The Plants That Keep Mosquitoes Away (And Why Our Balcony Finally Became Usable Again)

It’s the same every summer. You get the patio all ready to go with chairs, lights and something for grilling, and at last the temperature is nice. You actually get to sit down for approximately forty-five seconds, and then the mosquitos show up, and that’s your evening ruined.

We’ve really tried all sorts of things to get rid of them. There are sprays, things you plug in, and citronella candles (which are more noticeable for the smell of citronella than for the mosquitos actually being bothered by them!). But nothing did a particularly good job of letting us enjoy being outdoors.
I then began to think about plants.

I don’t mean a single lavender plant will magically solve a huge mosquito problem. However, they can be a part of a strategy to make your area less attractive to mosquitos, all while improving how it looks and smells for you.

And after two summers of doing things differently, we can really use the balcony in the evenings now. This is what changed things.

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Why Plants Work Against Mosquitoes

Let’s look at what is going on before we discuss the plants themselves. Mosquitoes find their way to us mostly by smelling – specifically, they like the carbon dioxide we breathe out, our body heat, and some of the substances our bodies naturally give off.

Many fragrant plants make volatile oils (these are what give the plants their smell), and these oils do one of two things: they cover up the scents mosquitoes use to find us, or they actually drive mosquitoes away with their smell.

And ‘volatile’ is the important thing! These oils turn into a gas and float in the air around the plant, making a scented area mosquitoes don’t like.

Just having the plant close by will help with keeping them away, you don’t have to squash the leaves or put anything on your skin for a simple effect, but crushing the leaves will help much more.

This also tells us why where you put the plant is important. A plant at the far end of the garden won’t be as effective as one right next to your chair. So with a balcony, exactly where you position the plant is crucial.

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The Plants Worth Having

Lavender

The one I’d recommend starting with, for reasons beyond mosquitoes.

Lavender produces linalool — the compound responsible for its distinctive scent — which mosquitoes, moths, flies and several other insects find genuinely repellent. It is also drought-tolerant, which matters enormously on a Greek balcony in summer where pots dry out fast. It flowers beautifully. It smells extraordinary. It asks almost nothing in return.

What it does beyond mosquitoes: Lavender has documented calming properties — the same linalool that repels insects has been studied for its effect on the human nervous system, and the evidence for mild anxiety reduction is reasonably solid. A balcony that smells of lavender in the evening is, in the most literal sense, a more relaxing place to be.

How to grow it: Full sun, well-drained soil, water sparingly. The main mistake people make with lavender is overwatering — it comes from the Mediterranean, it is designed for dry conditions. Let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Cut it back after flowering to keep it from becoming woody.

Placement: As close to where you sit as possible. Two pots flanking your chairs is more effective than one pot in the corner.

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Lemon Balm (Melissa)

Less well-known than lavender but arguably more effective as a direct mosquito repellent, and significantly easier to grow.

Lemon balm contains citronellal — the same compound found in citronella — at concentrations that make it genuinely effective against mosquitoes when the leaves are crushed or brushed. Even without touching it, the plant releases enough of its scent to create a deterrent zone around it.

It grows fast. Almost aggressively fast — it will spread if you let it, which is why a pot rather than a garden bed is actually the better choice for most people. In a pot on a balcony it stays contained and manageable while still doing its job.

What it does beyond mosquitoes: Lemon balm has a long history as a calming herb. It’s used in teas for stress and sleep — the same compounds that give it its scent have mild sedative properties. Growing it means you always have fresh leaves for an evening tea, which is a good reason to have it regardless of the mosquitoes.

How to grow it: Partial shade to full sun, regular watering, very forgiving. One of the easiest herbs to keep alive. Pinch the flowers off when they appear to keep the plant bushy and productive rather than tall and leggy.

Placement: Beside where you sit. Brush the leaves occasionally in the evening — it releases the oils and increases the deterrent effect noticeably.

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Basil

This one surprised me when I first read about it. Basil is a mosquito repellent. It is also, of course, one of the most useful things you can grow on a balcony — the connection between the two is a genuinely excellent argument for keeping it close to your sitting area rather than near the kitchen door.

Basil releases its volatile oils continuously without any crushing or bruising needed, which makes it effective as a passive repellent. The varieties with the strongest scent — particularly lemon basil and cinnamon basil — are more effective than standard sweet basil, though all varieties contribute.

