10 plants very effective in repelling mosquitoes

 In summer, mosquitoes are a real nuisance. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the evenings on the terrace! To put an end to mosquito bites, here are 

10 very effective mosquito repellent plants to grow in pots or in the garden.

Which plant to repel mosquitoes?

If summer is one of the favourite seasons of the French, we must admit that the return of the mosquitoes spoils the pleasure a little. 

Lemongrass candle, mosquito bracelet, repellent spray, essential oils ... 

If you've tried everything but still get bitten, we've found the solution for you: plants! Thanks to their leaves that give off an odour that effectively repels insects, some of them have a very effective repellent action against insects. 

Zoom in on 10 of them, to be grown in pots or in the garden.

1 - Lemongrass

Known to repel mosquitoes, lemongrass is the most commonly used plant in the home to avoid bites. 

Its particularly pronounced lemony odour has a repulsive action and effectively repels biting insects. 

If you can use it as an essential oil, you can also plant it in pots to place it wherever you want in your garden or directly in the ground. 

As lemon is a good repellent, also consider lemon thyme, lemon basil or lemon balm.

2 - Lavender

While lavender attracts foraging insects such as bees or bumblebees, its smell is very unpleasant to wasps and mosquitoes. 

You can easily grow lavender in pots, on window sills or on your balcony in a bathtub in the sun. 

To protect your garden from mosquitoes, consider planting one or two bouquets of lavender. Lavender can be grown in poor, stony soil with plenty of sunshine.

3 - Catnip

Catnip can be used as a natural mosquito repellent. 

In its stems, it contains a repellent oil that is ten times more effective than commercially available products and other insecticides that are anything but natural. 

You can grow it in pots or in the ground. 

However, if you opt for the second option, be careful not to plant it too close to beds where your own plants grow. 

Cats like to come and rub against it, so they may damage your other plants.

4 - Pelargonium

Certain plants can become our best allies against mosquitoes, such as pelargonium, which is more commonly known as geranium. 

The foliage of the fragrant geranium, when crumpled, spreads a scent that directly scares off biting insects. 

Ideal for window boxes, it will easily find a place on window sills or terraces. 

Most plants in the geraniaceae family, including pelargoniums, produce a chemical compound called citronella, which has the ability to effectively repel mosquitoes.

5 - Mint

Do you love the smell of mint? The mosquitoes hate it! Green, peppery, pouliot... 

They're all effective in putting an end to mosquito bites. 

They can be grown in pots but also in any soil, and if possible in half-shade. 

Beware, if you plant it in the ground, make sure you have enough space because it is a plant that tends to spread out! Finally, think about growing it near your kitchen, you may need it for your mojitos or fruit salads.

6 - Lemon balm

Of the mint family, lemon balm is a very effective plant for repelling mosquitoes. 

Although it looks a lot like mint, its smell is very different. 

Lemon balm is ideal for prevention because its foliage gives off a very lemony scent that is absolutely repulsive to mosquitoes. 

Particularly invasive, we prefer to plant it in a pot and place it on a terrace or by a window.

7 - Rosemary

Excellent to perfume your dishes, rosemary is also an excellent mosquito repellent thanks to its incense scent. 

It grows in all soils, even clay, and prefers to live in full sun. 

But rosemary also lives very well in pots, so you can put it on a terrace, inside a kitchen or on a window sill. 

Tip: if you are barbecuing, throw a few sprigs of rosemary on it. You'll see, it's a very effective natural repellent!

8 - Basil

Everybody loves the smell of basil, except mosquitoes! Like mint, lavender and lemon balm, basil belongs to the lamiaceae family and is also an excellent repellent. 

The most effective varieties against mosquitoes are lemon basil and cinnamon basil. 

We prefer to grow it in pots, near doors and windows, but you can also prepare a small bouquet of basil in a vase that you will put in your room. 

This may cause mosquitoes to flee.

9 - Lemon eucalyptus

Among the essential oils effective against mosquitoes is lemon eucalyptus essential oil. 

Thanks to its richness in citronellal and citronellol, it effectively repels these small insects which are a real plague in summer. 

The plant is just as effective! While eucalyptus are the basis of large trees that can easily reach twenty metres in height, 

there are dwarf varieties that are perfectly adapted to pot cultivation. Perfect to be placed on a terrace in the summer!

10 - Concern

Mosquitoes have a lot to worry about! Recognizable by its pretty yellow and orange flowers, calendula officinalis (or marigold) contains pyrethrin, an ingredient found in mosquito repellents and insecticides sold in supermarkets. 

In the summer, marigold will be a perfect addition to your terrace or garden and grows in both sun and shade. 

You can also grow it in the ground, in pots or in window boxes, for example.