Mosquito Repellent Plants – Natural Ways to Keep Bugs Away
If you’re tired of dealing with pesky mosquitoes and other annoying bugs, why not turn to nature for a solution? There are several plants you can add to your garden or patio that act as natural bug and mosquito repellents. Not only will these plants help keep bugs away, but they also add beauty and fragrance to your outdoor space. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best mosquito repellent plants.
1. Lavender
Lavender is not only a beautiful and aromatic plant, but it also acts as a natural bug repellent. The strong scent of lavender is disliked by many insects, including mosquitoes. Plant lavender in pots or in your garden to enjoy its fragrance and keep bugs away. Bonus: lavender attracts bees and butterflies, making it a great addition to any pollinator garden.
2. Basil
While we all love the smell of basil, mosquitoes, moths, and flies are not fans. Use basil to repel flies and moths in your garden, and crush leaves and rub on your skin while your working in the garden as a mosquito repellent!
3. Thyme
This plant comes in many varieties, and it makes a wonderful ground cover for dry, rocky areas. Thyme certainly earns its reputation as a mosquito repellent plant.
4. Mint
Mint is another natural bug repellent, but one that you should use with care because it spreads aggressively and may take over a planting. Plant it in pots and place it near doorways.
5. Lemongrass
This beautiful grassy plant is packed with citronella, which is one of the best-known alternatives to synthetic repellents like DEET. Crush the leaves and rub on the skin (test a small area first).
6. Alliums
This member of the onion family is known for tall spikes that produce gigantic balls of purple flowers (although there are also smaller varieties). Alliums are one of the best defenses against a variety of pests, including cabbage worms, aphids, carrot flies, and slugs, as they dislike the smell.
7. Chrysanthemums
Use these flowers as a border planting around your home to keep out bedbugs, fleas, lice, roaches, ants, and more. These plants contain naturally-occurring pyrethrin, an insecticide. They repel ticks, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and other garden pests. Try making this DIY pest spray!
8. Petunias
Known for their many colors and a profusion of flowers, petunias help repel leafhoppers, squash bugs, tomato hornworms, and aphids—simply plant near brassicas (cruciferous veggies), beans, basil, tomatoes, grapes, corn, and peppers. Roses also do well when this natural insect deterrent is planted nearby.
9. Marigolds
The marigold is one of the most well-known insect-repelling plants and with good reason — they have a scent that will keep pests like mosquitoes, nematodes like cabbage worms, and other pests away. Plant marigolds to attract beneficial insects that attack and kill aphids. Ladybugs are especially fond of aphids.
10. Mosquito Plant
Mosquito Plant (citrosa geraniums or Pelargonium citrosum) is an attractive tropical plant with lacy green foliage and beautiful flowers and a member of the geranium family. It is prized for its citrus aroma that comes from the oils in the foliage. They’re certainly beautiful plants to grow in the backyard, but if you’re planting them because of the promise of fewer bugs flying around your yard, you’ll have to crush the leaves to obtain any bug-repelling properties. Unfortunately, the effects are not very long-lasting—only for about 30 minutes.
Remember, these plants are not a foolproof solution and may not completely eliminate mosquitoes and bugs. However, they can certainly help reduce their presence and create a more pleasant outdoor environment. Combine these mosquito repellent plants with other preventive measures, such as removing standing water and using screens on windows, for optimal bug protection.
Be sure to check out Farmers’ Almanac’s Gardening By the Moon calendar to pick the best days to plant!
Amber Kanuckel
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.
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I bought a cintranella (spelling) plant for $10 at Rural King and it works really well! I have it sitting on my front porch next to where we all sit and mosquitos don’t bite. I didn’t know the repellant came from a plant. lol.. I thought it came from some sort of chemicals 😳😂🤦🏽♀️
I have a huge bamboo hedge that my neighbor planted it’s grown exponentially. Since it’s gotten so bad I now have flying roaches that are huge. I’ve sprayed cut the bamboo back but nothing is working. Can you suggest a fix?
You have to dig the roots out.
You have to dig ALL the roots out, and they are extensive and like big balls, but, it’s the only way to really get rid of it.
I love bamboo, but it can really take over really fast.
I have have hosta and the ants and spiders area eating them. I’ve tried neem oil, and borax. What else can I use?
Cinnamon helps they hate the smell!!
Spread some Diatomaceous Earth around the plants but not too close to the base.
What plants and designs can I use around my small garden pond
How do I get rid of black flies. There are terrible biters. My kids love playing in the yard. They get bit. Anyone know how to help reduce that?
