{"id":337727,"date":"2026-05-20T12:40:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T07:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=337727"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:40:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T07:10:31","slug":"the-best-outdoor-plants-for-keeping-mosquitoes-and-pests-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/the-best-outdoor-plants-for-keeping-mosquitoes-and-pests-away\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Outdoor Plants for Keeping Mosquitoes and Pests Away"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Warm-weather entertaining means competing with mosquitoes, flies and ants for your individual patio \u2014 and a handful of easy-to-grow plants may also help push pests back without sprays or candles.<\/p>\n

What Plants Help Repel Pests in Outdoor Spaces?<\/h2>\n

A brief list of common herbs and flowers \u2014 including lavender, marigolds, basil, mint, citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, petunias, chrysanthemums and catnip \u2014 may also help keep pests away from seating areas, doorways and dining spaces outdoors.<\/p>\n

Each plant targets different bugs. Lavender works on mosquitoes and moths. Marigolds repel aphids, mosquitoes and flies. Basil discourages mosquitoes and houseflies. Mint helps with ants and mosquitoes. Rosemary deters mosquitoes and cabbage moths. Petunias work against aphids and tomato hornworms, while chrysanthemums repel multiple insects due to natural compounds within the flowers.<\/p>\n

Citronella is the perfect known of the group. \u201cCitronella is by far the most well-liked plant that repels mosquitoes,\u201d garden expert Carmen Johnston<\/strong> told Real Easy<\/a><\/em>. \u201cIt has a really pungent odor.I often place this in small eight-inch terra cotta pots and blend in with my centerpieces when entertaining outdoors. You’ll be able to either use the clippings mixed in with arrangements or use the plant itself because the centerpiece.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lemongrass \u2014 sometimes called citronella grass \u2014 targets mosquitoes as well, while catnip has earned a fame as a surprisingly strong mosquito repellent. Picking two or three plants that cover the pests you truly take care of is often simpler than counting on a single variety.<\/p>\n

Which Plants Repel Mosquitoes the Best?<\/h2>\n

For mosquitoes specifically, citronella, lemongrass, rosemary, lavender, basil, marigolds, mint and catnip are the standouts amongst easy-to-grow options.<\/p>\n

Rosemary is a go-to for patios in warm regions. Annie Burdick<\/strong> and Jamie McIntosh<\/strong> write in The Spruce<\/a><\/em>: \u201cThe scent of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus<\/i>) is a deterrent to mosquitos and other garden pests, akin to cabbage moths. Rosemary loves warm and dry climates and should should be moved indoors in areas with harsh, cold winters. But all summer long it adorns your patio and keeps pests at bay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Catnip is commonly missed but punches above its weight. Madeline Buiano<\/strong> writes in Martha Stewart<\/span><\/a><\/em>:<\/em> \u201cMosquitoes hate catnip (Nepeta cataria<\/i>), the exact same plant that your cats love. Also often known as catmint, this herbaceous perennial emits a chemical that acts as a natural insect repellent.\u201d<\/p>\n

The takeaway: scent is doing many of the work. Plants that smell strong to humans \u2014 rosemary, mint, lavender, basil, citronella \u2014 are inclined to smell unbearable to mosquitoes, which is why placement matters as much because the plant itself.<\/p>\n

How Do You Use Plants to Keep Pests Away Effectively?<\/h2>\n

To get real results, place pest-repelling plants near seating areas and doorways, use pots on patios for a stronger barrier effect, mix several varieties together and position fragrant plants where air flow can spread their scent.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\t\"\"<\/p>\n