Top 5 Mosquito Repellent Plants: Expert Guide

Does the whine of a mosquito ruin your perfect summer evening? You swat, you spray, you hide inside, but those tiny pests always seem to find a way. Many people turn to chemical sprays to keep mosquitoes away. However, these sprays often smell strong and might not be the best choice for kids or pets. Finding a natural, pleasant-smelling defense can feel like a real challenge.

Luckily, nature offers beautiful solutions right in your garden! Certain plants naturally release scents that mosquitoes hate. Learning which plants work best lets you create a natural barrier around your patio or balcony. This guide cuts through the confusion. We will show you the top, easy-to-grow plants that actually repel mosquitoes.

Keep reading to discover the secret garden weapons that will let you enjoy the outdoors again, pest-free and chemical-free. Get ready to transform your yard into a mosquito-free zone with these amazing, fragrant plants!

Top Plants For Mosquito Repellent Recommendations

Bestseller No. 1

1000 Pyrethrum Seeds - Natural Mosquito Repellent Plants, Multi-Color Blooming Potted Flowers for Gardens, Cold-Hardy & Low-Maintenance

Contains 1000 colorful pyrethrum seeds with multi-color blooms, combining ornamental and practical values;
Significant natural insect repellent effect, repelling mosquitoes and protecting gardening ecological environment;
Strong cold hardiness and easy to manage, wide growth adaptability, growing normally without special care;
Suitable for garden and balcony potted planting, dense and full after forming with good coverage;
High germination rate and fast growth, long flowering period and frequent blooming, a preferred practical ornamental flower.

Bestseller No. 2

Bonnie Plants Citronella, Live Plant, 2.32 qt. 2-Pack

Citronella grows beautifully in pots, making it a wonderful plant for decks and patios
Features strongly lemon-scented leaves
Grows in part shade
A vigorous grower and drought tolerant
Plant 18 to 24 inches apart

SaleBestseller No. 3

Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent, Mosquito Repellent, Pump Spray, 4 Ounce, (Pack of 2)

MADE WITH OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS: This DEET-free insect repellent provides you with protection during adventures in the backyard and on the go.
REPELS MOSQUITOES FOR UP TO 6 HOURS: This repellent keeps you and your family protected for hours, so the fun doesn't have to end.
REFRESHING SCENT: This DEET-free personal repellent leaves you with a cool, refreshing scent so you don't have to put up with the usual bug spray smell.
REPELS: Create a barrier against mosquitoes, including those that may transmit the Zika, West Nile, Dengue and Chikungunya viruses.
NOT GREASY OR STICKY: Formulated with oil of lemon eucalyptus to provide protection without leaving your skin feeling sticky or greasy.

Bestseller No. 4

3 Citronella Plants, Mosquito Plants, 4” Nursery Pots, Live Plant

All 3 of these Citronella Planta are fully rooted and thriving inside premium 4" nursery pots. With its rich green leaves, occasional pink blossoms, and subtle lemony aroma it is often referred to as the mosquito plant.
Citronella can reach a height of four feet and require minimal care.
All 3 of these plants are ready to be potted up or put into the ground.
We use premium potting soil and durble nursery pots.
We individually wrap each plant in its own protective casing to ensure it arrives to you healthy and strong.

Bestseller No. 5

Outsidepride Lemon Grass Seeds for Planting - 1000 Perennial Seeds, Mosquito Repellent, Deer Proof, Citronella Grass for Culinary and Ornamental Use, Blue-Green Foliage, Lemon Grass Live Plant

CULINARY AND ORNAMENTAL USE: Our lemongrass seeds grow into aromatic plants, perfect for enhancing soups, curries, and sauces with a distinct lemon flavor. Known as citronella grass, this versatile herb deters mosquitoes and doubles as an ornamental plant, adding beauty to gardens, patios, or containers with its lush blue-green foliage.
IMPRESSIVE GROWTH AND ADAPTABILITY: Growing up to 36–60 inches tall and 24–36 inches wide, our lemon grass thrives in USDA Zones 8–10, making it suitable for warm climates. Its clumping growth habit and arching blue-green leaves provide visual interest, whether planted in gardens, borders, or as live outdoor plants in containers.
EASY PLANTING AND CARE: Our heirloom seeds are simple to plant—sow 2–3 seeds per spot in well-drained soil, lightly cover with peat moss, and keep moist until germination occurs in 7–21 days. Space plants 36–48 inches apart for healthy growth and proper airflow. Perfect for gardeners of all skill levels, lemon grass offers low-maintenance care with rewarding results.
MOSQUITO DETERRENT AND DEER PROOF: Our citronella plant seeds grow into strongly aromatic plants that effectively discourage mosquitoes, making them great for patios, outdoor seating areas, and gardens. Their distinct scent also keeps deer at bay, helping to protect your garden without the need for artificial solutions.
MULTI-PURPOSE BENEFITS FOR EVERY GARDEN: Whether you’re planting lemongrass seeds for culinary use, mosquito control, or ornamental purposes, our seeds provide a practical and versatile solution. From enhancing meals with fresh herbs to keeping invasive insects away, lemon grass is a valuable addition to gardens, patios, or survival gardens, offering both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

