BuzzSkito Mosquito & Tick Control Specialists · Published April 25, 2026
Plants alone won't eliminate mosquitoes from your yard — but the right ones can meaningfully reduce pressure near seating areas. This guide covers what actually works in Ontario's climate, what doesn't, and how to combine natural deterrents with professional barrier spray for the best results. Part of our Ultimate Mosquito Control Guide.
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Do Mosquito-Repelling Plants Actually Work?
The honest answer: partially. Several plants contain volatile oils — linalool, citronellal, eugenol — that mosquitoes find unpleasant. When the plant is crushed or brushed, these oils are released and can provide short-range repellency. However, a plant simply sitting in your garden releases very little of these compounds passively. You would need an enormous quantity to meaningfully affect a full backyard.
That said, strategically placed plants near outdoor seating, doorways, and high-traffic areas can reduce localized mosquito activity. They are most effective as part of a layered approach — combined with eliminating standing water and professional barrier spray.
The 10 Best Mosquito-Repelling Plants for Ontario
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Hardy to Zone 5, lavender is one of the most reliable choices for Ontario gardens. It contains linalool, which repels mosquitoes, moths, and flies. Plant it near pathways, patios, and garden borders. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance once established.
2. Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
One of the few plants that releases mosquito-deterring compounds — primarily eugenol and linalool — without needing to be touched. Plant basil in containers near outdoor dining areas. It requires full sun and regular watering but is extremely effective in tight spaces.
3. Bee Balm (Monarda)
A native Ontario wildflower that releases thymol and other aromatic oils. Attractive to pollinators while deterring mosquitoes. Grows well in Ontario's climate and tolerates partial shade — useful for shadier yard sections where mosquitoes like to rest.
4. Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Research from Iowa State University found nepetalactone — the compound in catnip — to be roughly 10 times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes in lab settings. Real-world effectiveness is more modest, but catnip is a low-maintenance, aggressive grower suited to Ontario conditions. Keep it contained as it spreads.
5. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
Contains high levels of citronellal — the same compound used in citronella candles. Easy to grow in Ontario, though it spreads readily and is best kept in containers. Crush leaves near seating areas to release the scent.
6. Marigolds (Tagetes)
Widely used as a garden border plant, marigolds emit pyrethrum — a compound also used in commercial insecticides. They are most effective planted densely around property perimeters and near standing water sources. Also deters aphids and whiteflies.
7. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Contains camphor and α-pinene, which mosquitoes dislike. Rosemary is borderline hardy in Southern Ontario (Zone 6) and does best in sheltered, south-facing locations. Grow in containers if you're north of the 416. Burning rosemary on the grill can create a short-term repellent smoke effect.
8. Citronella Grass (Cymbopogon nardus)
The actual source plant for citronella oil. Grows as an annual in Ontario — it won't survive winter outdoors. Plant in large containers near seating and brush leaves to release scent. More effective than the common "citronella plant" (Pelargonium) sold at garden centres.
9. Peppermint (Mentha × piperita)
Menthol and menthone in peppermint are active mosquito deterrents. Grow in containers — peppermint spreads aggressively if planted directly in garden beds. Also useful: diluted peppermint oil applied to skin provides temporary personal repellency.
10. Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Burning sage near outdoor fires and firepits creates aromatic smoke that mosquitoes actively avoid. As a living plant, sage provides modest ambient repellency around seating areas. Hardy in most of Southern Ontario with winter mulching.
The Citronella Plant, Explained (Care, Perennial Question & Myths)
Is citronella a perennial in Ontario? Only as a tender perennial. Both the “mosquito plant” (citronella geranium, Pelargonium citrosum) and true citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) are frost-sensitive and will not survive a GTA winter outdoors — we sit in USDA Zone 6. In practice, Ontario gardeners grow citronella as an annual, or overwinter it indoors in a sunny window and move it back out after the mid-May frost date.
“Mosquito plant” vs. true citronella grass
The two plants sold as “citronella” are completely different species, and the difference matters:
- Citronella geranium / “mosquito plant” (Pelargonium citrosum): A scented geranium bred to smell citrus-like, and the one most garden centres stock. It releases almost no repellent into the air on its own — you have to crush a leaf against your skin to notice anything, and even then it barely helps.
- True citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus, and its cousin C. winterianus): The actual commercial source of citronella oil. It is a tall tropical grass that produces far more citronellal, but that oil has to be steam-distilled out — a living clump sitting in a pot still won’t perfume your yard.
How to grow citronella in the GTA
Give either plant full sun (6+ hours), a large container with free-draining potting mix, and steady water — citronella grass in particular is thirsty. Feed monthly through the summer. Because neither is winter-hardy here, plant out only after the mid-May frost date, then either treat it as a one-season annual or lift it indoors before the first fall frost. Set pots right beside where you actually sit; a plant three metres away does nothing. If you want to try one on your own patio, live citronella plants ship seasonally: Check price on Amazon.ca →
The honest truth: plants alone won’t clear a yard
Here is the myth worth busting: no citronella plant — geranium or grass — will meaningfully reduce mosquitoes across an Ontario backyard. Peer-reviewed trials of the “mosquito plant” geranium have repeatedly found no measurable protection. The scent travels only a few centimetres, while mosquitoes home in on the carbon dioxide and body heat you give off from well beyond that. Treat citronella as a pleasant patio plant, not pest control.
