Fresh Clips: Plants That Repel Insects

By Tammie Painter
April/May 2010
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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.

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Tammie Painter gardens in Oregon. 


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  • Taylor Miller_2 4/19/2011 7:06:03 PM

    Don't forget lavender!

  • Finula 4/28/2010 11:28:30 AM

    Keep in mind that mosquitoes are not hard to confuse. They are attracted to carbon dioxide, and also, it is said, to the color blue(It looks like water). But once up close, you can confuse with smell. Any strong scented herb is worth a try.
    Growing up in New Jersey, where an evening walk around the block would result in dozens of bites, a quick defense was often right at hand. Chamomile and Yarrow. Commonly thought of as weeds, plentiful all summer, just rub the plant on your explosed skin and clothing.
    For a more genteel approach, you could make chamomile tea and use it as a skin wash that will also be good for you.

    Finula

  • K.C. Compton_1 4/27/2010 9:44:06 AM

    And I bet your cat wanted to be your new best friend. I would have to pry mine off me if I did that. He's such a catnip-head. :=]

    --KC

  • Sue_2 4/27/2010 9:04:19 AM

    I live in South Texas and suffer from mosquito attacks most of the year. The mosquitoes are here in April and are mean. I have catnip growing everywhere in my yard. Last night I picked 2 stalks of catnip and rubbed it on my legs and arms. I didn't have one mosquito land on me but my husband was bit several times. After he rubbed himself with it he didn't get another bite. I didn't get bit this morning and there was alot of them around the yard. I'm happy that catnip is invasive. I will use it all this summer. I hope to make a spray with catnip, lemon verbena and rosemary. Thanks so much for the info on plants that repel insects!

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