Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant) in Zone 8a & 8b
Pelargonium citrosum
When to plant citronella plant (mosquito plant) in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Buy as a start: Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside. Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant) is slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Start indoors | Not started from seed; buy as a nursery start |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 1–Apr 8 |
| Estimated harvest | May 31–Jun 7 (~60 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
This is a scented geranium marketed as a mosquito plant. The scent is lovely. The mosquito claim does not survive contact with the evidence.
How citronella plant (mosquito plant) fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant) needs about 60 days from transplant to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant).
Where to buy citronella plant starts
Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant) is almost always bought as a nursery start rather than seeded. Check a local nursery or garden center; we haven't vetted online start/plant suppliers yet.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing citronella plant (mosquito plant)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant) in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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