best for Garden: French Marigold Sparky Mix Plants
  “Mixed colors of the blossoms, great companion plants for gardeners, helps to repel insects.”
• Best Lavender: English Lavender Plant
  “Versatile e herb, unique perfume, provides lots of health benefits.”
• Best for Mosquitoes and Flies: Mint Collection Plants
  “4 individual seed packages, you get 4 types of mint, fresh scent.”
• Best Herbs: Lemon Balm Plant
  “Perennial flowering herb, small white flowers, keeps biting insects away.”
• Best for Shade: Catnip Seeds Plant
  “Perfect to grow both indoor and outdoor, sourced and packed from the USA, unique flavor.”
• Best for All Insects: Live Herb Eucalyptus Plant
  “Brings health benefits, relieves stress, and improves memory, both indoor and outdoor.”
• Best Perennial: Lemon Thyme Seeds Plant
  “Fast-growing, impressive look, beautiful, little blooms.”
• Best for Outdoors: Outsidepride Geranium Flower Seed Plant
  “Ideal to grow in balconies, borders, or baskets, it blooms all season, beautiful colored.”
• Best for Indoors: Sweet Genovese Basil Seeds Plant
  “Delicious herbs can grow both indoors and outdoors, strong scent to keep insects away.”
• Best Smell: Pennyroyal Flower Plant
  “Needs only partial sun, perfect for cottage gardens, grows in well-drained soil.”
• Best for Apartments: AeroGarden Bounty Indoor Herb Garden Plant
  “No soil, no mess, in-home garden system, perfect indoor garden.”

Best Plants to Repel Mosquitoes Comparison Chart 2023

Take some time to read the best plants to repel mosquitoes comparison chart before going straight to the full reviews. Based on the information below, jump to your favorite herbs.

Top 15 Best Plants to Repel Mosquitoes Reviews 2023

I am sure you have been waiting for the best plants to repel mosquitoes full reviews since the very first sentences. I promise you will get all the information you need, so keep on reading to find everything about the top plants to repel mosquitoes.

1. Callicarpa Pearl Plant

(Best Overall)

One of the best plants for repelling mosquitoes and other biting insects is Dichotoma. More than its attractive look, which will beautifully frame into your garden’s design, this herb works great in keeping insects away.

Once you plant the 30 seeds in this package, you will enjoy the green bushes and their tiny, fragile pink/light purple blossoms during the summertime.

The best part? Although winter and cold temperatures affect most of the plants, Dichotoma stays beautiful even during winter, providing a vibrant winter color.

The little blossoms attract bees, birds, and butterflies but keep away mosquitoes and other harmful insects.

Key Features

• Beautiful Look
• Attractive Landscape Plant
• Can be pruned to the desired shape

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.3 pounds
Height	4 feet tall
Color	Pink/Light Purple
Brand	MyS

2. Lemon Grass Plant

(Best Budget)

Although very popular for its particular taste in Asian cuisine, this Lemon Grass Plant is also an excellent mosquito repellent. Due to its citral, essential oil, Lemon Grass keeps the biting insects away from your favorite outdoor spaces.

Lemongrass is a tall, tough, resistant growing grass. While many prefer it as a spice for the Asian and European culinary, Lemon Grass is present in many commercial bug sprays, as its scent is so powerful against pesky mosquitoes.

The Lemongrass is sturdy enough and resistant to reach from three to six feet high. Make sure you grow it in full sun. However, it takes little maintenance.

Key Features

• Exquisite flavor
• Rich Source of Minerals
• The zesty lemon smell keeps the mosquitoes away

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.493 pounds
Height	36-60 inches
Color	Blue-green
Brand	Outsidepride

3. Citronella Mosquito Plant

(Best for Hot Weather)

Citronella Grass, also popular as Cymbopogon nardus, is one of the most effective mosquito repellents. This fragrant grass is a natural ingredient for different solutions against mosquitoes and flies.

Due to the powerful, particular scent, the citronella essential oil is used in natural candles, as well as in Tiki torches, due to the repellent properties. Citronella Grass is a perennial herb, meaning it grows back year after year.

If you are looking for a beautiful, large ornamental plant, you should consider planting this Citronella herb.