This won’t work for the whole yard, but put water in a gallon size zip-lock bag. The reflection hurts their eyes. Also you can place some honey or sugar on a plate at the far end of your yard, this will keep them from the patio or perhaps where your kids play area.
I also heard that it helps to place a penny in the bag of water. Haven’t tried it yet but I need to give it a shot. I have flies bad around my pool. 🙁
with the bag sealed? or how would one do that. Thanks.
Hi Rosa,
We explain this idea here — https://www.farmersalmanac.com/fly-repellents-18899
That makes no sense… I “heard” and either did not test myself or did not research is just a lazy post.
You could say that in a lot nicer way, shame on you for being so rude Frank Smith. Yes, hanging a clear bag of water deflects flies. We do it at our patio door, so do shavings of an irish spring bar of soap, they hate the smell.
Amay, thank you for your response to Mr. Smith. Some people lash out just to hear themselves rant. Praying for you Frank.
Hi Ashely W,
We do have an article her online https://www.farmersalmanac.com/black-flies-17347 the water in the bag usually works for houseflies but we’re not certain if works for black flies. They are terrible. Good luck
This site is wrong about petunias. Asiatic beetles come out at night and devour the blossoms!
I have aphids ON my marigolds…so clearly they don’t repel them.
They don’t repel them. Aphids actually prefer them over veggies. That’s why they’re planted together, kinda like a sacrificial flower to save your crops.
I had aphids on my rose bushes and they ate the leaves so I used dawn and water 1 tablespoon to 32 oz of water and spray my leaves once or twice a week and the leaves are shining and hard for them or other bugs to stay on and you have to spray under the leaves where they love to attack the leaves
From behind …
I’ve heard that echinacea repels deer from the garden.
So do dogs
Dogs (I have 2 large dogs) are great at deer chasing, HOWEVER, they will destroy plants in the garden, unlike echinecea plants.
I learned this from my Uncle who was a farmer for 60+ years and it works. When planting tomatoes plant the tomato then a hot pepper plant then another tomato plant then another hot pepper plant and so forth. The tomatoes do not turn hot and the bugs stay away including squirrels who like to taste peppers When they find out how hot it is they will turn and go and will not come back
Companion planting makes sense! Plants don’t typically grow by themselves, they grow with other plants – they all use each others defenses. If they didn’t, they would be extinct. Monoculture is ineffective – plant your veggies with other veggies and flowers to repel pests.
I heard planting marigolds like that will have the same effect — much prettier and they repel mosquitoes as well. Also “plant bulbs that deter squirrels such as daffodils, hyacinths, allium, garlic, lily of the valley, peppermint and geraniums” to repel squirrels & other small mammals. Otherwise I’d put out *water for any wildlife, and other food far away.
I had Marigolds growing in my garden last year. I made the mistakeof letting them come back from year before. They were so very thick. When I would go into the marigolds to harvest vegetables, the mosquitoes were thick within the marigolds and swarm and attack. A the time I thought they would repel?
I have a hibiscus with aphids I tried bug be gone and hand soap mixed with water, but nothing works I am thinking it’s the plant that has no defense mechanism or the aphids have become immune. Should I give up and forget about the plant or can I spend more time making sure every square inch is treated everyday till they are gone?
Bonide All seasons Horticultural oil. This stuff is like my cure all:)
Where do you find it? Is it expensive?
just about anywhere Amazon walmart Lowes
It has been my experience that marigolds keep squirrels away. Where I live now, my neighbor has a planter outside. There’s a rabbit that keeps digging back where the dahlias and the phlox are. At the other end of the planter she has planted marigolds and dahlias. There’s lots of room there for digging, but that end of the planter hasn’t been bothered. They seem to keep the insects away, too.
On the matter of ANTS! My Dad used instant grits forever. To this day I still use it. Just remember do not use if it’s going to rain or when watering as it will expand and loose it’s effectiveness. I saw where someone used cornmeal and that should work the same. But, I will also try the cinnamon.
Or Red Pepper flakes!
Need help with stink bugs on tomatoes. Used marigolds and mint now.
Greetings! I’m also from Ohio (NW) and was interested in seeing if there any plants I didn’t know about (as far as natural pesticides), and saw a few that would neutralize insects on tomato plants I didn’t know about. THANKS!!!
Something is eating my ripe strawberries. Some kind of bug because most are eaten from the underside. The plants themselves are fine. I have marigolds planted but not with the strawberries. Maybe should have planted them closer?
Borage was used when first coming to the Americas.
