14 Plants That Repel Mosquitoes Naturally—and Make Your Yard Smell Amazing

A common ingredient in baking, cloves are another fragrant plant known to repel mosquitoes. Ideal for warmer climates, clove trees thrive in lots of sunlight and high temperatures. The unique red blooms will add a stunning pop of color against the greenery.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 10–12

Lavender is a stunning (and sweet-smelling) way to line a front walkway and protect your guests from pests as they come and go. This plant is also a great way to add vertical height to your garden beds. Grow it in the ground or in containers, just be sure to provide full to partial sunlight.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5–9

Fast-growing and best suited to cooler springs and summers, cilantro is a great herb to have on hand for both cooking and repelling pests. Let the plant dry out and flower in order to harvest the delicious coriander seeds at the end of the life cycle.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2–11

Related Story: The Best Way to Keep Your Cilantro Plant Thriving All Summer Long

Cedar trees are known for their fragrant wood and foliage, which naturally deters pests like mosquitoes. Unlike the other plants on this list, cedar is a towering tree, providing shade and coverage to your yard that container plants like herbs cannot.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2–9, depending on specific variety

While technically a weed, mint is an incredibly hardy and adaptable herb that can grow almost anywhere. Place this plant out of direct sunlight to avoid any scorching; it can tolerate up to full shade. You'll also love being able to walk out and pluck a couple of leaves when you need them for drinks or desserts.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–11

Related Story: We Found the Best Way to Grow Fresh Mint All Year Long

Ideal for larger yards, lemongrass is an effective mosquito deterrent for your entire yard. Ornamental grasses are great for filling in blank spots and gaps in your garden beds. This frost-tolerant perennial will come back year after year for low-maintenance greenery.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11

Citronella, the classic mosquito-repelling plant, is great when grown in individual pots near doorways or in porch corners to create a border around gathering areas. In warm climates, citronella will regrow each season, but you can also grow this plant as an annual if your winters are harsh.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11

Use catnip as a garden filler or in smaller pots nestled in with your other houseplants to keep mosquitoes at bay. The purple blooms are great for adding color to your garden beds in late summer when most perennials have finished for the year. If you have cats, you can dry the leaves to give them a treat.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9

Great for home cooking and ground cover, sage is a cool-weather-loving plant that is often grown as a perennial. While it doesn't love the scalding summer heat, sage can be grown as an annual or brought indoors until the weather dips again.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–10

According to D-Bug Pest Control, floss flowers produce a chemical that is commonly used in pest repellants. Plant them in rows for a vibrant pop of color. Well-draining soil and ample sun are all you need for this low-maintenance bloom.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11

Chives, along with their cousin, allium, boast bright purple blooms that are also great for repelling mosquitoes. While rabbits are a fan of these tasty plants, the scent is known to keep bugs at bay. As a hardy perennial, chives are known to come back year after year with minimal maintenance.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9

Rosemary thrives when planted in small pots along a porch ledge, dinner table, or windowsill for easy access while cooking. As a bonus, it'll create a natural mosquito barrier. If you live in a colder climate, there are plenty of cold-hardy rosemary varieties that can survive through fall into the winter months (down to 20 degrees).

USDA Hardiness Zones: 8–11