No Products in the Cart
SHIPPING INCLUDED ON ALL ORDERS | 10% OFF FIRST-TIME ORDERS - CLICK HERE TO ACTIVATE NOW
SHIPPING INCLUDED ON ALL ORDERS | 10% OFF FIRST-TIME ORDERS - CLICK HERE TO ACTIVATE NOW
Creating a beautiful outdoor space often involves inviting nature in, but sometimes uninvited guests like mosquitoes, flies, and garden pests arrive too. Instead of immediately reaching for chemical sprays, consider harnessing the power of pest-repelling plants. Many herbs and flowers possess natural properties that specific insects find unpleasant, helping to deter them from your patio, balcony, or garden beds. This guide explores ten such plants, offering tips on how to grow them effectively, often using stylish and durable containers from Planters Etc.
Basil's strong aroma is unpleasant to flies and mosquitoes.This popular culinary herb features lush green (or sometimes purple) leaves and a distinct, pungent aroma that many humans love, but pests often dislike. It grows into a bushy plant, typically 1-2 feet tall.
Primarily known for deterring flies and mosquitoes.
Basil craves heat and full sun (6+ hours daily). It needs consistently moist, fertile, well-draining soil. Regular harvesting or pinching encourages bushy growth and prevents flowering (which can alter flavor and slow leaf production). Basil thrives in warm climates like Florida but is frost-sensitive.
Basil does exceptionally well in containers. Grow a row for easy kitchen access in a Tupelo Rectangle Tabletop or give individual plants space in a Montroy Cube Planter. Ensure good drainage.
The soothing scent of lavender helps deter moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes.Known for its soothing fragrance and beautiful purple flower spikes atop silvery-green foliage. Forms rounded mounds or small shrubs.
The scent is believed to deter moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes.
Lavender demands full sun and excellent drainage. It prefers lean, slightly alkaline soil and dislikes "wet feet." Water infrequently once established, allowing soil to dry out completely. Prune after flowering to maintain shape. Heat tolerance varies; Spanish or French varieties may handle Florida humidity better than English, but drainage is always key.
Excellent drainage makes planters ideal. Use a gritty cactus/succulent mix. Shallower bowls like the Casablanca Bowl Planter or classic shapes like the Tarragona Bowl Planter work well.
Rosemary's strong piney scent repels mosquitoes and certain moths and beetles.An evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves and a strong, piney scent. Produces small blue flowers. Can be grown upright or trailing depending on variety.
Its potent aroma helps repel mosquitoes and some types of moths and beetles (like cabbage moths and bean beetles).
Needs full sun and very well-draining soil. Tolerates drought once established. Prefers neutral to alkaline soil. Handles heat well, suitable for Florida climate if drainage is sharp.
Perfect for containers. Ensure excellent drainage. A Rio Grande Cylinder Planter complements its upright form, or allow trailing varieties to spill from a Montroy Cube Planter. Durable fiberglass withstands year-round exposure.
A large family of fast-spreading perennials with highly aromatic leaves (spearmint, peppermint, etc.).
Strong scent deters mosquitoes, ants, and potentially even mice.
Mint is famously easy to grow, perhaps too easy! It spreads aggressively via runners. Prefers full sun to part shade and consistently moist soil.
Containment is essential! Never plant mint directly in garden beds unless you want it everywhere. Use dedicated planters like a Cuba Low Corner Planter or a section of a trough planter to keep its roots confined. Fiberglass provides a durable barrier.
Citronella Grass, the source of citronella oil, is a well-known mosquito repellent.A clumping perennial grass known for its distinct lemony scent, the source of citronella oil used in repellents. Note: This is different from the scented geranium sometimes mislabeled "citronella plant."
Primarily mosquitoes.
Needs full sun and well-draining soil. Prefers warm climates and is sensitive to frost (can be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors elsewhere). Tolerates Florida heat and humidity well. Grows quite large (up to 5-6 feet).
Requires a large, stable container due to its size. A St. Tropez Large Round Planter or a wide rectangular planter like the Selenge Extra Wide Large Rectangle Planter can accommodate its growth. Ensure good drainage.
Cheerful marigolds deter mosquitoes and nematodes with their pungent scent.Cheerful annual flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red, known for their pungent scent.
The scent deters mosquitoes and some flying insects. Root secretions are known to repel nematodes (microscopic soil worms) and potentially some beetles.
Easy to grow from seed or starts. Needs full sun and well-draining soil. Tolerates heat well. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
Grow easily in various containers. Use Antwerp Wide Rectangular Planters for borders or mix them in bowls like the Tarragona Bowl Planter with other annuals.
