Best Outdoor Plants to Repel Mosquitoes and Pests

Warm-weather entertaining means fighting mosquitoes, flies, and ants in your own yard—and a few easy-to-grow plants can help repel the pests without the need for sprays or candles.

Which plants help repel outdoor pests?

Some common herbs and flowers—including lavender, marigold, basil, mint, citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, petunias, chrysanthemums, and catnip—can help keep pests away from outdoor seating areas, doorways, and dining areas.

Each plant targets a different bug. Lavender is effective against mosquitoes and moths. Marigold repels aphids, mosquitoes, and flies. Basil repels mosquitoes and houseflies. Mint helps get rid of ants and mosquitoes. Rosemary repels mosquitoes and diamondback moths. Petunias fight aphids and tomato hornworms, while chrysanthemums repel a variety of insects through natural compounds in their flowers.

Lemongrass is the most famous of the group. “Citronella is by far the most popular mosquito repellent plant,” gardening expert Carmen Johnston Tell Really simple. “It has a very pungent smell. I often put it in small eight-inch clay pots and mix it with my centerpieces when entertaining outdoors. You can use clippings mixed in with arrangements, or you can use the plant itself as a centerpiece.”

Lemongrass (sometimes called citronella) also repels mosquitoes, while catnip has a reputation as a powerful mosquito repellent. Picking two or three plants that will cover the pests you are actually dealing with is often more effective than relying on a single variety.

Which plant is the best at repelling mosquitoes?

Especially for mosquitoes, citronella, lemongrass, rosemary, lavender, basil, marigold, mint, and catnip are among the top easy-to-grow options.

Rosemary is a top choice for patios in warmer regions. Anne Burdick and Jamie McIntosh write in spruce: “The scent of rosemary (rosemary sage) is a deterrent to mosquitoes and other garden pests such as cabbage moths. Rosemary prefers warm, dry climates and may need to be moved indoors in areas with severe cold winters. But it will decorate your yard and repel pests all summer long. “

Catnip is often overlooked, but it punches above its weight. Madeleine Buano write Martha Stewart: “Mosquitoes hate catnip (Nepeta), just the kind of plant your cat likes. Also known as catnip, this perennial herb releases a chemical that acts as a natural repellent. “

Bottom line: smell plays most of the role. Plants with strong odors for humans—rosemary, mint, lavender, basil, lemongrass—tend to be unbearable to mosquitoes, which is why placement is as important as the plant itself.

How to use plants to effectively repel pests?

For real effect, place repellent plants near seating areas and doorways, use pots on patios for a stronger barrier effect, mix several varieties together, and place fragrant plants where air movement can spread their scent.

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A basil jar sitting behind the grill won’t do much. Gather the plants around the edge of your patio or dining room table and occasionally brush or crush the leaves to release the oils and give the scent a chance to actually reach the bugs you want to repel. Carmen Johnston’s tip for turning lemongrass into a centerpiece is a useful template: Bring the plant where the people sit.

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Layering plants is also important. Combine mosquito-targeting plants like citronella or catnip with flies or aphids like marigold or basil to cover more uninvited plants. Chrysanthemums add another layer, as their natural compounds can fight multiple insects at once.

Plants alone will not solve your pest problem. Pair them with the basics: Empty standing water in buckets, planters and birdbaths, clean up yard debris where bugs breed and rest, and trim grass and shrubs in seating areas. The right plants and the right habits work together to make your outdoor space significantly less hospitable to pests.