While the citronella plant—aka Pelargonium graveolens—shares a name with the grassy plant used to stave off mosquitoes, it’s actually a type of scented geranium.

What is another name for citronella plant?

The citronella plant is commonly found under a variety of names including, citronella plant, citrosa geranium, mosquito plant and it scientific name Pelargonium citrosum. While many of it’s names suggest that it contains citronella, a common ingredient in insect repellents it actually does not.

What is a citronella plant?

Commonly called mosquito plant, citronella (also known as Pelargonium citrosum or citrosa geranium, among other names) is in the geranium family. It’s a cross between a rose-scented geranium and Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardis), a tall grass with a lemony-fragrance.

What is the name of the plant that kills mosquitoes?

Citronella

Citronella not only keeps mosquitoes at bay but staves off flies too. Also, it’s an ornamental plant, so a couple of potted citronellas on your porch will jazz it up for guests. Since there are many varieties of the citronella plant, make sure you get Cybopogon nardus or Citronella winterianus.

Do citronella plants really keep mosquitoes away?

Simply having a citronella plant in your garden won’t deter mosquitoes. Some gardeners swear that it works, but studies have found that it doesn’t. Even if you plant a whole garden full of citronella plants, it still won’t be enough to have a repellant effect on mosquitoes.

What bugs does citronella plant repel?

Citronella has long been favored as one of the most effective plants that repel mosquitoes, which is why outdoor candles and bug sprays are often made with its oils. You can plant citronella grass right in your garden or optimize its efficiency by planting it near other mosquito-repellent plants, like lavender.

What bugs does citronella repel?

It is effective against a wide variety of pests, including but not limited to flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. Its distinctive odor drives away some insects, while preventing others from identifying a host. Candles made of Citronella oil work effectively to repel mosquitoes and insects when burned in the immediate area.

What plants do mosquitoes hate the most?

11 Plants & Herbs That Naturally Repel Mosquitoes

  1. Citronella. Chances are, you’ve heard of this one before- it’s one of the most common ingredients in most mosquito repellents.
  2. Lemon Balm.
  3. Catnip.
  4. Marigolds.
  5. Basil.
  6. Lavender.
  7. Peppermint.
  8. Garlic.

What smell mosquitoes hate?

Mosquitoes are turned off by several natural scents: cinnamon, peppermint, cedar, citronella, lemongrass, patchouli, catnip, lavender, and more. Find a favorite, and use it when you want to spend time outside.

What kills mosquitoes the best naturally?

Kill Mosquitoes With These 10 Easy Home Remedies That Actually…

  • #1: Eliminate standing water.
  • #2: Candles, incense and essential oils.
  • #3: Pot the right plant.
  • #4: Lemon and clove.
  • #5: Garlic spray.
  • #6: Eucalyptus oil.
  • #7: Mosquito net.
  • #8: Camphor.

Is citronella plant and lemongrass the same?

However, citronella as we think of it is actually an essential oil produced by the leaves and stems of lemongrass plants. A completely different plant, the Cymbopogon (lemongrass) genus, produces the perfumed oil. Citronella plants (or Pelargonium citrosum) are commonly thought to be the best at repelling mosquitos.

Is lemongrass a citronella?

Due to their similar appearance, lemongrass and citronella are often mistaken to be the same plant when they are actually two different plants. Citronella usually have a reddish pseudostem (the part nearest to the ground) while lemongrass is uniformly green.

Is a citronella plant a type of geranium?

A member of the geranium family, citronella carries the fragrance of citrus in its foliage. When leaves are crushed and the oil rubbed on the skin, it smells wonderful and may help naturally discourage mosquitoes.

What is the difference between citronella and lemongrass?

Citronella has wider, deep green coloured blade-like leaves and features a strong fragrance and taste. Lemongrass has narrow, light green leaves with a light lemony scent and taste. Lemongrass is edible. It is also used as a major ingredient in seasoning and spices.

Does citronella attract or repel bugs?

Citronella is naturally occurring oil that repels insects. It is distilled from two types of grass, according to the National Pesticide Information Center.

Why do mosquitoes hate lemongrass?

Lemongrass, also known as Cymbopogon citratus which contains Citronella oil, musk scents that attracts mosquitoes such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid found in human. In other words, by applying repellant with Citronella oil ingredients, it actually blocks the scents being sensed by mosquitoes.