Mosquitoes take the fun out of being outdoors in a hurry. Whether you’re deadheading flowers, planting shrubs, or spending time with your patio garden, no one likes being eaten alive by these blood-sucking pests while you’re trying to enjoy yourself in your garden.
If you’re looking for a natural solution to keep bugs away, you may have heard that you can grow certain plants to repel mosquitoes.
But it’s not quite that simple. Some plants do release chemicals to protect themselves, but simply growing them won't keep mosquitoes out of your yard. (Try these more effective 27 Ways to Prevent Mosquito Bites Once and for All.)
“Plants create compounds that are toxic or taste bad so that they’re not eaten by insects,” says entomologist Joel Coats, PhD, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Iowa State University. “But plants invest too much energy to deploy these compounds all the time.”
That means the plants aren’t releasing the chemicals around the clock like some sort of invisible shield. In a nutshell, “there’s no evidence that placing certain plants around your patio or garden will repel anything,” says Coats, who has researched natural insect repellents for more than two decades.
Some research has found that the oils from certain plants have repellant properties. However, most studies looked at plant extracts, not at the plants themselves.
“These extracts are made by crushing and distilling specific plant parts such as stems, leaves, and bark,” says Elmer Gray, entomologist and researcher at the University of Georgia. “The available research does not support the premise that plants emit these aromatic oils in their natural state without being processed.”
While you may be tempted to rub these essential oils on your skin, that’s not a good idea. They often smell too strong to be tolerated, can cause serious skin irritation, and evaporate quickly so they would need to be reapplied multiple times per hour, says Gray.
What about crushing up the leaves and rubbing them on your skin? “I don’t recommend that because you don’t know what kind of dermatitis can result,” says James Dill, PhD, director of the diagnostic and research lab and pest management specialist at the University of Maine. The compounds evaporate quickly, too, making any potential repellant effect minimal.
That being said, “There’s no harm in growing these plants for their beauty,” says Gray. “But don’t rely on them alone to prevent you from being bitten.”
Ahead, we’ve rounded up plants that have been tested in lab studies (as essential oils) and found to have some short-term mosquito repellency. While you can’t rely on the plants themselves to prevent bites, at the very least, enjoy these plants in your garden for their beauty and culinary uses! Plus, read on for important info on how to actually get rid of mosquitoes.
This grass-like plant is native to Africa and drought-tolerant. The essential oil has been shown in lab studies to have repellent effect and is used as an ingredient in plant-based mosquito repellants.
Type of plant: Perennial in USDA zones 10 and 11 Light: Part shade Water: Water when mostly dry
This Mediterranean herb is evergreen in warm climates, but you can keep it in a pot and bring it indoors in winter in cold climates. Studies have shown that rosemary oil has repellency and larvicidal properties. Type of plant: Annual, perennial in USDA zones 8 and warmer Light: Full sun Water: Allow to dry out between waterings
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Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)
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Lemongrass has large, pretty leaves and grows in a clumping habit. It’s long been used as a traditional medicine in Asia and its essential oils have some repellant properties. It also can add a refreshing lemony flavor to tea, fish, pork or chicken. Type of plant: Perennial, USDA zones 10 to 11 Light: Full sun Water: Allow it to dry out between waterings
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Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
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Catnip is a fast-growing perennial herb with tiny white flowers. It’s attractive to bees and other pollinators. Keep it in a pot to contain its aggressive growth. Studies have found the essential oil has good protection against mosquitoes, and the oil is used in some EPA-approved botanically-based repellants. Type of plant: Perennial, USDA zones 3 to 7 Light: Full sun Water: Allow it to dry out between waterings
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Mint (Mentha spp)
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Mint has a distinctive fresh flavor that adds zing to iced tea, desserts, and cocktails. Keep this perennial in a pot to contain its growth. The essential oils have been shown to repel mosquitoes.
Type of plant: Perennial, USDA zones 3 to 10 Light: Full sun Water: Allow it to dry out between waterings
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Lavender (Lavandula spp)
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Lavender is a lovely and strongly-scented plant that makes a wonderful addition to any landscape. It’s hardy and drought-tolerant once established. The essential oils have shown some repellant properties.
Type of plant: Perennial, USDA zones 5 to 9 Light: Full sun Water: Allow it to dry out between waterings
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Lantana (Lantana camara)
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Lantana has beautiful flowers in an array of bright colors. It’s mostly grown as an annual, but it can be an evergreen perennial shrub in warm climates. Lantana has been tested as a potted plant but showed minimal (less than 30 percent) effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes in a field study.
