Basil is one of the plants that repel pests and flying insects. Its leaves contain four effective mosquito repellents - estragole, citronellal, nerolidol, and limonene. The fragrant herb is also very effective at repelling flea beetles, cabbage worms, tomato hornworms, ants, flies, and aphids.

Some plants from the mint family are insect-repelling plants. Spearmint and peppermint plants deter mosquitoes, spider mites, and flies, while pennyroyal mint repels fleas and ticks. These mint plants are a great addition to vegetable gardens and flower beds.

Chrysanthemums are plants that repel bugs like Japanese beetles, cockroaches, ants, spider mites, bedbugs, fleas, silverfish, lice, and harlequin bugs. Chrysanthemum is an effective mosquito repellent because it contains pyrethrum.

The allium family includes onions, chives, garlic, shallots, and leeks. An example of allium plants is the Allium giganteum, the giant onion, which grows up to six feet tall. It is a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking. Allium plants repel pests like slugs, cabbage worms, carrot flies, Japanese beetles, aphids, ticks, and cabbage loopers.

Next on our list of plants that repel pests is catnip. Catnip is a member of the mint family that repels bugs but attracts cats. It contains a compound called Nepeta cataria, which deters mosquitoes and insects by triggering a chemical receptor that causes the sensation of pain or itching8.

Citronella grass is a perennial grass native to the tropical areas of Asia. Farmers grow it commercially in Sri Lanka, Java, India, Indonesia, and Burma to produce candles, soaps, and insect repellents.

Another plant that repels bugs is the marigold. Gardeners testify that the marigold effectively repels whiteflies in a tomato garden. However, until 2019, there was no scientific evidence to support this claim.

Various thyme species work effectively against mosquitoes and other insects. Research shows that thyme essential oil is the most efficient way to prevent mosquitoes7. Essential oils of Thymus broussonetii and Thymus maroccanus destroy the larvae of common house mosquitoes, honeycomb moths, and yellow fever mosquitoes.

A rosemary plant contains essential oils like geraniol, linalol, burneol, and sineol. These fragrant oils are efficient insect repellents.

Lavender is a plant with purple flowers. Lavenders deter mosquitoes through the fragrance we all love and cherish. You can place a dried bouquet of lavender to keep these insects out if you can plant lavender in the sunny spots around your home.

Floss flower contains coumarin, a compound commonly found in insecticides. Mosquitoes and other insects don’t like the plant’s scent, so they avoid it at all costs. Floss flowers are an excellent addition to your garden because they bloom blue, pink, and white throughout winter and fall.