For protection you can actually feel, pair it with the two things that work at yard scale: eliminate standing water, and put down a professional barrier spray that coats the vegetation where mosquitoes rest and keeps working for up to 30 days. Our breakdown of DIY vs. professional mosquito control lays out the full comparison, and our guide to natural mosquito repellents in Ontario covers the non-chemical options worth trying.
Because plants alone won’t hold a patio through a July evening, most Ontario homeowners bridge the gap with a spot device that actually creates a protection zone. A butane-powered repeller such as a Thermacell puts out a 20-foot mosquito-free bubble around your seating in minutes — a genuine upgrade over hoping a potted geranium does the job: Check price on Amazon.ca →
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🏆 Best Spot Protection for a Patio
8.5/10· BuzzSkito ratingIf repellent plants can't hold your seating area through a July evening, a butane-powered Thermacell creates a roughly 20-foot mosquito-free zone within minutes — no spray on your skin, no smoke, and far more reliable than a potted geranium. It's the honest bridge between garden plants and a full barrier-spray program.
Pros
- Creates a real ~20-ft protection zone
- Works in minutes, scent-free
- Portable — deck, patio, or campsite
Cons
- Needs butane + repellent refills
- Best in still air, not gusty wind
Plants That Don't Work (Despite the Claims)
Several plants are widely marketed as mosquito repellents without meaningful evidence:
- Pelargonium "citronella plant": A scented geranium marketed aggressively at garden centres. It smells citrus-like when handled but produces negligible airborne repellent compounds passively.
- Eucalyptus (in Ontario): Not cold-hardy here, and the diluted passive release of eucalyptol from a potted plant is too low to be effective outdoors.
- Lemongrass: Confused with citronella grass. It contains some citral but at lower concentrations. Ornamental value only in Ontario.
The flip side of the question is worth knowing too, because a few common ornamentals quietly work against you: bromeliads, taro, cut bamboo, and any pot sitting in a drainage saucer hold the standing water mosquitoes actually breed in. We list the culprits in our Ontario garden guide to mosquito-friendly plants.
How to Maximize Effectiveness: The Layered Approach
For genuine mosquito reduction in your GTA backyard, plants work best as one layer in a multi-step strategy:
- Eliminate standing water — any container holding water for more than 48 hours is a breeding site
- Plant strategically — concentrate repellent plants near patios, doorways, and seating areas
- Professional barrier spray — kills mosquitoes on contact across your entire yard and provides up to 30 days of residual protection through all vegetation
Plants reduce the ambient mosquito population around specific spots. Professional spray eliminates the population across the full property. Together, they provide season-long protection that neither achieves alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do mosquito-repelling plants actually work?
Plants like lavender, basil, and citronella grass contain natural oils that mosquitoes dislike, but they only provide modest, localized repellency — mostly within a few feet of the plant. They work best as a complement to professional barrier spray, not a replacement.
What is the best mosquito-repelling plant for Ontario?
Lavender is one of the most effective and hardy options for Ontario gardens. It thrives in our climate, repels mosquitoes with its linalool oil, and also deters moths and flies. Basil and bee balm are also strong performers.
Do citronella plants work the same as citronella candles?
No. Citronella candles use concentrated citronella oil burned into the air. The citronella plant (Pelargonium citrosum) releases much lower amounts of oil passively. Crushing or brushing the leaves releases more scent, but it still cannot match a candle or professional treatment.
Should I combine plants with professional mosquito spray?
Yes. Plants can help reduce mosquito attraction to your garden while professional barrier spray kills mosquitoes on contact and provides up to 30 days of residual protection across your entire yard. Combined, they are significantly more effective than either alone.
Is the citronella plant a perennial in Ontario?
Not a hardy one. Both the citronella geranium (Pelargonium citrosum) and true citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) are tender, frost-sensitive plants that will not survive a GTA winter outdoors — we sit in USDA Zone 6. Ontario gardeners grow them as annuals, or overwinter them indoors in a sunny window and move them back outside after the mid-May frost date.
What is the difference between the citronella plant and citronella grass?
The garden-centre "citronella plant" or "mosquito plant" is a scented geranium (Pelargonium citrosum) bred to smell citrusy, and it releases almost no repellent passively. True citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus) is the tropical grass that commercial citronella oil is actually distilled from. They are unrelated species, and neither perfumes a yard on its own.
Does the citronella plant keep mosquitoes away?
Barely, and only right at the leaf. Controlled studies of the "mosquito plant" geranium found no measurable reduction in bites, because the scent carries only a few centimetres while mosquitoes track the carbon dioxide and body heat you give off from much farther away. It is a pleasant patio plant, not yard-wide mosquito control — for that you need standing-water removal plus a professional barrier spray.