You probably have slugs eating the strawberries, so take crushed eggshells and diatomaceous earth and spread on the ground around the strawberries. That should do it.
Agreed – probably slugs. DM earth will take care of them, just make sure to wash the strawberries thouroughly.
Plant mint near your strawberrys, they are there companion plant, to help ward of pests x
Thank you for letting me know how to get rid of earwigs I have them bad on my patio out front . I’m going to give that a try thanks again .
How do you get rid of earwigs
I don’t have problems with any critters, because I have raised garden beds, so I can ride right up to it and pick my lovely garden. But I do have marigolds around my garden and have sagebrushes around. Don’t have to use any chemicals at all. My garden is totally organic. Hope this might spark someone to raise their garden, if for no other reason it is less back breaking to have it that way. Good luck!
Can you please post a pic of your raised garden?
Hi my husband build one for almost no money… he took 4 post 2×2 …15 feet apart in length then attached two long 4 x 4 x 16 on each post
Then we took a ten foot pallet and we put on top and another 4 foot at the other end not fancy but help me from killing my back ..
Sorry tried to send pictures won’t work
For earwigs (also deters other insects): I make a solution of cedar oil, water and a dash of dishsoap.
I spray all the window sashes and possible entryways (especially around ac units) with the solution.
I probably use a 1 tsp – 1 tbsp / quart of water.
You need ladybugs and lacewings. You can encourage ladybugs to come by purchasing ladybug food, and possibly even ladybugs themselves. Ladybugs do not hurt plants, but eat aphids.
Where can ladybugs/lacewings be obtained? Do they die in the winter or last through?
Could you please provide a list on deer adverse plants? They love whatever I plant.
Springhill Nursery provides a list of Deer and rabbit resistant plants on their website. You don’t have to purchase them but you can get a good list of what plants deer and rabbits wont eat. https://www.springhillnursery.com/category/deer_resistant_plants
Melissa and Rose Gingery, Farmers’ Almanac also has a list of deer-resistant plants. Take a look here.
I planted all types of plants that were rabbit resistant. They ate everything we had. This year we have fences on everything. My husband caught the rabbits/ and rehomed them. He caught about 18 to 20 rabbits over a period.plus about 4 jackrabbits
You can also eat them – organic protein.
How about earwigs? I’m having an awful time with them this year.
Robert: I’ve had stinkbugs in the tomatoes before, too. And Japanese beetles, argh! There is a bunch of stuff that will repel both, but since I don’t want to crowd out the tomatoes with big, bushy herbs, I usually just plant lots of garlic (about a foot apart for each clove) and a few marigolds around them. Seems to work for me!
Chrysanthemums should repel ants, and chives will keep rabbits out as one poster mentioned, and they’ll also chase off Japanese beetles.
To the poster asking about spiders, that’s a tough one. There aren’t a lot of plants that will repel them. I’d say to get rid of them, you’d want to get rid of the bugs that they’re eating. At my house, they can get bad on our breezeway — like you said, all over everything. My solution is to keep lights off at night (keeps away moths and such) and to use plants that repel flies, mosquitoes and whatever else that is commonly buzzing around.
Spiders are insect carnivores and beneficial. Humans think they are scary ( and ya, they are freaky looking) but they EAT many of the pests posted here.
We can turn a spotlight on our backyard at night and see sparkling green all over the area. We walked up on them and it is wolf spiders. I wanted to spray and my son asked do you have any scorpions and usually we do around here But now we don’t. He said don’t spray they eat the scorpions. So we have a wolf spider haven in our backyard!!! We live on 65 acres…. So they have a lot of area to cover. ?
How do I get rid of spiders. They are all over my screened in patio. I have tried numerous sprays to no avail. There are single strand nests as well as cobwebs.
They are on the screen, furniture, plants etc.
Do you have any suggestions to get rid of them so we can enjoy our patio.
Thank you
Lorayne
I’ve heard that spiders do not like peppermint oil or vinegar. Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 1/2 cups water, and about 20 drops of peppermint oil in a spray bottle and spray around windows and doors. I haven’t tried this myself but I’ve heard it works.
Ya again, spiders are beneficial. Spiders do not “bite” as most have fangs too small to even pierce human skin. Just use a broom or a stick if you don’t like their webs – but they are reducing the biting flys and mosquitoes on your patio.
We have lots and lots of ants (maybe harvester ants?) in our garden, do you have any suggestions as to how we can get rid of them?
No reason to hate on ants. They are a huge part of the general biomass of the planet! Unless you have leaf cutters chopping down your tomatoes, leave them alone.
