Light Requirement for Pennyroyal
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Kimberly Clemons
Posted on: February 16, 1999

I would like to know what kind of lighting pennyroyal/pennyroyal carpet needs. Also, I would like to know what kind of insects it repels and if you have any suggestions about what to plant outside the porch to repel mosquitos. The planting area would be very shady.

Both pennyroyals like sun to half shade. They probably repel many different insects but are specifically said to repel fleas, ants and even mice. They are therefore used in organic fleacollars for pets.

To repel mosquitos around your porch, you might like to try placing a pot or two of citronella grass close to the porch, but overwintering it in a sunny window indoors. The citrosa geranium is said to repel mosquitos, but studies suggest it is not effective. Both plants would need to be rotated to a sunnier location for at least part of the summer to prevent the plants from getting thin and straggly.

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