5 Popular Plants That Attract Mosquitoes (And What to Grow Instead)

by The Home Growns June 10, 2025, 4:33 pm 906 Views

A side-by-side garden scene showing contrast in landscape design and featuring Mosquito Repelling Plants. On the left, a tranquil pond with water lilies and a sparkling fountain is bordered by a brick patio and lush ornamental grasses. On the right, a vibrant garden bed next to a manicured lawn is filled with bright orange marigolds and tall, graceful grasses, which are well-known Mosquito Repelling Plants, creating a beautiful and functional outdoor space.

Did you know that some of your favorite garden plants might actually be rolling out the red carpet for mosquitoes? It’s true!

While we’re busy creating our dream outdoor spaces with lush greenery and beautiful blooms, certain plants are secretly inviting these pesky insects to crash our backyard parties. According to recent studies, standing water in plant containers and specific plant characteristics can increase mosquito populations by up to 300% in residential areas.

But here’s the good news – you don’t have to sacrifice your garden’s beauty to keep mosquitoes at bay! As someone who’s spent countless summer evenings swatting away these unwelcome guests, I’ve learned that strategic plant choices can transform your outdoor space into a mosquito-free sanctuary.

Whether you’re planning a cozy patio garden or designing an elaborate landscape, understanding which plants attract mosquitoes (and their stunning alternatives) will help you create the perfect balance of beauty and functionality.

1. Water Lilies and Aquatic Plants

A lush backyard garden featuring a tranquil pond filled with water lilies and aquatic reeds. A large stone pot in the foreground holds a miniature water garden with blooming white and pink lilies. While beautiful, ponds require management to prevent pests; integrating Mosquito Repelling Plants like citronella, lavender, or marigolds on the surrounding brick patio and in the adjacent planters is a key strategy for creating a comfortable and pest-free outdoor living area.

Let me tell you about my biggest gardening mistake – one that literally had me running for cover every evening last summer. I thought adding a gorgeous water lily pond to my backyard would create this zen, Instagram-worthy oasis.

Boy, was I wrong.

Why Standing Water Becomes a Mosquito Nightmare

Within two weeks of installing my beautiful water feature, I noticed something wasn’t right. Every time I stepped outside after 6 PM, I was getting absolutely demolished by mosquitoes.

Turns out, those cute little saucers under my water lily containers? They were basically mosquito nurseries. Female mosquitoes only need about a tablespoon of standing water to lay up to 300 eggs.

The water in my decorative planters wasn’t moving at all. It just sat there, getting warmer each day, creating the perfect breeding ground for these little vampires.

How My Dream Water Garden Became a Bug Factory

Here’s what I learned the hard way about aquatic plant containers. Those beautiful ceramic pots holding my water hyacinths were collecting rainwater faster than I could empty them.

Every single container became a mosquito maternity ward. The larvae were thriving in the warm, stagnant water while I was completely oblivious.

My neighbor actually pointed it out to me – she could see the mosquito larvae wiggling around in the water when she looked closely. Talk about embarrassing!

The Game-Changing Alternatives That Actually Work

After doing some serious research (and getting about fifty more mosquito bites), I discovered mosquito-repelling aquatic plants that could save my sanity.

Water mint became my absolute lifesaver. This stuff grows like crazy in water containers and naturally repels mosquitoes with its strong scent.

I also switched to floating water lettuce and water hyacinth with proper drainage. These plants actually help prevent stagnant water by absorbing nutrients that mosquitoes need to breed.

Design Tips That Actually Prevent Mosquito Problems

The biggest change I made was adding a small solar fountain pump to my main water feature. Moving water is mosquito kryptonite – they can’t lay eggs in it.

For my container water gardens, I started using self-watering planters with overflow drainage. This prevents that deadly standing water issue completely.

I also learned to space my aquatic plants properly. Dense clusters of water plants create humid microclimates that mosquitoes absolutely love.

Maintenance Strategies That Keep Bugs Away

Now I check my water containers every three days during mosquito season. Any standing water gets dumped immediately – no exceptions.

I add mosquito dunks (they’re totally safe for plants) to any water that needs to stay put for more than a week. These little tablets release bacteria that kill mosquito larvae but won’t harm your plants.

The key is changing the water in smaller containers at least twice a week. Yeah, it’s a bit of work, but it beats being eaten alive every evening.

Ready to learn about another sneaky mosquito magnet hiding in your garden? Click the “next” button below to discover why that beautiful bamboo you’ve been admiring might be the reason you can’t enjoy your morning coffee outside!