8 Plants that can be used to Repel Mosquitos

mosquito

Mosquitos are a fascinating insect in many regards, but none of them are important for those who end up under siege by these creatures. They can turn any outing into the countryside or even wilderness into a true nightmare thanks to nothing more than the fact they are present. The bloodsuckers are so bothersome that particular parts of the planet, like the Siberian tundra in the summer, for example, are almost all but inaccessible because of the mosquitos. Humanity has devised a range of ways to combat them, ranging from netting and going all the way to custom made chemical repellent.

However, not all of these are always present for everyone. This is especially true for people who find themselves in a survival situation. While it might seem that in those occurrences mosquitos are the least of peoples’ problems, they still add a negative element to the mix. Luckily, there are many plants in the wilderness that act as natural mosquito repellents. To use them, people only need to find and apply them, making them very valuable in setups where these insects reign. Here are eight plants that can be used to repel mosquitos.

 

Lavender

lavender

This famous plant belongs in the Lamiaceae family. Lavender is able to increase the sheer beauty of any garden, but it is also great for repelling mosquitoes. In a home setup, anyone can easily grow lavender plants. They grow to a height of around four feet and will easily attract attention thanks to their vibrant purple color. To be used as a repellent, lavender only needs to be crushed in hand and its essential oils smeared overexposed skin. Its strong odor will do the rest.

 

Basil

Basil picture

Basil is a staple of many Mediterranean cuisines and can do wonders to dishes with fish and pasta. Aside from their recognizable taste, they also come with a strong odor. The same smell they produce can keep a range of bugs and insects at bay. There are several sub-species of basil but all of them work as repellents. Experience has shown that Peruvian basil, lemon basil and cinnamon basil produce the best results being that they are the strongest in terms of scent. Basil grows in the region full of sun where they have access to the damp soil which is regularly drained. This is why they are not that common in the natural environment, but still exceedingly useful in this role.

 

Rosemary

rosemary

This plant is a huge asset to many gardens around the world. It looks amazing and it provides a distinctive taste to the food when used as a spice. Yet, this does not stop it from being a really reliable mosquitoes repellent. There is no particular process relevant to using rosemary in this process, aside from getting as much of it as possible before rubbing it onto the exposed skin. The results are well-known and the mosquitos should immediately begin to disperse.

 

Citronella

citronella-leaves

This plant is so successful when it comes to repelling mosquitos that it is used by industrial products made for this purpose. While many have heard of the term, a lot of people regularly fail to realize that this is actually a plant. It is a type of clumping grass that produces a strong aroma. It is able to mask any additional scents in the area and do a similar job for telling the mosquitos to stay away. The plant usually ends up being five or six feet tall and most often grows in direct sunlight.

 

Horsemint

horsemint

This plant is also known as a mosquito repellent and it finds its way to grow in direct sunlight. Because horsemint is very durable and asks for no particular conditions, it can be found all over the place. It comes with pink blossoms and it is able to attract a range of butterflies because of it. Similar to lavender, it is also part of the Lamiaceae family of plants. Also, not unlike lavender, it can do a great job when it is applied to the process of keeping the mosquitoes away.

 

Marigolds

marigold

Another regular addition to the local gardens, this plant repels mosquitoes but not many realize this. Their particular smell is the reason for this and there are even two big types of this plant. These types are called the French marigolds and African marigolds, both of which can repel insects. The plant can be between six inches and three feet in height and it usually looks for sunny areas to grow to its full potential.

 

Ageratum

ageratum

This plant is also called Floss Flowers and it is able to produce a scent that is really unpleasant. The use of the plant in commercial products is widely practiced and in nature, the plant can be recognized by its blue flowers. Some subspecies of the plant have flowers in white, violet and pink. Ageratum is able to survive in many environments, but most will be found in sunny and rocky regions. However, while they are effective as a repellent, they can be a problem for the skin of the users if they are rubbed directly onto it. This is why it is always better to rub the plant into a piece of clothing that is not directly pressing upon the skin. Another option is to crush the plant into balls and leave these laying around a campsite or any other space that is being assaulted by mosquitos.

 

Lemongrass

lemongrass

A plant that has steadily grown in popularity over the previous decade, lemongrass is a very versatile species. It is often used as a part of landscape decoration, but it can repel mosquitoes as well. It is able to do this thanks to the fact that it has citronella oil, which is highly effective in repelling bugs. The plant species comes from India and it can grow up to two feet and requires access to warm weather. However, the plant can regularly be found around the world.

 

Having access to one or more of these plants is a great option for anyone stranded with a lot of mosquitoes. While they are completely natural, history and experience showed that they will be able to combat the same insects with a lot of effectiveness.

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