Top 10 Mosquito Repellent Plants for Your Home Garden
Dealing with mosquitoes can be quite an ordeal especially during summer. Mosquitoes are not only a legitimate cause of health concerns in humans such as malaria, dengue, and encephalitis, but can also be blamed for infecting dogs with heart-worm. While chemical sprays and ointments may seem a viable choice to keep away mosquitoes, these artificial repellents come with a different set of health issues. Therefore, it is better to go natural when dealing with disease causing vectors especially mosquitoes. There are a number of beautiful garden plant varieties in India which possess excellent mosquito repellent properties. In this article, find the top 10 such powerful mosquito repellent plants which can also help elevate the aesthetics for your home garden. Take a look below-
1. Lemon Balm
Who doesn’t love the sweet scent of lemon with a subtle fragrance of mint of the green leaves of lemon balm? Well, mosquitoes definitely don’t. The lemon balm plant has excellent healing properties, however, works even better as a mosquito repellent. For a quick homemade repellent, all you have to do is crush some leaves and rub them to the exposed parts of your skin. The Lemon Balm plant itself is drought resistant and reseeds itself; therefore, maintaining it is not much of a hassle.
2. Mint
Studies have shown that all species of mint contain essential oils whose aroma is repulsive to insects. In addition, mint leaves when rubbed onto exposed skin depicted excellent larvicidal and mosquito repellency. The herb carries a characteristic fragrance that is pleasant to human senses; therefore is the best plant addition for any home. Whenever mosquitoes loom in large numbers, you can just crush some mint leaves of the plant to release the oils and let the Mint plant take care of the rest.
3. Sage
Sage (scientific name: Salvia Officinalis) is the member of the mint family, and is characterized by woody stems and ovate, greyish-green leaves. Leaves of Sage plants emanate a strong fragrance that repels mosquitoes. In addition, you can crush the leaves to release the essential oil or use dried sage stems, and mix it with water to create your own homemade repellent.
4. Oregano
Oregano is an essential ingredient of the Italian cuisine, but do you know that this perennial herb is an excellent insect repellent? Well, essential oil derived from Oregano plants contains thymol and carvacol (these two compounds are found in thyme as well and are repulsive to insects), which make it effective pest control against houseflies and moths along with mosquitoes.
5. Citronella
Citronella plant (also known as the Citrosum plant or the mosquito plant) is a perennial clumping grass that can be kept in large pots in your home garden. The foliage of the plant carries a pleasant fragrance which acts as a natural repellent for mosquitoes. Just make sure that you place this plant in areas where there is plenty of sunlight and good drainage, and you would never have to shop for potentially hazardous synthetic repellents.
6. Catnip
The Catnip plant is one of the favourite varieties of vegetation for cats. The felines tend to lie on the plant and often chew it up completely, hence the name. The plant contains Nepetalactone, a natural compound that is both a feline attractant and an effective mosquito repellent. You can easily nurture this plant in your home garden, and while its proximity would keep off mosquitoes, you can also apply crushed catnip leaves to strengthen your cover.
6. Marigolds
Marigolds plants, with their vibrant and beautiful flowers, are often ranked among the best plants for homes. Their mosquito repellent properties are due to the presence of pyrethrum (a compound which is commercially extracted to manufacture artificial insect repellents.) Potted marigolds can be placed near the entrances and windows to deter not only mosquitoes but also aphids, white-flies, thrips, squash bugs, Mexican bean beetles, and tomato horn-worms from entering your home.
7. Scented Geranium
Scented geraniums not only emit a fragrance that acts as an effective mosquito repellent, but also features magnificent blooms that can help homeowners elevate the aesthetic appeal of their gardens and rooms. The lemon scented variety of geranium is one of the most popular plant species purchased globally, and these plants can grow in both warm and cold climate (provided that you prune them periodically).
9. Rosemary
An indispensable ingredient of several sumptuous cuisines around the world, rosemary also has another secret power; its fragrance repels mosquitoes. No points for guessing though! This gorgeous flowering plant can be either placed indoors or out in the home garden. In addition, leaves of Rosemary plants can be burned in a bonfire to give out an incense that keeps unwanted insects at bay, as you gather around the fire and enjoy marshmallows.
10. Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is another fabulous natural bug and mosquito repellent that can be planted in your home garden or placed indoors into vases. The plant is related to the mint family and like its siblings, can obliterate any insects in their vicinity. You can also carry crushed stems of pennyroyal in your pockets while venturing out in mosquito-populated surroundings for added protection.
Wrapping Up
Mosquitoes can be quite a nuisance especially in a warm and humid country such as India. While artificial mosquito repellents are available everywhere, they are often more dangerous than the mosquito bite itself. Therefore, it is a viable option to place indoor garden plants that possess potent mosquito repellent properties. These garden plants not only can flourish in the warm climate of India but are also easy to maintain.
