6 Plants That Repel Insects

By Tammie Painter
Published on March 5, 2010
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Keep the crushed leaves of these six plants in a small container at intervals on your summer garden patio to repel mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes can ruin the enjoyment of your summer garden. Ordinary insect repellents slather you and your family in sticky chemicals; bug zappers are annoying and leave you sitting amongst charred insect parts; and sometimes you aren’t in the mood for the smoke of incense or candles in lieu of fresh summer air (but if you are, check out our favorite product).

So what’s left? Mosquitoes don’t like a few familiar herbs that you can use to stay bite-free this season. Keep the crushed leaves of these six plants in a small container at intervals on your patio to repel mosquitoes. Except for marigold and wormwood, which can cause contact dermatitis, you can rub the crushed leaves on your skin for added protection.

• Catnip (Nepeta cataria). A perennial for some gardeners and an annual for others, catnip has been found to be 10 times more effective than DEET at keeping mosquitoes away. Cats will crush this plant if it is in a garden bed and it has a tendency to become invasive, but keeping a couple of plants in hanging containers helps avoid both problems.

• Marigold (Tagetes spp.). This sun-loving annual also repels aphids and is an excellent companion plant for your vegetable garden. Marigolds are an easy-to-care-for border plant and the simplicity of collecting seeds for next year’s planting makes this plant an affordable addition. Note: Do not rub on skin.

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). The oil of this shrub is heavenly to most humans, but disgusting to mosquitoes. It’s an attractive plant for container or herb gardens that requires little water and also is delicious when used for cooking meat, soups and egg dishes.

• Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). This plant has a lemony scent that mosquitoes hate. With a little patience, it can be grown from stalks sold in the market. It prefers full sun and good drainage. Keep in mind that this tropical plant won’t tolerate freezing temperatures.

• Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). This perennial has silvery foliage and can be grown in full sun in most zones. Makes a unique border plant and the pungent odor keeps mosquitoes at bay. Note: Do not rub on skin.

• Mint (Mentha spp.). Many mints’ oils are unpleasant to mosquitoes, so keep a pot or two of these hardy and aromatic plants around. Since they spread easily, mints are best cultivated in containers.


Tammie Painter gardens in Oregon.

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