If you hate the blood-sucking insects in your garden and home, then growing these flowers that repel mosquitoes will be a bright idea!
Do you know that there are some beautiful flowers that you can grow around yourself to repel mosquitoes while adding a burst of color and fragrance to the garden? Here are the best ones to keep these buzzing nuisances out and away without using chemicals!
Flowers that Repel Mosquitoes
1. Bee Balm
Botanical Name: Monarda didyma L
Mash the leaves of the plant, and it will emit a strong incense-like fragrance due to the presence of thymol. The compound has natural insect-repellent properties that keep mosquitoes away!
You can grow it in your garden around the entrance or somewhere you sit often to reap the benefits.
2. Marigold
Botanical Name: Tagetes
These flowers contain pyrethrum, a compound that affects the nervous system of mosquitoes. The strong scent of marigolds is also offensive to them!
According to this research, this plant offers a strong 32.4% protection against African Malaria mosquitoes!
Pro Tip: Grow them in groups for the best effect.
3. Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Lavender emits a strong fragrance that is disliked by mosquitoes. The essential oils, particularly linalool and camphor, effectively repel these insects.
A 2009 study showed that lavender oil was 93% effective against mosquitoes indoors, so apart from using its essential oil, you can press and rub its flowers on your exposed body parts as well while taking a stroll in the garden.
Check out Best Mosquito Repellent Herbs here
4. Tansy
Botanical Name: Tanacetum vulgare L. (Asteraceae)
Tansy contains thujone, a compound that mosquitoes hate! Its strong scent also confuses their nervous systems, forcing them to stay away from where this plant is.
5. Chrysanthemum
Botanical Name: Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrum, which also affects the nervous system of mosquitoes. For best effect, make sure you have potted them in groups near the window or a patio door, from where the mosquitoes might enter the house.
Also, squash the flowers and apply when you spot these pesky insects around to double the effect.
6. Lantana
Botanical Name: Lantana camara
Lantana produces a pungent odor, which mosquitoes find unattractive. Keep on crushing its leaves and flowers to ensure you are never bothered by that buzzing noise near your ears.
According to the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, Lantana camara flowers work the best against Aedes mosquitoes and can provide 94.5% protection from Aedes albopictus and Ae. aegypti mosquitoes.
Another study done in Tanzania states that these flowering plants were somewhat effective against the entry of mosquitoes when grown around the walls of rural houses.
Check out the Scientifically Proven Fact that Mosquito Hate Lantana Camara
7. Rosemary
Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus
Rosemary’s strong scent, thanks to the compounds like cineole and camphor in it, is effective in repelling mosquitoes. Burning rosemary sprigs can amplify its repellent effect, you can also use rosemary oil.
8. Floss Flower
Botanical Name: Ageratum
Floss flowers have coumarin, which is quite potent in keeping bugs like mosquitoes away. To disperse it effectively in the air – crushing the flowers and leaves is the best option to ensure potency.
9. Society Garlic
Botanical Name: Tulbaghia violacea
Mosquitoes find this plant intensely repulsive – primarily due to its strong, sulfur-like scent! Grow them in a group of 3-4 where these insects are quite common in your garden.
10. Catnip
Botanical Name: Nepeta cataria
Catnip’s compound, nepetalactone, is more effective than DEET, a common ingredient in insect repellents, so you can imagine how potent it can be if used cleverly!
One report by Nature’s Scientific Reports states that its essential oil is potent in keeping Aedes aegypti mosquitoes away, even with concentrations as low as 2%!
An article by ScienceDaily, while citing a study by the American Chemical Society, says that its essential oil is more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET.
Another research on PubMed indicates that nepetalactone in catnip can also keep flies and other insects away.
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11. Basil Flowers
Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum or tenuiflorum
The essential oils in basil, particularly estragole and linalool, make up for the strong smell these insects hate, especially when the leaves are crushed. Just like the rosemary, you can burn it too or infuse the basil flowers or leaves in coconut oil for some days or weeks and apply it on your skin.
12. Peppermint Flowers
Botanical Name: Mentha × Piperita
Peppermint leaves and flowers contains menthol, which has a strong scent that repels mosquitoes. You can also apply peppermint oil to the skin for more protection.
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13. Geranium
Botanical Name: Geranium
Geraniums, especially the lemon-scented varieties, have citronellol, which mosquitoes find repulsive – all you have to do is squash some leaves and flowers for the best scent spread, and watch the insects shoo away!
14. Allium
Botanical Name: Allium
Plants in the Allium family, such as chives, garlic, and leeks, produce a strong scent offensive to mosquitoes, thanks to the sulfur compounds.
15. Petunia
Botanical Name: Petunia x hybrida
While not as potent as some other plants on this list, the mild scent of petunias can keep mosquitoes at bay—just make sure you grow them in groups for best results.
Look here at Homemade Mosquito Repellent Ideas
Best Ways to Use These Flowering Plants to Repel Mosquitoes
1. To ensure these plants work the best to repel mosquitoes, it is essential to keep crushing their leaves and flowers and rub them on your exposed body parts.
2. You can also infuse them in a carrier oil for some days or weeks and apply the infused oil for protection.
3. Mass planting of flowers around the seating area or strategic spots around your garden or home is also a clever idea.
4. Another option is to pick the leaves and flowers, mash them, and then apply the paste to unclothed skin. However, do a patch test first to avoid allergic reactions.
