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What are perennial plants that repel mosquitoes?
Perennial plants are those which has a lifetime of more than 2 years. They continue to grow season after season without dying. It means once they mature they start bearing flowers and fruits, and the cycle continues for many years. They regrow or renew their parts, like fallen fruits, flowers and leaves.
These perennial flowers differs from annual or biennial plants, where annual plants have a life time of around 1 year i.e. one season. They grow and bear flowers, seeds and fruits and die eventually at the end of the year, means their lifespan lasts for one season.
And biennial plants are those which has a lifespan of around 2 years, i.e., two seasons, where it grows its roots, stems and leaves in the first season, and flowers, sees and fruits in the next season.
Image Credit: Google Images | Public Domain
Best perennial plants that keep mosquitoes away
There is an exhaustive list of mosquito repellent plants which you can check here, from which we have shortlisted and presented the effective ones in the below list along with their lifespan and indoor/outdoor suitability:
| Sr. No. | Mosquito repelling plant – Botanical Name | Lifespan | Indoor Outdoor suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Citronella Grass – Cymbopogon nardus | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 2. | Lemongrass – Cymbopogon citratus | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 3. | Eucalyptus – Eucalyptus globulus | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 4. | Lavender – Lavandula | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 5. | Peppermint – Mentha piperita | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 6. | Rosemary – Salvia rosmarinus | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 7. | Marigold – Tagetes | Annual | Outdoor |
| 8. | Basil – Ocimum basilicum | Annual | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 9. | Tea Tree – Melaleuca alternifolia | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 10. | Catnip – Nepeta cataria | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 11. | Mint – Mentha | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 12. | Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 13. | Lemon Thyme – Thymus citriodorus | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 14. | Bee Balm – Monarda | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 15. | Cedarwood – Cedrus | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 16. | Geranium – Pelargonium graveolens | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 17. | Cinnamon – Cinnamomum verum | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 18. | Sage – Salvia | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 19. | Garlic – Allium sattivum | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 20. | Thyme – Thymus vulgaris | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 21. | Bay leaves – Laurus nobilis | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 22. | Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 23. | Clove Basil – Ocimum gratissimum | Annual | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 24. | Jasmine – Jasminum | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 25. | Oregano – Origanum vulgare | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 26. | Clove – Syzygium aromaticum | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 27. | Rue – Ruta graveolens | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 28. | Wormwood – Artemisia absinthium | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 29. | Tansy – Tanacetum vulgare | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 30. | Allspice – Pimenta dioica | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 31. | Sweet Woodruff – Galium odoratum | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 32. | Pitcher Plant – Nepenthes | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 33. | Chrysanthemums – Chrysanthemum | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 34. | Pennyroyal – Mentha pulegium | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 35. | Pine – Pinus | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 36. | Mugwort – Artemisia vulgaris | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 37. | Coriander – Coriandrum sativum | Annual | Outdoor |
| 38. | Lantana – Lantana | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 39. | Floss Flower – Ageratum houstonianum | Annual | Outdoor |
| 40. | Horsemint – Monarda punctata | Perennial | Outdoor |
| 41. | Lemon Verbena – Aloysia citrodora | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
| 42. | Indian Borage – Plectranthus amboinicus | Perennial | Indoor/Outdoor |
Most of them are low maintenance perennial plants that repel mosquitoes and are comparatively easier to grow and maintain in your garden and backyard. You can also grow them in pots and use it as hanging plants for mosquito control.
Some of these plants can be effectively used as indoor mosquito repellent plants, while most or all of them are best suitable as outdoor mosquito repellent plants.
Image Credit: Google Images | Public Domain
Benefits of using mosquito repelling perennial plants
- Unlike annual plants, these perennial plants continue to grow year after year. They do not die after completing a season. Hence, they provide constant protection from mosquitoes.
- Once they are planted, they grow and lasts for a long time and therefore it is cost-effective, as the overall costs of gardening is reduced due to no re-planting and maintenance. This can also be referred as a natural method for low maintenance pest control.
- These plants are natural alternatives for chemical based mosquito repellents and they don’t give any left over residue or wastes, and therefore they are eco-friendly.
- They have multiple uses and benefits like attracting pollinators, hummingbirds, which maintains and supports a natural ecosystem. They have culinary uses, medicinal uses, and have applications in many other industries like perfumery, aromatherapy, etc.
Landscaping ideas with perennial mosquito repelling Plants
- Plant lavender and rosemary along the borders at garden edges or walkways.
- Place pots of mint and citronella with lavender around the patio.
- Make a layered pattern using a combination of short perennial plants like thyme with tall plants like eucalyptus. This will create a layered barrier for added protection.
- Make a perfect blend with colorful flowers and green foliage.
- Create vertical gardens in compact areas by planting hanging baskets of catnip and oregano with lavender.
- Plant low lying lemon thyme and catnip around borders of pond or water features to repel mosquitoes from laying eggs.
- Play with tall and short heighted plants to provide mosquito control at different heights.
- Design a spiral garden with colorful flowers and different greens to get an aesthetic appeal along with increased mosquito protection and space saving.
Image Credit: Flickr by **Mary** | Content License
Image Credit: Flickr by **Mary** | Content License
Conclusion
These perennial plants are very beneficial as they lasts long and gives a natural way to remain protected from mosquitoes. These also provides added green cover and a source of fresh oxygen, along with being eco friendly.
These plants supports biodiversity and attracts pollinators, birds, and other beneficial organisms. However, proper care and maintenance is required to maintain the effectiveness and look and feel of the garden or outdoor spaces.
For small and compact spaces, we advise you to plant pots and containers which can be arranged vertically, hanged in baskets around walls and ceilings, and balconies. They can also be moved from one place to another.