However, it is quite toxic, especially if you have pets. Make sure you keep Citronella in a planter with fencing all around.

Key Features

• Grows very tall
• Attractive ornamental grass
• The powerful smell, to keep away insects

Plant Specifications

Weight	2 pounds
Height	24 to 36 inches
Color	Green
Brand	Signature Plants

4. Rosemary Edible Aromatic Herb Plant

(Best for Sea Climate)

People know Rosemary as a culinary herb that adds a lovely, woody scent to the meat or other recipes. However, few will grow this plant for repelling mosquitoes, won’t they?

Although Rosemary prefers a sea climate, with hot and dry summers, you can grow it in your garden too, as this herb is also tolerant to other climate conditions.

You can choose to plant Rosemary and grow it as a border plant in your garden or leave it in a special flower pot for ornamental purposes. Whichever option you will choose, this herb will keep the mosquitoes and other biting insects away.

Key Features

• Versatile usage
• Easy to grow and plant
• Woody scent, keeps insects away

Plant Specifications

Weight	3 pounds
Height	3 feet to 5 feet
Color	Green
Brand	Bonnie Plants Store

5. French Marigold Sparky Mix Plants

(Best for Garden)

The Marigold plant is one of the most widespread mosquito repellent plants that smell beautiful and a wonderful ornamental plant. Wherever you need some color in your garden, look for Marigold’s unique blossoms.

Year after year, French Marigold produces lovely flowers, in bold reds, orange and yellow, and it is an easy-to-grow plant and suits lots of environments. Plant the French Marigold in special containers or in borders. You can even have it as a vegetable in the garden.

French Marigold keeps the mosquitoes away more than anything else, and it is also a great plant to repel other pests.

Key Features

• Mixed colors of the blossoms
• Great companion plant for gardeners
• Helps to repel insects

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.634 ounces
Height	12-14”
Color	Bold reds, oranges, and yellow
Brand	Seeds2Go

6. English Lavender Plant

(Best Lavender)

One of the best natural perfumes in nature, English Lavender is that type of plant that will genuinely unwind and make your outdoors look beautiful. Lavender is a blooming plant that produces lots of essential oils that smell divine.

Most people are using Lavender oil for its calming effects, especially for better sleeping or when they are stressed.

Furthermore, Lavender’s strong scent will keep mosquitoes away. When it comes to the growing environment, Lavender is very tolerant, so you can grow it in locations with full sun, as well as ample drainage.

Key Features

• Versatile e herb
• Unique perfume
• Provides lots of health benefits

Plant Specifications

Weight	1 gram
Height	2 to 3 feet
Color	Purple
Brand	Gaea’s Blessing

7. Mint Collection Plants

(Best for Mosquitoes and Flies)

When you say Mint, you might first think of all the fresh summer cocktails. Mint’s fresh scent not only adds a bit of sparkle to your drinks but will also keep all the mosquitoes and insects away.

As such, this herb is a versatile plant to grow and offers excellent mosquito control. Furthermore, Mint is also great for controlling ants and flies as well.

You get 4 types of this plant in this package, like Spearmint, Lemon Mint, PepperMint, and simple Mint. You can use whatever of this herb for making your own mint spray and put it in a special spray, or just grow this herb around the home, in the seating area.

Key Features

• 4 individual seed packages
• You get 4 types of Mint
• Fresh scent

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.81 ounces
Height	2 feet
Color	Green
Brand	Seed Needs Store

8. Lemon Balm Plant

(Best Herbs)

Lemon Balm is part of the Mint family, and it grows beautifully in a rich green, with little white flowers. Its leaves have a gentle lemony scent, so you can add them to your salads for that plus of flavor.

Lemon Balm is particularly great for keeping all the annoying mosquitoes away and also to perfume your favorite outdoor areas. However, this is a fast-growing plant.

This means it might spread aggressively all around in your garden. If you don’t have a fast-spreading plant, you can simply plant the Lemon Balm into a pot on your patio.

This aromatic herb is a highly sought one, so don’t hesitate to crush it and add its leaves in teas and salads.

