[AG-EQ] 12 Plants That Repel Those Pesky Mosquitoes

[dogwood farm]

12 Plants That Repel Those Pesky Mosquitoes
Written by Jamie McIntosh

What is the world's most deadly animal? Step aside, saltwater
crocodiles and great white

sharks—because the mosquito kills more people worldwide than any other
living creature.

Although most gardeners in developed countries don't have to worry
about malaria, other

diseases like Zika virus, West Nile virus, and yellow fever (as well
as the general nuisance

of insect bites) are just a few ways mosquitos can ruin our enjoyment
of the outdoors. If

stinky chemical repellents aren't your bag, consider growing garden
plants that can drive

mosquitoes away naturally. One plant not on the list is the citronella
plant Pelargonium x

citrosum, which was debunked as a mosquito buster by a Florida A&M study.

Merely growing these mosquito-repelling plants isn't a standalone way
to deter pests, but

you can increase the insect-repelling power of the plants by releasing
their essential oils.

You may add some cuttings of these powerful plants to the grill (most
relevant when the

plants are known for their culinary value), or you can roughly chop
plants and spread them

on your lawn and patio. If you're pressed for time before going
outdoors, just add some

stems of effective mosquito-busting plants to areas with foot traffic,
and release some

mosquito-repelling oils with every step you take.

01 of 12  American Beautyberry
The tiny white flowers of Callicarpa americana aren't much to look at,
but the vibrant

magenta berry clusters make this small shrub stand out in the
landscape. Beautyberry plants

are a member of the Lamiaceae family, which includes many mints. The
fragrant oils released

by crushing the leaves of the beautyberry repel mosquitos, and
although not common as an

edible, the leaves and berries of the American beautyberry are safe to eat.

02 of 12  Catnip
The same plants that drive your cat to distraction can simultaneously
protect Felix from

mosquito bites. Join kitty for a romp through the Nepeta plants, or
spread some clippings

around the pool and patio for a bite-free relaxation zone. Try the
'Walker's Low' cultivar,

which tolerates dry soils and blooms from April until September.

03 of 12  Lemongrass
Somehow, the natural oils in Cymbopogon citratus manage to smell like
real lemons, only

better. Lemongrass is a staple in Asian cooking, and its delicate
fragrance lends a citrus

note to some perfumes as well. Lemongrass is a tender plant, and won't
survive the winter

below zone 8, but it grows quickly in container culture. Coarsely chop
the strappy leaves of

this plant and strew them around your deck during your next gathering,
both for mosquito

repelling power and for the pleasing aroma.

04 of 12  Marigold
Marigold plants have a unique odor that can only be described as
pungent. These mosquito-

repelling annuals are easy to grow from seed and make a handsome
addition to the flowering

vegetable garden, where they might even repel other insect pests like
nematodes. The

substance in marigolds that give them their mosquito-repelling power
is pyrethrum, the same

substance used in many organic insecticides.

05 of 12  Mint
Grow this and you can achieve that perfect mint mojito, and then sip
it outdoors without the

buzzkill of mosquitoes. All types of mint plants repel mosquitoes, and
there are more

varieties than you thought: explore the subtle differences between
spearmint and peppermint,

or marvel at just how much the chocolate mint plant smells like a
candy dish. All mints grow

and spread like wildfire, so harvest them with abandon in your pursuit
to banish mosquitoes.

06 of 12  Lavender
Although lavender growers covet the purple flower spikes for their
fragrance, the sweet

soapy perfume of lavender permeates the foliage as well, not just the
flowers. It's a fact

that mosquitoes do not like this smell, and the pleasing nature of
lavender fragrance means

you can rub the plants on your skin as a kind of natural repellent:
finely chop the plants

and mix with sweet almond oil as a skin preparation, or, in a pinch,
just crush the plants

and rub on skin and clothing.

07 of 12  Rosemary
People have used rosemary as natural pest control for years, as
insects shy away from its

piny scent. Rosemary-laden smoke from a grill is particularly
effective at banishing

mosquitoes from an outdoor area, and it will do double-duty in
flavoring your meats as well.

Rosemary does need full sun to prevent needle drop, but it prefers to
dry out between

waterings.

08 of 12  Lantana
Lantana flowers have such a potent effect against mosquitoes, a
scholarly journal published

a report about it: The Journal of the American Mosquito Control
Association (yes, there is

such a journal) shares that "lantana flower extract in coconut oil
provided 94.5 percent

protection from Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti" mosquitoes. In fact,
this oil preparation

protected from mosquitoes for an average of two hours, with no adverse
effects to humans.

What a bonus that lantana flowers are so easy to grow in warm sunny
locales, and attract

butterflies as well.

09 of 12  Fennel
Fennel plants are often left out of the herb garden in favor of more
compact plants, but

fennel plants have multiple uses in addition to their mosquito
repellent properties: the

feathery plants are as ornamental as any tall garden grass, the
chopped leaves are delicious

in salads and soups, and the leaves host swallowtail butterfly
caterpillars in the garden.

Bronze fennel is especially lovely in the back of the border, will
self-seed to produce a

handsome colony for the following season.

10 of 12  Eucalyptus
As a native tree in Australia and the Philippines, the eucalyptus tree
can soar to 60 feet

tall after several years. Because it's a tender plant that won't
survive a hard freeze, the

better alternative for many gardeners is to grow the eucalyptus as a
potted plant. For short

term potting, choose a quick-growing species like E. globulus
bicostata, which will give you

many fragrant leaves to harvest for mosquito repelling. For a plant
that will live for

several years in a pot, choose a slow-growing eucalyptus like E.
vernicosa. Eucalyptus

plants like full sun and rich soil.

11 of 12  Basil
The fast-growing leaves of the basil plant are as repugnant to
mosquitoes as they are a

delicious addition to our pestos and salads. Not all basil types are
created equal when it

comes to repelling mosquitoes, and the extra-spicy Thai basil, with
its narrow foliage and

cinnamon scent, has the best ability to fend off the insects. All
basil plants need full sun

and warm growing temperatures, which make them great companion plants
for tomatoes.

12 of 12  Thyme
Thyme rounds out the list of savory herbs that repel mosquitoes,
making one wonder if a

homemade soup might be the best remedy of all for getting rid of these
nuisance insects.

Plant thyme between stepping stones in the garden, where your steps
will crush some leaves

and release the mosquito-repelling oils.

Susan
dogwoodfarm62 at gmail.com