Six Plants that Attract Dragonflies for Mosquito Control 

Nature is amazing. Let’s be real, there are things that we will simply never understand about the universe: how it works, why it works the way it does. And watching some of the inherent processes take place is unbelievable – nature, somehow, works together with all of its various parts to take care of itself. Isn’t that just crazy? There are so many symbiotic relationships to choose from as examples, of one part of creation coming alongside another for the benefit of both of them.

One of the aspects of nature we may not love includes pesky mosquitos. We know in our minds that mosquitos are good and necessary for the natural order of the world… but no one likes mosquito bites. But did you know that nature has its own order for mosquito control? Dragonflies are a natural remedy against overpopulation of mosquitos in the existence of any ecosystem. If you live in a place with a lot of mosquitos, you probably have seen swarms of dragonflies appear from nowhere and take care of those mosquitos.

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What Not To Do With Mosquitos

Now, we’re human. Which means, mainly, that we are impatient and just want to get our problems solved as soon as possible – so many people get desperate concerning the mosquitos in their area and begin to introduce chemicals into their yards to keep the mosquitos at bay. Unsurprisingly, though, bringing chemicals into the equation totally throws the equilibrium of the ecosystem off-kilter, which may actually make the mosquitos worse over time, along with the health and quality of your yard and garden.

So, if you have fallen prey to the trap of chemicals or want to avoid them completely, this article is for you! If you want to get more dragonflies into your yard to help control mosquitos, we have a list of several plants and flowers that will help bring more dragonflies to you. The more dragonflies that are around, the more likely they will be to help take care of the mosquitos so you don’t have to. Curious? Keep reading!

Where Do I Start?

There is a little bit of groundwork (no pun intended) that comes with preparing a garden and yard for the arrival of dragonflies. As you might expect, when you invite new species, you will have all sorts of new visitors in your yard. When you plant blooming varieties, specifically, you will probably seem more butterflies, wasps, moths, and other flying insects coming alongside the dragonflies.

Dragonflies are attracted to a variety of plants and shrubs, but they are also very prone to landscapes with water plants, or nearby water in general. If you have a pond or another body of water on your property, you are in luck – it is a prime spot that will be highly valued by dragonflies.

If you are not sure you want to build a pond, or maybe just want to start by adding a few plants into a pre-existing garden before you attempt “garden extreme makeover,” consider some of these plants and how you could integrate them into your yard. Some of these plants will be tasty snacks for dragonflies, while others will make better hiding places or resting spots for all the dragonflies in your life.

If You Already Have a Pond: Water Plants

Plant 1: Water Lily
If you do already have a pre-existing water source in your yard, adding Water lilies is a really great way to maximize your assets. Water lilies, which float in ponds, are great destinations for dragonflies to lay their eggs, so you can have a yard filled with dragonfly babies. This is perfect, because mosquitos hang around water, too, so you can nip them in the bud.

Plant 2: Cattails
These were the most fun to pick and carry around as kids – they are hardy, fun to look at, and unique. All of these features make them excellent choices to sit on the edge of your water source and play double duty for dragonflies: they are resting spots and nesting spots. They need bright sunshine, so keep that in mind when planting them in moist soil.

Plant 3: Arrowhead
This guy is planted underwater and grows up above the water, to heights of three feet above the surface. They may also be a little tricky to plant because they need to be submerged initially, but you can weigh it down with rocks and it will grow quickly.

If You Want To Spruce Up Your Garden: Land Plants

Plant Four: Meadow Sage
Meadow Sage is a perennial, which means it will come back year after year. It prefers morning sun but shade in the afternoon, and otherwise, it doesn’t need a ton of maintenance, just some water every now and then. The blossoms are purple, which means they catch the eye of many insects.

Plant Five: Black Eyed Susan
Another brightly colored plant, these yellow fellows attract dragonflies and their flying friends. These plants take slightly more maintenance, but you can plant them everywhere and everywhere – just make sure they have plenty of sun and can be watered regularly.

Plant Six: Joe-Pye Weed
If you are looking for a plant to take up space, plant this guy. This plant has pink blossoms and grows between 3 and 12 feet, which can be pretty substantial. They are a great place for dragonflies to hang out, and prefer partial to full sunshine.

Conclusion
There are a lot of other plants that are excellent choices for dragonfly attraction for your garden – if you want more options, consider wild celery or water horsetail for your pond, and white yarrows or swamp milkweed for your garden. These plants are easy to care for, often fragrant, and easy to learn to care for. The returns on your investment will be manifold as you say goodbye to mosquitos in your yard – the natural way! Instead of infecting your garden and home with chemicals, taking time to look at natural remedies is a great way to find a solution that works for you.