SaleBestseller No. 6

OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent, Bug Spray & Mosquito Repellent, 4 Oz

One 4 oz bottle of OFF! Botanicals Insect Repellent protects against black flies, gnats, and no-see-ums. Repels mosquitoes that may carry the West Nile virus
Outdoor mosquito spray is formulated with a botanically inspired active ingredient and contains no added dyes, making it ideal for camping, hiking, running and your favorite outdoor activities
OFF! bug spray offers effective protection from mosquitoes
OFF! mosquito repellent comes in a convenient bottle with a spray pump for easy application before enjoying the outdoors
Convenient bottle is perfect to pack in a backpack for bug repellent on the go

SaleBestseller No. 7

BugBai® Mosquito Repellent Outdoor Patio 120 PCS, Citronella Oil Mosquito Incense Sticks Indoor Home Pet Family Safe, Natural Plant-Based Bug Insect Barrier for Yard Garden Lawn Camping Fishing

PEST-FREE SOLUTION: As carriers of harmful bacteria, mosquitoes have been posing a potential threat to our daily health. BugBai mosquito repellent incense sticks can release a fresh herbal smell that disrupts the sensory system of mosquitoes and makes them feel offensive. Thus making it possible to enjoy your sleepy night and outdoor activities freely without any disturbance of those annoying mosquitoes.
NATURAL INCENSE STICKS: The main active ingredients of our natural mosquito repellent incense is plant-based essential oils like Rosemary, Lemongrass and Citronella. This DEET-free citronella incense stick without chemicals is non-toxic and friendly to pets, human and plants when used as directed. These bug repellent outdoor will build up a mosquito barrier so as to protect you and your family from mosquito bites.
HOW TO USE: Every Box contains 120 pieces of mosquito incense sticks. Take one out and ignite the tip of the mosquito incense stick until it flames. Let it burn for 10-20 sec and extinguish the flame away. Then place it in the holder or in a pot filled with sand or dirt. Try to keep the mosquito repellent as close to the floor as possible. For optimal mosquito protection results, place 4-5 pieces of incense sticks to create a perimeter around your patio or any other outdoor areas.
LASTING & EFFECTIVE: As mosquitoes are extremely sensitive to smells, this mosquito repellent outdoor patio can deliver a strong smell, which is fresh to people but highly irritating to mosquitoes. The natural ingredients will be activated and volatilized into the air to create a mosquito-free environment after the mosquito incense is ignited. Each mosquito incense sticks can burn for 60 min approximately (wind speed and humidity may impact the burning time)
WIDE APPLICATION RANGE: Despite of giving your indoor area a full range of protection such as kitchen, bedroom, living room, dining room, basement and so on. BugBai insect repellent is also ideal for outdoor insect control such as garden, yard, patio, deck, corridor, swimming pool, porch and so on. It will be useful for picnic, BBQ, camping or fishing outside. It also has a certain repellent effect on other flying and biting insects such as ticks, flies, and gnats.

Bestseller No. 8

Sow Right Seeds Crackerjack African Marigold Seeds for Planting - Non-GMO Heirloom Seed Packet with Instructions - Companion Plant - Orange & Yellow Blooms Attract Pollinators, Deter Mosquitoes (2)

Beautiful - Full color seed packet of Crackerjack African Marigold (Tagetes erecta) flowers. Large 3 - 4’ tall bushy plant that produce tons of bright yellow or orange flowers. Marigolds grow quickly from seed and bloom continuously summer through fall. A great companion plant in your vegetable garden to repel pests. Minimum 750 mg (about 350 seeds).
Productive - Marigolds germinate in 10-12 days when soil temps are 70°F. Plant 1/4” deep and space 24” apart in an area with full sunlight. This variety will grow 24-36” tall with a spread of 4-5” wide flowers. Flowers will mature in 55-100 days, plant in USDA zones 2-11.
Pollinator Friendly - Butterflies and bees love Crackerjack Marigold flowers and will likely pay you many visits. Great way to support your local pollinators. Plant wildflower style or in carefully arranged beds, whatever suits your fancy. Enjoy outdoors in the garden, or indoors as a cut flower.
Easy to Grow - Instructions included on each packet. Plus, we are available to answer all your questions. If these seeds don’t germinate, we will happily make it right for you
Safe and Sustainable - Our operation is fully solar powered, and Sow Right Seeds has taken the Safe Seed Pledge to sell only fresh Non-GMO heirloom seeds for you and your family.

