The 7 Best Plants To Repel Mosquitoes

Consider these for your garden!

Home Made Simple
April 15, 2016 |Last updated on 04/14/2020

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We can all relate to pesky mosquitoes invading even our most memorable summer nights. Swatting at legs and arms, these flying fiends can make it challenging to enjoy the great outdoors. But what if your own garden plants could help protect you from our buggy friends?

After turning to torches, candles and oils to keep mosquitoes at bay, now you can reimagine your garden to include plants with natural mosquito-repelling qualities.

Growing an herb garden is a fun summer treat, but did you know that several of the fresh herbs you grow on your deck or patio naturally repel mosquitoes?

1. Basil

This essential ingredient to delicious Italian recipes isn’t just a great way to garnish your favorite pasta dish. It also proactively repels mosquitoes!

2. Mint

Some of us like fresh mint in our tea or to garnish our deserts. Lucky for us, mosquitoes find this herb less than refreshing.

3. Lemon Thyme

Just rub a few stems between your hands and the lemony scent given off by this plant is troublesome for mosquitoes. Planting lemon thyme for this reason alone is surely worth the effort.

4. Rosemary

A quintessential herb and staple in many kitchens, this herb helps provide a safe haven from mosquitoes on the attack. The scent alone will have them flying in the other direction.

Tip: Given their needs for various sunlight and water amounts, grow each herb in a separate planter if possible. Then you can scatter them around your yard or patio as you see fit. It will help keep insects at an arm’s length.

5. Marigolds

While visually appealing, marigolds aren’t typically known for their fragrance. Mosquitoes dislike this pungent plant as well and will steer clear.

When planning your next vegetable garden, be sure to include some marigolds to prevent numerous other pests from destroying your source of fresh veggies for the summer. If you’ve already designed your garden, add in some marigolds to accent your current floral color scheme and deter bugs.

6. Ageratum

This little blue flower secretes a chemical used in many mosquito repellants. And since they’re relatively small, these plants are easy to add to a preexisting flowerbed.

7. Chrysanthemums

Varieties of this timeless plant are countless, and all of them are excellent at keeping mosquitoes from feasting on those nearby. They also repel a number of other insects that may be harmful to your garden.