The citronella mosquito plant is believed to have a scent that repels mosquitoes.
The citronella mosquito plant goes by many names. It is also known as the citronella plant, the mosquito plant and the citronella geranium. Even its botanical name is in doubt, since it is listed as Pelargonium citrosum 'Van Lenni,' P. citronellum, P. x citrosum and P. 'Citrosa.' Since it was first released, it has been marketed as an effective mosquito repellent, although the scientific evidence shows a far different picture. Does this Spark an idea?
History
In the late 1980s, Dutch scientist Dr. Dirk Van Leeni released what he referred to as a mosquito plant Pelargonium citrosum 'Van Leeni.' According to Van Leeni, the plant was a cross between a rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) and Chinese citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus). This claim was later proved to be false, according to the Herb Society of America. The plant was nothing more than a citronella-scented geranium and not a hybrid, as Van Leeni claimed.
Effectiveness
Citronella mosquito plant's one claim to fame is that its citronella scent repels mosquitoes. According to Dr. Van Leeni, the plant's scent alone would keep yards and homes mosquito-free and eliminate the need for aerosol sprays. He also claimed it kept away black flies and most other biting insects. According to Colorado State University scientists Frank Peairs and Whitney Cranshaw, studies done on the mosquito plant show it has no effect at repelling mosquitoes and may actually increase their biting rates. Furthermore, according to a field test published in the Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association in 1996, mosquitoes were even willing to land on the mosquito plant.
Uses
According to Arthur Tucker, a plant fragrance specialist at Delaware State College, the mosquito plant does contain 0.09 percent citronellal, a major component of citronella oil. When crushed and rubbed against the skin, the leaves are slightly effective at repelling mosquitoes. They had a repellency of approximately 30 to 40 percent. However, this is far less than other plants that contain citronella oil, such as lemon thyme (Thymus X citriodorus), which has an effectiveness of 62 percent.
Cultivation
Growing instructions for the citronella mosquito plant are the same as for any other scented geranium. Outdoors, it prefers full sun in well-drained soil. Mosquito plants are perennials in USDA Zone 8 through Zone 11. In cooler areas, these geraniums should be brought inside before night temperatures get below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Place them in a location where they will receive at least four hours of sunlight. Keep the soil dry, and fertilize when leaves look pale green.
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