Top 10 Best Mosquito Repellent Plants for Home: Natural Remedies

Mosquitoes are uninvited guests in our homes throughout the year. They bite you and suck blood to produce eggs; an adult mosquito can lay up to 100 eggs in a lifespan of 5-7 days. The mosquito bites do not only cause rashes or red bumps on your skin, but they also cause deadly diseases like Dengue, Malaria, Zika, and other diseases. To avoid mosquitoes biting you, you can try applying mosquito repellent creams, wearing fully covered dresses, mosquito coils/ liquid, electric bats, calling a pest control service to your home, etc. Still, they come back again, as they are only temporary ways to get rid of them.

Are you tired of trying all the methods to get rid of mosquitoes? Here is the simplest and natural way to get rid of mosquitoes. To naturally get rid of these uninvited guests, you can try applying essential oils on your body (lemongrass oil, lavender oil, citronella oil, etc.) or light lamps using these oils, i.e. neem oil lamp for mosquitoes. These are just temporary measures, as the mosquitoes will start coming again once the smell of these oils fades away. To permanently get rid of mosquitoes, there are some plants that deter mosquitoes; keep these plants in the main areas of your home like the living room, bedroom, etc., to get rid of mosquitoes.

Why are plants the best option? When you use chemicals like mosquito liquid/ coil/ spray, or mosquito repellent lotion, they come with side effects as the strong smell used in the coil, spray, liquid, are toxic which causes breathing issues or other lungs infection, and the mosquito repellent lotions can cause skin rashes; these chemicals also cause harm to the environment. So it is best to use mosquito repellent houseplants to get rid of mosquitoes naturally.

10 Best House Plants That Keep Mosquitoes Away

#1 Rosemary

Rosemary is an evergreen fragrant herb from the Mediterranean, now grown worldwide because of its potential health benefits. It's a culinary condiment used for cooking and to make essential oils, perfumes, etc. Rosemary can be used for indigestion, improving memory, hair loss, arthritis-related joint pain, and other conditions.

How is Rosemary Mosquito Repellent?

The woody smell of rosemary makes mosquitoes run away. It can be effectively grown indoors in a small pot. Rosemary requires proper watering and frequent sunlight, as they work best in dry and warm temperatures. Apart from mosquitoes, rosemary’s smell also keeps other bugs away. While the pests are away, you can enjoy the scent of rosemary and also use it to season your cooking.

#2 Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm is a perpetual herb from the mint family; its leaves have a mild lemon aroma, which is used for making medicine; it can also be combined with various herb products. Lemon balm extracts and oil can be used as a flavoring agent while cooking. It can also be used for insomnia, stress, anxiety, dementia, indigestion, and various other conditions. 

How Lemon Balm Repel Mosquitoes?

Lemon balm has a strong citrus scent that mosquitoes at bay. It's an easy-to-maintain indoor plant that deters mosquitoes, and it's a beautiful addition to your houseplant collection too.

#3 Basil 

Basil is an herb used in cuisines worldwide, which is grown in tropical regions from central Africa to Southeast Asia. Basil can be used to treat insect and snake bites. It's also used for making medicines for intestinal gas, kidney conditions, loss of appetite, fluid retention, stomach spasms, head colds, and warts.

How is Basil Mosquito Repellent?

There are several varieties of basil, each having its own benefits. Lime Basil has a mild citrus smell which keeps mosquitoes away from your home. Basil can be grown in pots or containers, but make sure you use well-drained soil and keep the soil damp. Basil requires a good amount of sunlight every day.

#4 Catnip 

Catnip, also known as Catmint, is grown in Southern & Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia. It has a chemical called Nepetalactone, which attracts cats. The name catnip is derived from the intense attraction of about two-thirds of cats towards them. It is also used in herbal teas as it is considered for its sedative and relaxant properties.

How is Catnip Mosquito Repellent?

Catnip has a minty/ lemony smell which drives mosquitoes away. They need to be kept in a sunny place and watered regularly; pinch out the flower as and when they develop, so it pulls out more leaves instead.

#5 Lavender

Lavender is a scented flowering plant from the mint family native from the Mediterranean, Middle East & India. Lavender is more than a fragrant plant, it’s also a herb commonly used for medicinal and therapeutic benefits. 