The Ultimate Buying Guide for Mosquito Repellent Plants

Want to enjoy your backyard without those annoying, biting mosquitoes? Natural mosquito repellent plants can help! This guide tells you what to look for when buying these helpful greenery.

Key Features to Look For

When shopping for plants that keep bugs away, check for these important things:

Strong Scent: The best repellent plants release strong smells. Mosquitoes hate these smells. Look for plants with visible, often fuzzy, leaves or those known for their strong aroma, like lemon balm or citronella.
Plant Health: Always choose healthy plants. Look for bright green leaves. Avoid plants with brown spots or wilting. A sick plant will not produce enough scent to repel bugs.
Mature Size: Know how big the plant will get. Some herbs stay small, perfect for windowsills. Others, like full-grown citronella grass, can become very tall. Make sure it fits your space.

Important Materials and Types

The “material” here refers to the plant species itself. Different plants work in different ways. You are buying living things, so the quality of the species matters most.

Top Repellent Plant Types:

Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon nardus): This is the most famous one. It has a strong, lemony smell when you crush the leaves.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): A member of the mint family. It smells strongly of lemon.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum): Especially lemon basil or cinnamon basil. These are easy to grow in pots.
Catnip (Nepeta cataria): Studies show catnip oil can be very effective against mosquitoes.

Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality

What makes a repellent plant work better or worse?

What Improves Quality:

Sunlight Exposure: Most repellent plants need lots of sunshine (at least six hours a day). More sun means more oil production, which means a stronger smell.
Proper Watering: Do not let the soil dry out completely, especially for herbs like basil. Consistent water helps the plant stay healthy and fragrant.
Pruning/Crushing: To get the best protection, you must activate the scent. Gently rub or crush a few leaves before you sit outside. This releases the oils that mosquitoes avoid.

What Reduces Quality:

Shade: If you put a sun-loving plant in deep shade, its scent will weaken significantly.
Overcrowding: If you plant many things too close together, they compete for nutrients. This makes all the plants weaker.
Pests: Watch out for aphids or spider mites. Pests attack weak plants, reducing their ability to smell like bug spray.

User Experience and Use Cases

How do people actually use these plants to keep bugs away?

The experience is usually passive. You plant them, and they offer a light defense.

Best Use Cases:

Patio Perimeters: Place pots of citronella or scented geraniums around your outdoor seating area. This creates a scented barrier.
Window Boxes: Use smaller herbs like lemon balm near open windows. The smell might discourage bugs from entering your house.
Active Defense: If you are actively hiking or sitting far from your garden, you can crush a leaf and rub the oils lightly on your skin or clothing for temporary, localized protection.

Remember, these plants work best in groups or close to where people sit. A single small pot will not clear your whole yard of mosquitoes.

10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do these plants kill mosquitoes?

A: No, these plants generally do not kill mosquitoes. They mainly confuse or repel them with their strong natural odors.

Q: How close do I need to plant them to work?

A: For the best results, place the plants within 5 to 10 feet of where you are sitting. You need a cluster of plants, not just one.

Q: Can I use these plants indoors?

A: Yes, many herbs like basil and mint do well indoors. However, they need bright light, usually from a sunny south-facing window.

Q: Is the scent strong enough to replace bug spray?

A: Usually not. They offer good mild protection in low-bug areas. For heavy mosquito populations, they work best when used alongside other methods.

Q: What is the best plant for a beginner gardener?

A: Mint or common basil plants are very easy to grow. They tolerate mistakes better than specialized scented geraniums.

Q: Do I need special soil for repellent plants?

A: Most need well-draining soil. If water sits around the roots, the plant will rot, and the scent will disappear.

Q: Do these plants smell all the time?

A: They have a constant low scent. You must crush or bruise the leaves to release the strong, mosquito-repelling oils.

Q: Are these plants safe for pets?

A: Always check the specific plant. For example, catnip is safe for cats but potentially toxic if ingested in large amounts by dogs. Research the safety for your specific pets first.

Q: How often should I water citronella grass?

A: Citronella likes lots of water, especially when it is hot. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy.

Q: Do I need to buy specific “repellent” seeds?

A: No. You just need to buy the correct species, such as true Citronella grass or Lemon Balm. The “repellent” quality comes from the natural oils in that plant type.