No need to reach for insecticides, your pantry or garden may already have natural pest fighters. Plants that repel mosquitoes, flies, and other pests include kitchen staples like basil and garlic, and scents like lavender and peppermint.
This article covers which plants repel insects, how to use them, and what to know before you start.
Want a beautiful yard without the hassle? LawnStarter’s landscaping services can help you design and plant a garden that looks great and keeps bugs at bay.
| Key Takeaways |
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| • Plant basil, lavender, and citronella grass to naturally repel mosquitoes, flies, and garden pests without synthetic chemicals. • Crush or bruise plant leaves to release insect-repelling oils (significantly more effective than simply growing the plant nearby). • Recognize that natural does not always mean safe. Some insect-repelling plants like citronella and garlic are toxic to pets, and essential oils can irritate skin. |
How Plants Repel Insects
Plants repel insects by producing aromatic essential oils, natural chemical compounds stored in their leaves, stems, and flowers. These strong scents mask the odors that bugs like mosquitoes use to find you, making you effectively invisible to them.
The key is releasing those oils through crushing or bruising the leaves. Think of the plant as a sealed bottle of repellent that you have to open to use. Just having the plant nearby provides minimal protection.
Safety Warning: What to Know About Plants That Repel Insects
Before using these plants, keep these precautions in mind:
Skin reactions: Some repellent plants can irritate skin when applied directly. Before rubbing any new plant on your skin, crush a single leaf, apply it to the inside of your elbow, and wait 24 hours to check for redness or itching.
Pet toxicity: Several plants on this list, including citronella, garlic, and geraniums, are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. Check the ASPCA’s toxic plant list before planting.
Smoke particles: Burning plants can release irritating particles that affect people with asthma or respiratory sensitivities.
Child safety: Not all natural remedies are safe for children. Essential oils in particular can be too potent for young skin.
Plants That Repel Insects
The following table shows which plants work best against specific insects:
| Plant | Primary Insects Repelled | Application Method |
| Citronella Grass | Mosquitoes | Candles, incense, topical oil |
| Lemon Eucalyptus | Mosquitoes, general insects | Extract oil (PMD), topical |
| Lemon Thyme | Mosquitoes | Crush leaves, rub on skin |
| Basil | Flies, mosquitoes, potato bugs | Companion planting |
| Lemongrass | Mosquitoes | Topical oil application |
| Peppermint | Aphids, squash bugs, whiteflies | Companion planting, spray |
| Catnip | Flies, beetles, ants, weevils | Essential oil, plant nearby |
| Lavender | Mosquitoes, general pests | Diffusers, crushed leaves |
| Garlic | Multiple garden pests, beetles | Companion planting, spray |
| Chrysanthemums | Roaches, ticks, fleas, ants | Pyrethrum extract, plant nearby |
| Marigolds | Whiteflies, nematodes | Companion planting |
| Scented Geraniums | Mosquitoes, flies, ticks | Crush leaves, topical application |
1. Citronella Grass: A Plant to Prevent Insect Bites
Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) has been officially recognized by the U.S. government as a bug repellent since 1948, almost 80 years ago.
Today, many citronella-based products (like candles, sprays, and oils) don’t even need to go through the EPA’s full approval process. They’re considered low-risk enough to qualify for a simpler “minimum-risk pesticide” category.
Which is more effective: citronella candles or incense? According to a study testing citronella candles and incense, the candles reduced insect bites by 42.3%. The incense had an insect bite reduction rate of 24.2%.
Is not enough to grow the plant in your yard. To actually repel mosquitoes with the citronella, you generally need to crush the leaves and rub them on your skin, or burn/diffuse the oil.
See Related: What Plants Repel Mosquitoes?
2. Lemon Eucalyptus: An Insect-Repelling Plant for Ticks, Fleas and Mosquitoes
This natural repellent is extracted from the leaves of lemon eucalyptus trees.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends oil of lemon eucalyptus as an insect repellent. Oil of lemon eucalyptus contains PMD (para-menthane-3,8-diol), its main bug-repelling factor.
Important distinction to make: “Oil of lemon eucalyptus” is different from “lemon eucalyptus essential oil”. “Oil of lemon eucalyptus” (OLE) is a refined extract that concentrates the active ingredient PMD, which the raw essential oil has only in trace amounts.
In practice, this translates in OLE providing high protection from insects over several hours. The essential oil alone is repellent for at most one hour.
3. Lemon Thyme: A Mosquito Repellent to Keep Around
Crush lemon thyme leaves and you’ll release a potent citrusy oil that can help keep mosquitoes at bay.
Thyme oil ranks among the more effective plant-based essential oils for short-term protection. It repels disease-carrying mosquitoes for 60 to 180 minutes, according to a study in Malaria Journal.
If you’re dealing with a mosquito infestation in your yard, consider calling one of LawnStarter’s mosquito control pros. The average cost of mosquito treatments range between $350 and $550.
4. Basil: Keeps Hornworms Away From Tomatoes
Basil is a mint family herb famous for its aromatic leaves and its ability to keep away insects.
Plant it in the garden to protect your vegetables. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension recommends basil as a companion plant for tomatoes, where its pungent aroma can help repel hornworms and whiteflies.
How this works: Insects locate their favorite plants by smell, and strong-scented neighbors like basil can mask those scents, making the target vegetables harder to find.