Key Features

• Perennial flowering herb
• Small white flowers
• Keeps biting insects away

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.423 ounces
Height	12 to 14 inches
Color	Green with white flowers
Brand	Seeds Need Store

9. Catnip Seeds Plant

(Best for Shade)

Catnip might not be quite the perfect plant to grow if you want to keep the cats away from your garden. However, this herb is a great natural option for getting rid of mosquitoes and other disturbing insects.

Catnip is part of the Mint family. Its flavor is fresh and spreads quickly all over. However, Catnip is a plant that spreads quickly, so be sure where you will be planting it.

If you are constantly disturbed by biting insects, Catnip is incredibly useful. Multiple studies have shown that Catnip is even more effective against pests than DEET.

Key Features

• Perfect to grow both indoor and outdoor
• Sourced and packed from the USA
• Unique flavor, to keep mosquitoes away

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.81 ounces
Height	3 to 4 feet
Color	Green
Brand	Raw Earth Colors. Grow. Love

10. Live Herb Eucalyptus Plant

(Best for All Insects)

Eucalyptus is an elegant herb, a very aromatic, healthy plant that can grow both indoors and outdoors. Eucalyptus plants are also a therapeutic herb that can improve breathing more than their beauty, especially if you plant it indoors.

I recommend you to grow eucalyptus in special containers, better if these are self-watering planters.

Place the plants next to your window to enjoy the unique smell and keep away the flying insects. Eucalyptus has a repelling effect on multiple types of insects.

You can either grow Eucalyptus from original seeds or order these Live Herb ones from The Three Company Store. They will arrive ready to trim and to enjoy.

Key Features

• Brings lots of health benefits
• Its smell relieves stress and improves memory
• Perfect for both indoor and outdoor

Plant Specifications

Weight	2 pounds
Height	10-14”
Color	Green
Brand	The Three Company Store

11. Lemon Thyme Seeds Plant

(Best Perennial)

Lemon Thyme is a perennial plant, which means you only need to plant its seeds once a year, and the plant will grow year after year. Lemon thyme has a citrus perfume, so it is best used fresh.

More than a top plant to repel mosquitoes, lemon Thyme is great for culinary purposes too. I recommend you to chop lemon thyme leaves right before using them, then add the small parts at the end of the cooking process.

As such, you can use Lemon Thyme in seafood, stews, marinades, soups, different sauces, and so on.

Key Features

• Fast-growing
• Impressive look
• Beautiful, little blooms

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.010 kg
Height	4 inches
Color	Green with purple flowers
Brand	SVI

12. Outsidepride Geranium Flower Seed Plant

(Best for Outdoors)

Enjoy the most beautiful colors even indoors by easily planting this mix of seeds. The Geranium Plant seeds will produce big flowers in dense, bushy, and rich green leaves.

One of Geranium flowers’ most essential advantages is that they resist the whole season. If you want to enjoy their pleasant fragrance, as well as their colorful flowers, this is the plant for you.

Fortunately for novice gardeners, Geranium plants require little to no maintenance once they are well established.

Once the seeds grow their first roots, the plant will bloom all summer and stay like this for the whole season.

Key Features

• Ideal to grow in balconies, borders, or baskets
• It blooms all season
• Beautiful colored

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.096 ounces
Height	12 to 14 inches
Color	Scarlet, white, violet, and rose
Brand	Outsidepride Store

13. Sweet Genovese Basil Seeds Plant

(Best for Indoors)

Make a fresh Caprese salad and also keep the mosquitoes and insects away? This sounds like a win-win plan. Basil is an amazing ingredient to add to your pizzas, in salads, or to simply keep the unwanted flying guests.

You can plant basil in containers or simply seed it into the garden. Keep in mind that basil needs well watering, as well as a lot of suns. There are multiple types of basil seeds, but this Sweet Genovese one has a strong scent and a great aroma.

Furthermore, basil is one of the easiest herbs to keep alive, as soon as you offer it well drainage. So even if you are a novice gardener, Basil is what you need to have indoors.

