How effective are Citrosa plants?
The Citrosa plant will, when the leaves are moved, release citronella, a natural and well-known, but not always effective, mosquito repellent. Citronella is sold as a repellent in lotion form but is more commonly sold as citronella candles. The candles, used in groups, can be effective as long as the citronella lemony smell is present. However, some studies have shown that Citrosa plants do not repel mosquitoes or keep them from biting humans that are nearby, even when the leaves are crushed and the citronella smell is released. In fact, mosquitoes freely land on the plant and feed on it, sucking sugar from the stems. There are no known plants that, when planted near houses, prevent mosquitoes from entering the building or from biting humans that pass them. The best method to prevent mosquito bites is to wear loose clothing that covers the skin and apply commercial repellent that contains 7% to 30% DEET on exposed skin or on the clothing. Please read the directions on the repellent con
