12 Plants That Quickly Repel Mosquitoes: Do They Really Work as Well as People Think?

As the weather gets hotter, mosquitoes become a major nuisance in daily life, and mosquito bites are extremely annoying. They can even lead to malaria, so you must keep them away from your family. Besides using various harmful chemical mosquito repellents, you can also grow some mosquito-repelling plants.

However, the pest-repelling effect of mosquito-repelling plants is quite modest, so do not rely on them too heavily. Be sure to improve the growing environment, promptly clear standing water nearby, and keep the surroundings clean. The plants below have strong scents that can keep mosquitoes away, while some can be crushed to make essential oils that you can apply to your skin or spray around you to achieve a mosquito-repelling effect.

1. Lemon balm

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a common herb plant. It produces small white flowers and has a very faint lemon scent. It has a certain pest-repelling effect and can reduce the damage caused by mosquito bites.

You can grow lemon balm on a windowsill or balcony, where it can help keep mosquitoes away to some extent.

2. Catnip

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) also belongs to the mint family. It has fragrant leaves that contain certain chemical compounds capable of repelling mosquitoes, and this scent can also attract cats.

3. Basil

Basil (Ocimum basilicum), also known as jinbuhuan, is a herb that many households like to grow. It is suitable for planting beside a yard or next to a water feature, where it can help control the number of mosquito eggs laid.

Of course, you can also make its leaves into an essential oil and spray it around you to achieve a certain mosquito-repelling effect and avoid mosquito bites.

4. LavenderLavender

Lavender (Lavandula) prefers a cool, slightly dry environment year-round, so avoid watering it frequently. Lavender not only has a fragrant scent but also repels mosquitoes and can even relieve the after-effects of mosquito bites. You can even make lavender into an essential oil to apply to your skin to keep mosquitoes away.

5. Lemongrass

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a very common mosquito-repelling plant and a very vigorous ornamental grass. It is generally used to make commercial insect repellents.

Lemongrass can be made into an essential oil and applied to the skin to keep mosquitoes away; it is itself a natural mosquito repellent.

6. Calendula

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) also has a certain mosquito-repelling effect. You can grow it on a balcony or windowsill. It gives off a strong pungent scent that can achieve a certain pest-repelling effect. It can bloom continuously through summer and autumn, and it likes plenty of light and well-drained soil.

7. Thyme

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is one of the excellent mosquito-repelling plants to grow in a yard. This plant has a natural repellent effect on mosquitoes.

Thyme has a strong citrus scent. You can crush its leaves and then apply them to your skin, which can keep annoying mosquitoes away. Before using it, make sure your skin is not allergic to thyme.

8. Sage

Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a common herb plant. It likes well-drained soil and moderate light, and you should avoid overwatering during the growing season. Sage has a certain mosquito-repelling effect; its leaves release a strong fragrance that is used to drive mosquitoes away.

You can also crush these leaves and apply them to your skin to keep annoying mosquitoes away.

9. Pennyroyal

Also called European pennyroyal, it is another mosquito-repelling plant. However, its essential oil is highly toxic and must not be consumed, and the essential oil should not be sprayed carelessly either; be sure to avoid ingesting it by mistake.

10. Rosemary

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a common aromatic shrub. It is usually used as a culinary seasoning. You can grow it in a yard or on a balcony; it does not need frequent watering, just keep it in moderate indirect light, and it can exert its mosquito-repelling effect in the hot summer.

11. Mosquito plant

The mosquito plant, also called scented geranium, and sometimes called mosquito nettle, is a plant specifically used to repel mosquitoes. Its leaves give off a fresh, pleasant scent.

12. Bee balm

Bee balm (Monarda), also called wild bergamot, is very suitable for growing in a yard and is a herb plant with gorgeous blooms. It has charming red, pink and light purple flowers, and it easily attracts bees.

Its fragrant leaves help keep mosquitoes away, and its leaves can be chopped to release essential oils to achieve a mosquito-repelling effect.