Abundant petunias are thought to repel aphids, hornworms, and other garden pests.Popular annuals producing abundant trumpet-shaped flowers in nearly every color imaginable. Some varieties have slightly sticky leaves.
Believed to repel aphids, tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, and leafhoppers. The sticky hairs on some varieties can trap small insects like gnats.
Need full sun for best flowering. Require regular watering and feeding. Prefer well-draining soil. Deadheading encourages more blooms. Many varieties handle heat well.
Ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, and various containers. Use simple round or square planters like the Tupelo Cube Planter or group them in larger troughs.
Catnip is highly effective against mosquitoes but be warned: it attracts cats!A member of the mint family, famous for its euphoric effect on cats. Has fuzzy grey-green leaves and small lavender or white flowers.
Contains nepetalactone, found to be highly effective at repelling mosquitoes (some studies suggest more so than DEET). Also thought to deter cockroaches and termites. Warning: Will attract cats!
Easy to grow. Prefers full sun to part shade and well-draining soil. Drought tolerant once established. Can spread, though less aggressively than mint.
Good for containers to control spread and keep it accessible (or inaccessible) to felines. A medium-sized planter box such as the Badalona Rectangular Planter works well.
Lemongrass offers a strong lemon scent that helps keep mosquitoes away.Another tropical clumping grass with a strong lemon scent, often used in cooking (especially Southeast Asian cuisine).
Contains citronella oil, helping to repel mosquitoes.
Needs full sun, heat, and well-draining soil. Requires consistent moisture. Frost sensitive, treat as an annual or overwinter indoors in colder zones. Grows well in Florida. Can get large (3-5 feet).
Similar to Citronella Grass, needs a large, sturdy container. A wide Tarragona Bowl Planter or deep rectangular planter provides space for its root system.
Chrysanthemums contain natural insecticides (pyrethrins) that repel a wide range of pests.Popular fall-blooming plants ("Mums") with flowers in many forms and colors.
Contain pyrethrins, natural insecticides used in many commercial products. Help repel ants, roaches, fleas, ticks, silverfish, Japanese beetles, and spider mites.
Prefer full sun and well-draining soil. Garden mums (perennial types) need spring planting and pinching for best fall bloom. Florist mums are typically treated as annuals for fall color. (See our full Mum Care Guide for details).
Excellent for fall container displays. Use classic shapes like the Valencia Round or create rows of color in the Salon Narrow Low Rectangular. Ensure good drainage, especially if attempting to overwinter garden mums.
Incorporating pest-repelling plants into your landscape offers a natural, beautiful, and often fragrant way to discourage unwanted insects. By choosing plants suited to your climate and light conditions, providing proper care, and housing them in appropriate containers like durable and stylish PlantersEtc fiberglass planters, you can enhance your outdoor enjoyment while potentially reducing reliance on chemical controls.
Explore the diverse world of these hardworking plants and create a more pleasant environment today. Find the perfect planters for your pest-repelling garden at PlantersEtc.com.
Several plants on this list are known for repelling mosquitoes, including Citronella Grass, Lemongrass, Lavender, Basil, Mint, Rosemary, Catnip, and Marigolds. Catnip is noted as being particularly effective.
While the plants release some scent naturally, gently brushing or crushing the leaves of aromatic herbs like Basil, Mint, Rosemary, and Lavender can release more of their repellent oils, potentially increasing their effectiveness in the immediate area.
While helpful, a single plant might not be enough for a large area. Concentration matters. Grouping several pest-repelling plants together or placing them strategically around your seating area will likely provide better results than a single, isolated plant.
Many are generally safe, but some can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. For example, Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrins which can be toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. Lavender and Basil are generally considered safe. Always research specific plant toxicity for your pets. Catnip is safe for cats but has obvious attractive effects.
No, different plants repel different types of pests. For instance, Marigolds are known for repelling nematodes in the soil, while Basil is primarily effective against flies and mosquitoes. Chrysanthemums repel a broader range including ants, roaches, and ticks due to their pyrethrins.
Planters offer several advantages: they allow strategic placement near patios or doorways, help control invasive spreaders like Mint, ensure excellent drainage (crucial for plants like Lavender and Rosemary), and make it easy to bring frost-sensitive plants indoors during winter.
Enhance your patio or garden with beautiful, pest-repelling plants. Find the perfect durable and stylish fiberglass planters to house them at PlantersEtc.
Make an impact with your unique creation using our Premium Fiberglass Planters by Jay Scotts
START CREATING NOW