Type of plant: Annual, perennial in USDA zones 8 to 10 Light: Full sun Water: Allow it to dry out between waterings
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Rose geranium (Pelargonium reniforme)
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Geraniums are old favorites in the garden for their pretty flowers, but the essential oil of this specific variety has been shown to offer repellency in lab tests. No matter what type you grow, however, you’ll enjoy their lovely scent and vibrant blooms.
Type of plant: Annual Light: Full sun Water: Allow it to dry out between waterings
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Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
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Basil is a favorite herb for Mediterranean dishes, and it’s easy to grow from seed. In several lab and field studies, the essential oil from several different types of basil showed repellant effects for mosquitoes. Another study showed it’s toxic to mosquito larvae.
Type of plant: Annual Light: Full sun Water: Keep slightly moist but not soggy
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Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
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Creeping thyme is a low-growing ground cover that is covered in tiny flowers pollinators love in late spring. At least one study showed the essential oil had good effect at repelling mosquitoes.
Type of plant: Perennial, USDA zones 3 to 10 Light: Full sun Water: Allow it to dry out slightly between waterings
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Sage (Salvia spp)
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Sage is a hardy perennial herb that’s popular for all sorts of savory dishes from stews to dressing. It has beautiful flowers in late spring that pollinators adore.
Type of plant: Perennial, USDA zones 4 to 9 Light: Full sun Water: Allow it to dry out slightly between waterings
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Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix)
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This handsome dwarf citrus tree with its pungent foliage can be grown in pots, maxing out at about 5 to 10 feet tall. Grow it for the little limes that often fruit in the first year. Lab studies showed the essential oil had repellency qualities.
Type of plant: Tree, USDA zones 8 to 11 Light: Full sun Water: Water when top few inches of soil feel dry
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Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
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This plant is a delicious, less common addition to your edible garden. Interestingly, one study showed its essential oil was effective in killing mosquito larvae.
Type of plant: Annual, some types perennial in USDA zones 7 to 9 Light: Full sun Water: Water when top inch of soil feels dry
FAQs
Where are Mosquitoes Found?
With 176 species of mosquitoes found in the U.S. (with about 2,700 species worldwide), they’re basically everywhere. You’ll find mosquitoes in every state, in forests, suburban areas, cities and marshes. Some mosquitoes also can fly long distances; for example, salt marsh mosquitoes can fly up to 40 miles to find a blood meal.
How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes
These blood-sucking pests have been around for 400 million years, so they’re not going anywhere any time soon. But there are a few ways to reduce their presence in your back yard:
Get rid of standing water. Mosquitoes lay eggs on the surface of standing water. Eliminate places where they breed, including uncovered rain barrels, pet water bowls, tarps, kiddie pools, and saucers beneath flower pots, says Gray. Rinse birdbaths and refill with fresh water every few days, and maintain gutters so they don’t get clogged.
Use mosquito dunks. For areas where you can’t get rid of water, such as ponds or low-lying areas in your yard, toss in mosquito dunks or granules containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bti). This naturally occurring bacterium is found in soil and affects only the larvae of the mosquito, says Gray. It’s not toxic to birds, reptiles, pets or people. Re-treat every three weeks, or according the label instructions.
Set up fans. “Mosquitoes are weak fliers so aim a fan toward your sitting area when you’re outdoors,” says Dill.
Keep your yard tidy. Mosquitoes like dense vegetation, such as tall grasses, overgrown shrubs and thick cover such as English ivy, says Gray. Eliminate their hiding places, especially near seating areas.
Wear repellant. If you don’t want to wear DEET, consider EPA-approved repellants containing plant-based ingredients such as oil of lemon eucalyptus, 2-undecanone and catnip oil, says Gray. But read the label so you’ll know how often to reapply, and be aware that some of these products repel mosquitoes but not other pests, such as ticks, says Coats.
What Diseases Do Mosquitoes Carry?
It’s not just itchy bites that are the issue: Mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as encephalitis, West Nile, Zika, and dengue fever. Also, for the first time since the 1950s, several cases of locally-transmitted malaria(that is, not contracted from travel outside the U.S..) were recorded in the U.S in 2023, says Coats.
That’s why it’s doubly important to make sure you and your family are protected from bites whenever you’re outdoors by wearing long sleeves, EPA-approved repellants, and cleaning up potential breeding sites around your house.
Joel Coats, PhD, is the Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Iowa State University. His research focus includes insect toxicology, and primarily natural insecticides.
Expert consulted: Joel Coats, PhD, Elmer Gray and James Dill, PhD