What it does beyond mosquitoes: It’s basil. You cook with it. In Greece this is not a small thing — a summer without fresh basil is a lesser summer. Having it on the balcony rather than a distant part of the garden means it’s accessible and used regularly, which also means it’s being trimmed regularly, which keeps it productive.

How to grow it: Full sun, consistent moisture, protect from strong wind. Basil is more demanding than lavender or lemon balm — it needs regular watering and doesn’t tolerate drought. But it rewards the attention.

Placement: Works well grouped with lemon balm and lavender. The combined scent of the three together is noticeably more effective than any one alone.

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Rosemary

A Mediterranean plant in every sense — it thrives in exactly the conditions a Greek balcony provides in summer, which is to say heat, sun, and irregular watering. It is also one of the most effective aromatic repellents available.

Rosemary’s volatile oils — primarily camphor and 1,8-cineole — are well-documented as insect repellents. It works passively as a plant and actively if you put a few sprigs near a candle or small heat source in the evening, which volatilises the oils and increases the effect significantly.

What it does beyond mosquitoes: Rosemary is among the most studied herbs for cognitive benefits — there is reasonable evidence that simply smelling it improves alertness and memory. For an evening on the balcony this is either a selling point or irrelevant depending on what you’re doing, but it’s worth knowing. It is also, like basil, genuinely useful in the kitchen.

How to grow it: Full sun, well-drained soil, minimal water. Rosemary is if anything even more drought-tolerant than lavender. Neglect suits it. It grows large if you let it — in a pot it stays manageable and can be shaped.

The evening trick: Snap a small branch and hold it near a candle flame for a moment — not in it, near it. The warmth releases the oils and the scent intensifies dramatically. It works as a reasonable substitute for citronella candles without the chemical smell.

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Marigolds (Tagetes)

The most visually striking option on this list and, in terms of pure mosquito deterrence, one of the most effective.

Marigolds contain pyrethrum — a natural compound so effective at repelling insects that it’s used as the basis for many commercial insect repellents. They also produce a strong scent that mosquitoes, aphids, whiteflies and several other garden pests find deeply unappealing.

What they do beyond mosquitoes: Marigolds are companion plants — they protect surrounding plants from pests and nematodes in the soil. On a balcony with multiple pots, placing marigolds among your other plants actively protects them. They also flower prolifically and for a long season, which means colour and life on the balcony from spring through to late autumn.

How to grow them: Full sun, moderate watering, deadhead the spent flowers regularly to encourage more blooms. One of the easiest flowering plants to maintain. They thrive in pots.

Placement: At the perimeter of the balcony — along the railing, at the edges — to create a border that mosquitoes are reluctant to cross. Combined with lavender and lemon balm near the seating area, the balcony becomes significantly less hospitable to insects in general.

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How to Make It Work as a System

Each plant will offer some protection, but they’re a lot more useful when you use a mix of them. What really transformed our balcony was having lavender and lemon balm right next to the chairs, rosemary and basil close enough to touch, and marigolds all the way along the balcony’s edge.

Because their smells overlap, they are far more successful at keeping mosquitoes away than any one plant by itself.

A couple of sensible things to remember: the plants have to be thriving to release a good amount of oil. A plant that is struggling, or hasn’t had enough water, won’t smell as strong. So look after them well and they’ll do a better job.

Mosquitoes are at their worst at evening, and that’s also when the warmth of the day in the pots makes the oils they contain spread into the air most effectively. That’s good for you!

This won’t get rid of every mosquito. In August in Greece, that’s impossible. However, a balcony with these plants is noticeably different from one without. And in fact, we’re now able to sit outside in the evenings again, and that’s what we wanted to be able to do.

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A Final Thought

It was a long time coming, getting the balcony just how we wanted it. All the details are important, the furniture, the lights, the plants, and all of those little choices that ultimately make it a place you really enjoy spending time.

Mosquitoes almost destroyed it.

But they didn’t. And as it happened, the answer to the mosquito issue was also lovely to look at, useful for cooking with, and helpful for all the balcony’s other greenery. When you can solve a problem and make the area better simultaneously, that’s the very best sort of thing to do to your home.

That’s everything from me. If you’ve discovered a grouping of plants for your balcony that keeps bugs away, please share in the comments – I’m always trying to refine what I have. And do tell us about anything you’ve experimented with that failed, because that information is valuable, too.

Until next time,

Stay safe,

Anastasios