CITRONELLA / SCENTED GERANIUM
Scented geraniums seem to be a popular mosquito repelling plant. Recommended by PlantShed, BBG, and NYBG, the favored scent seems to be lemon scented, which is reminiscent of citronella grass. The strong fragrance keeps several types of pests away.
Do citronella geraniums come back every year?
Citronella geraniums will survive outdoors year-round as a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b through 11—i.e. much of the West Coast, the Southwest, and the Southeast of the United States. In other zones, they can be brought inside during the winter or left outside as an annual.
Is citronella geranium toxic to dogs?
Is citronella safe for pets? If you grow scented geraniums in the Pelargonium family, be sure to keep your dogs and cats away. Scented geraniums are toxic to pets.
Do citronella geraniums need full sun?
Citronella plants love full sun, but they can also tolerate some partial shade. Give them 6 to 7 hours of sunlight every day and watch them thrive. If you bring your plants indoors during the winter months, give them a sunny spot near a window.
Do citronella geraniums bloom?
BLOOMING They bloom from late spring until mid-fall. TEMPERATURE ZONE 9 to 11 When nights stay above 50 degrees, place your plants outside and leave them there all season. WINTER SEASON These are annuals and can’t take a freeze.
Can you plant citronella in the ground?
Citronella
Citronella is a perennial ‘clumping’ grass which grows to a height of 5 – 6 feet. It can be grown directly in the ground in climate zones where frost does not occur. If grown in the garden or near the patio, it should be planted in the ‘background’, behind small decorative flowers and shrubs.
What do you do with a citronella plant in the winter?
In areas that experience frost, it is best to plant citronella plants in containers that can be moved inside when temperatures drop. While inside, the plants still need adequate sunlight, so placing them near a south- or west-facing window is best.
Do you cut back citronella plants?
Citronella plants can reach 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1 meter) in height. You can pinch back citronella to form a more compact, bushy plant. The lacey, fragrant leaves also work well in summer floral bouquets so feel free to prune often. The stems also can be cut and dried.
How do you keep citronella plants alive in the winter?
Since citronella prefers partial shade, find a space in your home that will provide enough sunlight to get your plants through the winter. These plants need some sunlight, but they don’t require a full eight hours; if they receive direct sunlight, you must keep them watered thoroughly to survive.
Is citronella the same as lemongrass?
Though citronella grass may sometimes be called lemongrass, they are two different plants. Lemongrass and citronella grass are closely related and can look and smell very similar. However, citronella grass has reddish colored pseudostems, while lemongrass is all green.
Can I burn a citronella candle around my dog?
Citronella is toxic to pets
Citronella candles and oils are a popular mosquito repellent, but the citronella plant is toxic to pets. Use caution when using citronella products around your pet, and make sure they don’t have access to any citronella plants in your garden.
What happens if a dog licks citronella?
Besides having no mosquito-deterring citronella oil in it, as a member of the geranium family, they contain geraniol and linalool, both of which are highly toxic to dogs and could cause gastrointestinal distress.
How do you care for a potted citronella plant?
Check soil moisture every few days and water when the top inch becomes dry. For abundant blooms, feed regularly with a water-soluble plant food. Once mature, prune citronella as necessary and enjoy the fragrant leaves and flowers in summer arrangements.
How big does a citronella plant get?
Citronella Mosquito Plant is a medium tall plant, growing up to 24 inches tall and spreading up to 24 inches wide. It is tall enough that you can plant something shorter in front of it in the landscape or container. If you do so, you should space the Citronella Mosquito Plant 18-24 inches apart from its neighbors.
Are citronella plants easy to grow?
Like most geraniums, the citronella mosquito plant is easy to grow, although it does require proper fertilization and care to ensure optimum growth.
How do you use citronella geraniums?
To make a citronella-based repellent, you must extract the oils, which can be done simply by crushing the plant leaves. You can rub it directly on the skin or make large quantities of the concentrate for later use. Both, when applied on the skin or clothes can help repel moquitoes for up to 12 hours.
Is citronella in the geranium family?
Citronella Plant Info
Though many of its names leave the impression that it contains citronella, which is a common ingredient in insect repellent, the plant is actually a variety of scented geranium that simply produces a citronella-like scent when the leaves are crushed.
