Plants That Repel Mosquitoes Yet Are Adored by Butterflies - A Double Victory
In the battle against pesky mosquitoes, a well-planned garden can be your secret weapon. Here are some plants that not only repel mosquitoes but also attract butterflies and other pollinators, creating a vibrant and beneficial ecosystem in your backyard.
Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender, with its fragrant purple blooms, is a garden favourite. Emitting linalool, a compound that mosquitoes dislike, lavender effectively repels these unwanted guests. At the same time, its flowers attract pollinators like butterflies, dragonflies, and birds, helping to reduce mosquito populations around your home.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Fennel, an herb with a distinctive licorice flavour, is another mosquito repellent. Its scent deters mosquitoes while attracting beneficial insects such as ladybugs and hoverflies, which function as pollinators and natural pest predators.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Known for its insect-repelling essential oils (eugenol, linalool, camphor), basil is a great addition to your garden. Its flowers attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees, making it a win-win for a mosquito-free garden.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Chives, a versatile culinary herb, also repels mosquitoes and other insects. While primarily grown for their culinary use, their flowers can also attract pollinators, adding to the garden's biodiversity.
While other plants like American beautyberry repel biting insects and attract birds, they are more noted for deterring ticks than butterflies specifically. It's important to note that some plants commonly thought to repel mosquitoes, such as citronella scented geraniums, may be ineffective. Additionally, certain plants like honeysuckle and bamboo may attract mosquitoes by providing breeding grounds or shelter, so these should be avoided if mosquito control is a goal.
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Lastly, don't forget about Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), a fragrant, flowering herb that deters mosquitoes and is hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9. Its flowers attract bees and butterflies, and its leaves can be used in drinks and desserts. Alliums, ornamental relatives of onion and garlic, grown for their showy, purple flowers on tall, straight stalks, also deter mosquitoes and attract pollinators. They are easy to grow as perennials in USDA zones 4 through 9 and prefer full sun but can grow in some shade.
Florence fennel, with its edible bulbs, is a great choice for a vegetable garden, while the plant's tall, feathery growth makes a nice backdrop for shorter plants. All in all, these aromatic and flowering plants provide natural mosquito deterrence and enhance biodiversity by supporting beneficial insects.
Home-and-garden enthusiasts can incorporate gardening practices to create a lifestyle that is not only visually appealing but also beneficial for mosquito control. For instance, planting lavender, fennel, basil, chives, lemon balm, and alliums can help repel mosquitoes while attracting butterflies and other pollinators, fostering a delightful home-and-garden ecosystem.