Key Features

• Delicious herb
• Can grow both indoors and outdoors
• Strong scent to keep insects away

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.81 ounces
Height	12 to 24 inches
Color	Green
Brand	RDR Seeds Store

14. Pennyroyal Flower Plant

(Best Smell)

If you are looking for the best smelling plant that can also get you rid of the annoying mosquitoes, then Pennyroyal Flower is the one.

This natural mosquito repellent needs full sun, so it loves the light. Also, you need to make sure the soil is well-damped when you are planting this herb.

The fresh smell of Pennyroyal Flower is absolutely tempting, so I recommend you plant it wherever you like to spend your spare-time outdoors. Moreover, you can crush its flowers and wear them in your pockets.

As beautiful as it might look. However, Pennyroyal Flower can be toxic for pregnant women and infants.

Key Features

• Needs only partial sun
• Perfect for cottage gardens
• Grows in well-drained soil

Plant Specifications

Weight	0.16 ounces
Height	0.5 to 1 foot
Color	Green with Lavender bloom
Brand	Outsidepride Store

15. AeroGarden Bounty Indoor Herb Garden Plant

(Best for Apartments)

Who says you cannot enjoy some fresh herbs if you don’t have an outdoor yard? This AeroGarden Bounty machine is the in-home garden you need. Plant your own favorite herbs, from basil to rosemary and mind, and enjoy their freshness every day.

This smart yet attractive device grows plants and herbs without soil and any mess—just water. You can control it using Alexa and play with the multiple indoor herb garden features.

I was so pleased to find this device that grows my favorite plants even when I’m out of town. Due to the Vacation Mode, the herb will continue to grow, which will take care of their growing process.

Key Features

• No soil, no mess
• In-home garden system
• Perfect indoor garden

Plant Specifications

Weight	11.84 pounds
Height	16 x 6 x 8 inches
Color	Bounty-Black
Brand	AeroGarden

Best Plants To Repel Mosquitoes Buying Guide

I will be honest with you. You cannot go over the very first local garden center and find the best plants to repel mosquitoes for you. Sometimes, you need to experiment with these herbs and see which one best suits your needs.

However, there are few things to consider when purchasing the very first seeds:

Climate

Some of the plants to Repel Mosquitoes need a lot of humidity, while some can only grow to maturity if they have full sun. Analyze the garden market and find which of the plants mentioned above will grow best where you live.

Time

How much time can you invest in growing and looking after herbs and plants? For instance, while Mint does not require exceptional care but actually is very aggressive when it spreads all over, Basil needs a lot of water and sun. Check if the plant you want to grow is easy-caring or not.

Safety

Lemongrass or Pennyroyal is not safe for skin, nor for pregnant women or infants, while other plants to repel mosquitoes have significant therapeutic benefits while put on the skin. Make sure to check this information too.

Spots For Herbs To Repel Insects

First of all, what you need to do is to make the outdoor environment less welcoming for mosquito families.

The best example here is to avoid any standing waters, such as flower pots, birdbaths, even small ponds.

Moreover, you should cut back all the high grass or bushes, which are the proper, cool, shady nests for mosquitoes.

For these plants to work correctly, you should make sure you place them in the closest area where you want to get rid of the mosquitoes. Such spots where mosquitoes usually find their way in your lives are the doors, windows, dining areas, barbeques, and lounge chairs in the garden.

Some of the plants I mentioned will work best when you rub their leaves directly on the skin. However, if you have any allergies, this method is not advisable. It is better to ask a dermatologist or a doctor to confirm this theory.

You can plant the perfumed herbs in pots or special planters. By doing this, you will be able to move them around your home whenever you feel it.

On the other hand, some plants grow and develop better once they are planted in the garden since they can repel multiple insects. Therefore, you can forget about the usual insecticide for the outdoor areas.

To get the natural mosquito repellents’ maximum effect, you can crush the plants’ leaves in your hands and release the maximum of the essential oils and perfumes.

FAQs

Still have questions about the best plants to repel mosquitoes? Here are the most frequently asked ones.

Last Thoughts

Since you already have a lot of information about planting and growing the best plants to repel mosquitoes, you can now focus on redecorating your backyard or give a green refresh to your indoors.

As you could see, my top pick for my yard is Callicarpa Pearl Plant. Now, tell me, how do you prefer eliminating biting insects?