See Related: Companion Plants That Love Your Lawn (and Vice Versa)
5. Lemongrass: A Top Repellent for Mosquitoes
Lemongrass is a tall perennial grass with a fragrance that people love and mosquitoes hate.
Gary Bachman, an Extension/research professor of horticulture at Mississippi State University Extension, lists lemongrass among the top herbs with scientific evidence for deterring mosquitoes.
A field study in the Bolivian Amazon found that topical application of lemongrass essential oil provided 74% protection against malaria-carrying mosquitoes and 95% protection against another mosquito group for 2.5 hours.
6. Peppermint: Repels Ants and Cabbage Maggots
Peppermint’s fresh scent deters several common insect pests. Studies show peppermint oil can repel disease-carrying mosquitoes for up to 180 minutes, including species that transmit malaria, filarial, and yellow fever.
Oregon State University recommends peppermint in companion planting to repel black flea beetles, ants, mosquitoes, white cabbage butterflies, aphids, and cabbage maggots. Plant it in containers as it can spread aggresively.
7. Catnip: Repels Insects Like Flies and Beetles
Catnip keeps flies and other insects away, and yes, it will attract the neighborhood cats. A study found catnip essential oil repels at least 96% of stable flies and at least 79% of houseflies.
And that’s not all. Experts say catnip can also repel flea beetles, aphids, mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, and dust mites.
See Related: How to Get Rid of Fire Ants in Your Yard
8. Lavender: A Plant That Repels Insects Indoors and Outdoors
Lavender is one of the most popular flowering perennials, and linalool is the compound that gives it its signature floral fragrance.
According to research, linalool diffusers repel up to 93% of mosquitoes indoors and up to 58% outdoors, making it one of the strongest passive-use options on this list.
9. Garlic: A Plant That Repels Aphids and Whiteflies
If garlic’s already in your kitchen, it belongs in your garden too. Utah State University Extension notes that garlic acts as a natural insect repellent, keeping pests like aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies away from your vegetables.
Plant it as a companion alongside crops like broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, and tomatoes to protect them from common garden pests.
10. Chrysanthemums: Plants That Repel Insects Like Fleas and Ants
Chrysanthemums make your yard pop with color and also produce pyrethrum, a key ingredient used in commercial insecticides.
According to the National Pesticide Information Center, natural pesticides with pyrethrins can help control mosquitoes, fleas, flies, moths, and ants. Planted in your garden, certain chrysanthemum varieties can also help suppress root-knot nematodes.
See Related: 11 Plants that Repel Fleas
11. Marigolds: Plants That Repel Parasitic Nematodes
Marigolds bring color to your flower bed while attracting beneficial insects and repelling pests. They’re most known for their ability to supress plant-parasitic nematodes like to root-knot nematodes.
French marigolds give the best results. Plant them every season at least 2 months before the crop and hoe them into the soil as green manure before planting your crop. Installing marigolds between your plants is less effective.
12. Scented Geraniums: Plants That Repel Insects Like Mosquitoes and Flies
Scented geraniums, especially lemon-scented varieties, release a fragrance that humans enjoy but mosquitoes, flies, and other insects find repellent. Crush the leaves and rub them on exposed skin for short-term protection.
Important note: The so-called citronella plant sold at many garden centers is actually a scented geranium (Pelargonium citrosum), not true citronella grass. Its repellent effect is milder and works best when the leaves are actively crushed.
Scented geraniums are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. Check placement carefully in pet-friendly yards.
See Related:
How to Use Insect-Repelling Plants
These plants need some help to reach their full pest-repelling potential. Here are 3 effective methods:
Use Plants That Repel Insects in Companion Planting
Companion planting means placing insect-repelling plants next to vegetables so their strong scent masks the crops pests want to eat. For example, plant basil with tomatoes to hide them from hornworms and peppermint near cabbage to keep cabbage buterflies away.
Crush Leaves of Plants That Repel Insects to Make a Natural Spray
Crush and steep: Crush a handful of fresh leaves from plants like peppermint, lavender, or basil and steep them in hot water for 2 to 3 hours.
Strain and spray: Strain the liquid into a spray bottle for use on skin or patio furniture.
Grow Plants That Repel Insects in Pots on Your Patio or Porch
Place pots of citronella, lavender, or lemongrass around your deck or patio. Grab a few leaves, crush them, and rub them on exposed skin when bugs start buzzing. Container plants can also be moved indoors in colder months.
Let LawnStarter Help with Your Yard
Ready to put these insect-repelling plants to work? LawnStarter’s landscaping services can help design and install a pest-deterring garden bed.
If insects are out of control, you may need professional treatment. LawnStarter’s lawn treatment pros can help you get rid of mosquitoes and other lawn pests that make outdoor living unpleasant.
FAQs
Annuals need replanting each season, while perennials (like lavender) can return for years. Replace plants that are diseased, severely leggy, or no longer producing much fragrance when leaves are crushed.
Homemade sprays made from crushed leaves and steeped water tend to be short-lived. Plan to reapply frequently, especially after sweating, swimming, or wiping skin. For best results, make small batches, store them in the refrigerator, and discard if the smell changes or irritation occurs after use.
It depends on the plant. Basil, peppermint, lavender, and catnip are generally safe. Citronella grass, garlic, and scented geraniums can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. Avoid applying undiluted essential oils to children’s skin.
Main Image: Purple lavender flowers blooming in garden field. Image Credit: Sergii Mostovyi / Adobe Stock
