Indoor Plant Mosquito Repellent

1 – Citronella

This is by far the most well-known mosquito repellent because the compounds in its leaves are a common ingredient in commercial repellent products. It has a pleasant lemon smell and is very powerful at driving away mosquitoes.

A tropical plant, it will thrive in warm weather and full sunshine. It may benefit from regular fertilizing and even a little added artificial light (see my guide for growing plants using artificial light) during the winter months if you have very short days.

If looking to buy citronella, be careful when choosing the plants. There are a few varieties of scented geraniums that go by the name mosquito plant or even citronella plant, and they are not what you’re looking for.

True citronella looks a lot like thick grass, and does not have wide rippled leaves.

2 – Lavender

Lavender is much more common as an outdoor plant (and can be an effective deterrent for unwanted wildlife), but you can keep a few small pots of it inside to help with the bugs. It can be finicky, liking as much sun as you can find as well as a spot with good airflow. A nearby window with a frequent breeze is what you need.

Under optimal conditions, lavender can grow quite large. Be prepared to re-pot in a larger container as time goes by, or split this perennial up into smaller plants as it grows.

When choosing a variety, French lavender is the easiest to keep indoors but the English type has a stronger aroma (and therefore can be better at bug repelling).

You can learn more about growing lavender in my lavender care guide.

3 – Catnip

A member of the mint family, catnip grows quickly and has just the right scent to drive away mosquitoes. Place your plants in a sunny window, give it regular waterings, and try to pinch out the flowers as they develop so the plant will put out more leaves instead.

Like with lavender, a catnip plant can get quite large over a few seasons, so prepare to re-pot or divide up the plant when it gets too large for its spot on the windowsill.

Obviously, if you have cats in the house, you’ll want to make sure you keep your catnip plant in a safe place, like on a very high shelf or even a hanging basket.

4 – Basil

Basil is already a great herb to have fresh in the kitchen, and now you can consider a pest repellent too. As usual, plan on keeping your potted basil in a very sunny window as it needs a lot of light, and be diligent about watering it.

Basil doesn’t handle dry conditions very well, but you also don’t want to drown the roots. Damp, well-draining soil is the key.

They prefer a warm environment, so they may not be the best indoor houseplant if you have a cold house during the winters. Otherwise, they should thrive just fine. Feel free to harvest a few leaves now and again for cooking too.

5 – Rosemary

Another seasoning herb that has mosquito-repelling qualities is rosemary. Maybe not the best choice for a novice gardener, but it would be worth giving a try.

You need a place with as much sunlight as possible (even a grow light occasionally), and you should know it can be finicky about watering.

Use a well-draining potting soil mix, watering when the surface is dry to the touch. It can be sensitive to either too much or too little water.

Rosemary is also prone to powdery mildew so you have to have a lot of air movement around the plant to prevent that from settling in. Like with lavender, try to find a breezy location, or even set up a small fan around your plants to keep the air moving.

6 – Lemon Balm

Again, lemon wins the day. Lemon balm is another citrus-scented plant that is a pleasant addition to your houseplant collection, and one that will deter mosquitoes too. Related to mint, this is an easy plant to grow.

A sunny window is best but it won’t require the high levels of light that basil or citronella like, which can make it an easier plant to manage.

To keep the plant in top leafy form, pinch out any flower buds that start to form. If you let it flower and go to seed, the leaves will lose their strong aroma and stop being much of a mosquito repellent.

Lemon balm can get quite large if it’s growing well. Harvesting a few leaves to dry for lemon tea is another way you can use this plant, and it helps keep the bushiness down too.

7 – Pennyroyal

Our last plant suggestion is a little more obscure. Pennyroyal has pretty purple flowers, and comes in an American and a European variety. Both will work but the European one is a little better for pest control.

They could use plenty of sun, though will be fine with indirect light as well. Pennyroyal tends to be a low growing and trailing plant, making is a nice choice if you have space for a hanging basket for it.

Some herbalists use pennyroyal for tea but it is not safe for consumption if you are pregnant. Otherwise, there are no issues with toxicity.