Mosquito Repellent Plants for Your Yard

Last updated September 7, 2023
If there’s any planter to strategically place on your deck, patio or porch this season, it’s a colorful container filled with an arrangement of plants that control mosquitoes naturally.
Certain plants and herbs possess qualities that are a deterrent to these annoying and disease-carrying pests.
This article will guide you on the different species of plants that keep mosquitoes away and the reasons why they are effective.
Table of Contents
Herbs That Repel
Plants That Repel
Take Aim From All Sides
Herbs That Repel

Herbsare a cooking staple in foods like pasta and fish. They smell amazing and taste delicious. There is an added benefit to growing an herb garden. Some species of herbs are unpopular with mosquitoes.
- Sage and rosemary have fragrant scents that drive off mosquitoes. Dry sage from your garden is most effective when burned in a fire pit or other fire source. Rosemary grows well in hot and dry conditions and the plant thrives in pots.
- Peppermint and basil produce essential oils. The oils kill mosquito larvae, so the adults stay away.
- Lemongrass is a plant native to Asia, Africa and Australia and is used in soups and seafood dishes. It also produces the essential oil citronella that repels mosquitoes and other insects.
- Catnip is another plant that is lethal to mosquitoes. The essential oil of catnip is 10 times more potent than standard insecticides. This mosquito repellent plant is easy to grow. As a perennial, catnip comes back each year.
Plants That Repel

There are several species of flowering plants that repel mosquitoes.
- Marigold plants are easily identifiable by their yellow and orange blooms and are very popular with gardeners. They give off a pungent aroma that mosquitoes do not like. Marigolds are also useful in the vegetable garden, especially when planted with tomatoes, where they can deter other types of pests.
- Lavender is popular with gardeners because it is drought resistant and thrives on full sun and good drainage. The plant produces an essential oil on its leaves that hinders a mosquito’s ability to smell.
- Horsemint, also called bee balm, is another plant that is good for driving off mosquitoes. The crushed leaves of this perennial produce a distinctive citrus or lemony aroma. They can get out of control if planted in your yard and should be confined to pots or containers.
- Scented geraniums are sometimes called citronella plants. They have a strong fragrance that is effective as natural mosquito control. Though not as effective as bottled repellent, when you crush and rub the leaves of a mosquito plant, the scent is strong and smells like citronella.
Take Aim From All Sides

Because hungry mosquitoes can be challenging, you may need to add some citronella oil-fueled tiki or table torches with your mosquito control containers wherever you place them, even if it’s on a potting bench.
That way, you’re taking aim from all sides to battle the bite.
It’s easy to say goodbye to mosquitoes without the use of chemical sprays or costly bug-killing lamps. Just let your herbs and plants do the work for you.
They are visually appealing in your front yard or patio and are a household friendly option to dealing with the winged pests. When you are ready to add mosquito-resistant herbs and plants to your garden, download The Home Depot Mobile App to find the gardening solutions to repel mosquitoes naturally.