Citronella plants won't save your backyard

Planting citronella or lavender does not keep mosquitoes away from your yard.

Here’s the thing: the plant that smells like citronella (it’s actually a type of geranium, Pelargonium citrosum) and the grass that produces citronella oil (Cymbopogon nardus) are not the same thing. Even the real citronella grass needs to be crushed or burned to release enough oil to matter. Just having it sit there in a pot does almost nothing.

Lavender smells lovely to us, but mosquitoes aren’t bothered by a potted plant sitting three feet away. They’re attracted to CO₂ and body heat. A gentle breeze from a fan will repel them better than an entire lavender hedge.

If you want to hang out in your yard without getting eaten, your best bet is a fan, long sleeves, and a proper repellent with DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. The plant thing is mostly a marketing gimmick that sounds nice.

Your porch will smell better, but you’ll still get bit.