Summer is the season for rampant mosquitoes. The buzzing of insects can disturb peaceful sleep, and more importantly, the itching and health hazards from mosquito bites are everywhere. To avoid these troubles, many people choose to use chemical mosquito repellents, but this method has certain risks. Compared to chemicals, mosquito-repellent plants are a safer, more natural choice. Here are 15 mosquito-repellent plants for you to choose from.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a common herb with a pleasant, fresh fragrance in its leaves. It can be used as a cooking ingredient or to make essential oils. Its fresh scent provides a mosquito-repellent effect and is very helpful in fighting mosquitoes.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a shrub with a strong herbal aroma, commonly used in cooking and medicine. However, its scent can also repel mosquitoes. When camping or traveling outdoors, inserting some rosemary branches and leaves around your tent or campsite can effectively drive away insects.
Lavender
Lavender is an aromatic shrub that emits a light floral fragrance. Lavender essential oil has calming, soothing, and relaxing effects, and it is also an effective mosquito repellent. Using pillows or sachets made from lavender petals and leaves can help you sleep more comfortably and prevent mosquito bites.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a common tree native to Australia, and the oil substances in its leaves can repel mosquitoes. Eucalyptus essential oil can be applied directly to the skin or used to make candles, aromatherapy products, and other items, all of which can effectively repel mosquitoes.
Dandelion
Dandelion is a common wild plant, and all its parts have certain medicinal value. In addition, its flowers, leaves, and roots can also be made into mosquito repellents. Soaking dandelions in water and spraying it on your body, or burning some dandelion leaves, can help repel mosquitoes.
Lemon Grass
Lemon grass is a typical subtropical herb with a refreshing, zesty scent. The essential oil in lemon grass can repel mosquitoes, so it is widely used in making mosquito repellent products. Adding lemon grass essential oil to an aromatherapy lamp or applying it to the skin can effectively prevent mosquito bites.
Verbenas
Verbena is a common potted plant with a strong fragrance and unique purple flowers. Its aromatic substances can repel mosquitoes, so it is often used for mosquito control indoors and outdoors. Making verbena leaves into dried flowers can maintain the fragrance for a long time and is also an excellent mosquito repellent.
Geraniums
Geraniums are aromatic perennial plants that can repel mosquitoes. Their aromatic substances are similar to muscle relaxants, helping to relax nerves and muscles and making people feel comfortable and relaxed. Grinding geranium leaves into a powder or adding their essential oil to an aromatherapy lamp can have a good mosquito-repellent effect.
Wormwood
Wormwood is a common wild plant with light yellow, pretty flowers. The volatile oil in wormwood has a strong fragrance and can repel mosquitoes. Drinking wormwood leaves infused in water or applying its essential oil to the skin can prevent mosquito bites.
Snapdragon
Snapdragon is a bright herb with flowers that are mostly red, yellow, or orange. Snapdragon can produce a toxic compound that poses a risk to humans and pets, but it is fatal to mosquitoes. Planting snapdragons in pots or adding their essential oil to an aromatherapy lamp can both have a mosquito-repellent effect.
Tarragon
Tarragon is a common wild plant with a fresh, spicy aroma. The essential oil in tarragon can be used to make mosquito repellents and also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Making tarragon leaves into dried flowers or dropping its essential oil on the skin can effectively prevent mosquito bites.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is a common citrus fruit, and its aromatic substances can repel mosquitoes. Chopping or mashing grapefruit peel and placing it indoors or outdoors can drive away mosquitoes. In addition, grapefruit essential oil is also a common mosquito repellent.
Tomato
Tomato is a common vegetable, and the toxins in its leaves can repel mosquitoes. Crushing tomato leaves and applying them to the skin can prevent mosquito bites. At the same time, tomato is also a nutritious food that is beneficial to human health.
Purslane
Purslane is a common wild vegetable and herb with red or green leaves. The volatile oil in purslane can repel mosquitoes, so it is often used to make mosquito repellents. Drying purslane leaves or adding its essential oil to an aromatherapy lamp can have a good mosquito-repellent effect.
Lavender
Lavender is an aromatic plant with calming and relaxing effects. Its essential oil not only has mosquito-repellent properties but can also reduce the itching and redness left by mosquito bites. Applying lavender essential oil to the skin or adding it to detergents can effectively prevent mosquito bites.
Mosquito-repellent plants are a safer, more natural way to prevent mosquitoes. Plants such as lemongrass, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, dandelion, lemon grass, verbena, geraniums, wormwood, snapdragon, tarragon, grapefruit, tomato, purslane, and lavender have mosquito-repellent functions and can meet different people's needs. In the summer, we can choose some of our favorite plants to place indoors or outdoors, or extract their essential oils to apply to the skin, thus effectively avoiding mosquito bites.