Black ants show up here from spring to fall, managing to crawl through the window & share my bed, and they bite. I use lavender scented talcum powder to keep them away or sometimes spray lavender or lemon essential oil mixed with water on my bedding. I want ants to leave me alone.
The stink bugs are ravaging my tomatoes. I do not want to use pesticides. I want to stay organic. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Robert
Chives will keep rabbits out of your flower gardens. Plant small clumps throughout your flowers, and rabbits won’t eat them (the flowers).
Basil, peppers are being ravaged this year. Very little not being eaten. Zinnia flowers shoots gone. Nasturtium seeds and cukes not showing. Whew. What a year! Heirloom Tom’s flawless. Go figure. Now I appreciate a good winter! I’ve never had problems with bugs I couldn’t manage with good amended soil. Can’t even find soil amending this yr!
Ants don’t like dry tea–so I’ve heard. I have only tried it once, but the ants did not come back. Save used tea bags and dry them. Then sprinkle dry tea in a shallow container and place in the area where needed. Simple, but certainly worth a try.
I normally give my tea leaves to my worms, but I will try this!
what about a pet-friendly (cats/dogs) repellant for ants. I’ve tried Cream of Tartar, I’ve tried baby powder, I’ve tried Bay leaves, I’ve tried dish soap and they keep coming. Doesn’t help with all this rain we have been having since May….
You could try nematodes
For ants a pet and child friendly repellent is cornmeal. Sprinkle cornmeal in the areas you have ants around your house. They stay away.N of sure how it works but it does.
Sprinkle cheap cinnamon all over the areas that are troubled by ants. The cent of it interferes with the ant’s ability to communicate, and they will leave the area. Works on wood piles ect…. Might be able to use cinnamon oil to spray an area, but I’ve never used that method myself. To kill them mix sugar and 20 mule team borax at a ratio of not more than 30/70. Mix this in water to combine them and boil the mix to reduce it to just shy of a slury. Then pour the mix into an aluminum pie pan and let stand in the sun until it form a hard cake. Break up into small pieces and place were ants and roaches ect. will be able to find it. They will take it to the nest and feed to the Queen and each other. Please place so that bees or anything bennifical will not take it. Baby food jars with holes poked in the lid will allow ants access and deny it to other creatures.
What about scorpions ???
You need chickens 😉 lol
Seriously though, I wish I knew otherwise. We have only seen a handful, thankfully, thanks to our birds. Be sure you are keeping wood away from your house. They love hanging out under wood.
Lavender. Arrickneds hate lavender. Oil of lavender on a duster used to remove spider webs from ceiling corners and walls will cause the nastys to flee.
Arachnids are beneficial, they are part of the natural cycle of predator and prey. Arachnids tend to be predators and EAT insects you’d rather not deal with. Spiders don’t typically bite and most “spider bites” are just cutaneous (skin) abscesses caused by bacteria.
As I posted above we have a back yard full of wolf spiders. Our scorpions have calmed down in the house. We have seen one small on in a year. Now. Knocking on wood!!! They use to love to hide in my shoes . I have learned to dump my shoe upside down before I put them on, now!
I have some of these herbs in my garden but have never really noticed the lack of certain bugs. Will surely pay attention now.
Southernwood might be something else to look at.
My mother and grandmother always used zinnias to keep away rabbits from their gardens. I have also been successful with zinnias in my gardens over the years. However, I do research to find other ways of doing things. Marigolds have been useful. I also use herbs in my gardens every year for many different things. Nothing is a be-all to end-all. Find what works best for you. Research, and try new things.
I haven’t researched Zinnias yet, but Marigolds are great! I plant them throughout my gardens and they work well to decrease insect predation on my veggies.
I have heard for years that marigolds keep rabbits out of a garden. So a year ago I planted a 4×4 plot solid with marigolds. They came up dense and beautiful. I got busy and did not transplant them as planned. In the fall I went to collect the seed heads and discovered that a rabbit had a nest right in the middle of the marigold patch. So much for that advice.
Lol that is too funny.
I have zinnias, marigolds, and chives randomly around my garden, and the wild rabbits still feasted on my bellpeppers. There seems to be a whole lot more rabbits this year than last. Possibly because of the rain?
I planted marigolds all around the perimeter of my garden to stop the bunnies from eating my vegetable plants. They ate the marigolds!
Dogs or cats. Also, rabbits are organic meat. Tularemia is a very rare infection associate with rabbits – not really an issue, but check with your health department. Just eat them.
Thanks for this new information. I have marigold in my garden. Hope it works.