How does Lavender Repel Mosquitoes?

Lavender has a sweet mint flavored scent which helps you keep the mosquitoes away from your home. It's an outdoor plant; it can also be kept indoors near a window or somewhere the airflow is good.

#6 Lemon Grass

Lemongrass, also known as Silky Heads, is a genus of tropical island plants from the grass family in Africa, Asia, Australia. It has various health benefits; in India, lemongrass is used as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Its flawless fragrance eliminates odor, which is the reason its used as a room freshener/ toilet freshener. 

How is Lemon Grass Mosquito Repellent?

Lemongrass has a mesmerizing citrus fragrance, which the mosquitoes cannot withstand. It can be grown indoors or outdoors, but make sure it gets adequate sunlight and water them regularly.

#7 Citronella Grass

Citronella belongs to the same family as lemongrass, native to tropical areas of Asia. It has medicinal benefits, which are used to reduce fever, relieve migraine, relax muscles, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial. Citronella is also used to make soaps, scented candles, & essential oils.

How is Citronella Grass Mosquito Repellent?

People often get confused with citronella grass and lemongrass; both look similar and have the same citric scent. This citric fragrance keeps mosquitoes and other bugs away.

#8 Peppermint Plant

Peppermint plant is an aromatic plant from the mint family and is originally from Europe. It has various medicinal benefits, it is popularly used as a traditional remedy to treat menstrual pain, depression related-anxiety, common cold, indigestion, muscle pain, nausea, etc. Peppermint is also used as a flavor or fragrant agent for foods, soaps, cosmetics, toothpaste, mouthwashes, and other products.

How is Peppermint Plant Mosquito Repellent?

Peppermint has a minty flavor aroma that keeps mosquitoes away. You can keep them as an indoor or outdoor plant, as it only requires partial sunlight. Peppermint can be an instant mosquito repellent; just crush the leaves and rub them on your skin.

#9 Garlic Plant

Garlic is also recognized as Allium Sativum; it's a bulbous flowering plant in the onion genus. It is an easy-to-grow, all-season plant native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran. Garlic is used as a food flavor and traditional medicine. 

How is Garlic Plant Mosquito Repellent?

Garlic is one of the common mosquito repellent plants in India. It has several sulfur-containing compounds that give garlic a smell that keeps mosquitoes away. You can also cut the garlic into little pieces and keep it around your living room or simply blend it with aromatic oil and use it as a mosquito repellent. 

#10 Pennyroyal Plant

Pennyroyal, a perennial herb from the mint family, is native to Europe, Middle East, and Asia. It's an easy-to-grow plant, which requires frequent sunlight. Their pretty purple flowers make it a lovely addition to your home decor.

How is Pennyroyal Mosquito Repellent?

Pennyroyal has a fragrance similar to spearmint, which deters mosquitoes and other bugs or insects. You can also use pennyroyal oil on your skin as a mosquito repellent.

Additional Tips to Keep Mosquitoes Away from Your Home

1. Don’t let stagnant water anywhere near your surroundings; clean the stagnant water in pot trays, unused pots in your backyard, tires, children’s playground toys, or any such thing where water can collect; flip over or cover them.

2. Clean all the algae, moss, etc., in your swimming pool, and cover it when not used.

3. Clean and declutter things in your backyard, as rainwater can be collected here, creating a place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.

4. Clean your gutters regularly, so the water drains freely without stagnating.

5. The evening is the prime time for mosquitos; limiting your exposure outdoors is better. If you are going out, make sure you take necessary precautions like using a mosquito repellent, wearing a fully covered dress, etc.

Precaution is Better than Cure

Before these uninvited guests create a menace at your home, take the necessary precautions and be prepared. 

Clean up your surroundings where water is stagnant, as these are the places where mosquitoes can lay eggs. Once you clean up, keep mosquito repellent plants around your home. Instead of trying chemical methods that are hazardous to you and the environment, go natural using anti-mosquito plants. 

In this article, we have mentioned the top 10 plants that help prevent mosquitoes. These plants not only keep mosquitoes and bugs away from your home, but they are also a lovely addition to your home decor.