Is citronella the same as scented geranium?

Scented Geranium ‘Citronella’ does contain small amounts of citronella oil, but more is found in Geranium ‘Dr Livingstone’. If true insect repelling plants are required the Cymbopogon genus is the source of the true essential oil. However, the former are not true botanical names and the plant does not repel insects.

Do scented geraniums keep mosquitoes away?

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.

Does citronella geranium 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.

How do you grow citronella scented geraniums?

Space citronella 18 to 24 inches apart in an area that receives partial shade and has fertile, well-drained soil. Improve your native soil by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter. Check soil moisture every few days and water when the top inch becomes dry.

Is citronella geranium toxic to dogs?

All three categories of the “citronella confusion” cloud listed above — citronella-scented geraniums; true citronella grass; and lemongrass, potentially — are toxic if your dog eats them. Citronella-scented geraniums and citronella oil can also cause a rash or skin irritation on your dog.

Is there a difference between geraniums and scented geraniums?

The flowers on scented geraniums are smaller than true geraniums and do not have a fragrance. Many scented geraniums add flavor to food, sugar, syrup and hot tea.

Do lavender plants repel mosquitoes?

Not only does lavender keep mosquitoes away, but dried lavender is often used in sachets to repel moths and other pests from closets and wardrobes.

How do I make my citronella plant bushy?

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.

Why is citronella bad for dogs?

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.

Do dogs like the smell of citronella?

Citronella candles are used to keep bugs away from you, but they will have the same effect on your dog. The reason your dog hates the smell of citronella is that the smell is so close to citrus.

Do scented geraniums like coffee grounds?

Are Coffee Grounds Good for Geraniums? Coffee grounds can be a good addition to the soil of geraniums due to the nitrogen content of spent coffee grounds. They can also improve the quality of the soil and help retain moisture.

Where to find citronella plants?

Citronella grass plant is native to tropical areas of Asia. It is grown commercially in Indonesia, Java, Burma, India and Sri Lanka for use in insect repellents, soaps, and candles.

Do citronella plants repel mosquitoes?

Citronella. Check out citronella as a plant that repels mosquitoes. Citronella is known as the mosquito plant because the citronella scent is infused into many candles and sprays.

Is a citronella plant a perennial?

Also called mosquito plant, the citronella geranium cultivar is a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b through 11. In other areas, it is either left in the ground and grown as an annual or dug up before winter and kept inside until spring.

Are citronella perennials?

Citronella is a perennial grass that can grow 5 to 6 feet tall. It is hardy in gardening zones 10 through 12 and can be grown as an annual in cooler areas or grown in containers and moved indoors for the winter.