Is Your Yard a Mosquito Oasis?
View the pdf version here.
A collaboration with Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants
![May contain: human, person, outdoors, plant, flower, blossom, garden, pottery, jar, vase, and potted plant](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/6174dac7-5a51-4f1b-9c81-c84be65cc99a/2020-garden-11-santa-monica-a.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=0f44a01e7209ffd08188643e69e2cfef)
Say goodbye to plants that attract mosquitoes, and hello to beautiful, bite-free California plants!
Step 1: Assess Your Yard
Are there cool, shady areas with dense plants?
Follow this step-by-step list to determine the environment you're working with.
Examples of mosquito-attracting environments:
![May contain: plant and ivy](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/b8f37675-d21a-4469-b6fd-05f2eca63a33/rodion-kutsaev-9Fong4i8CFk-unsplash.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=0308b404b363636f461f0ff43f7e0bf7)
![May contain: plant, hedge, fence, bush, and vegetation](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/76c473de-e332-4ec8-a7ef-b56509c283b6/osman-rana-aEcF58jG1n4-unsplash.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=bfe830127a9b321a925eb7baee29a985)
![May contain: outdoors, garden, arbour, tree, plant, yard, nature, and vegetation](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/bec2cfbe-74de-43c2-b503-c067f980efac/gibbon-fitzgibbon--kAfFP0tlyY-unsplash.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=50a72130c5565ea41b3475214671489c)
![May contain: plant and ivy](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/b8f37675-d21a-4469-b6fd-05f2eca63a33/rodion-kutsaev-9Fong4i8CFk-unsplash.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=0308b404b363636f461f0ff43f7e0bf7)
![May contain: plant, hedge, fence, bush, and vegetation](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/76c473de-e332-4ec8-a7ef-b56509c283b6/osman-rana-aEcF58jG1n4-unsplash.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=bfe830127a9b321a925eb7baee29a985)
![May contain: outdoors, garden, arbour, tree, plant, yard, nature, and vegetation](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/bec2cfbe-74de-43c2-b503-c067f980efac/gibbon-fitzgibbon--kAfFP0tlyY-unsplash.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=50a72130c5565ea41b3475214671489c)
Many SoCal yards have non-native plants that grow densely with large leaves that provide resting places for mosquitoes to beat the heat
![May contain: plant and pollen](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/0289872a-4ee8-40a7-93d5-9580107859d9/tpf-plants-cylindropuntia-prolifera-coastal-cholla.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=2d90cd3dc457b7ea9a535ef548393a9e)
Step 2: Choose Your Plants
Enjoy this curated list of plants that are great alternatives to popular non-native plants. These plants provide your home with the same modern appeal, and reduce the mosquitoes.
Hedge: Lemonade Berry
Water Requirement: Low Soil Type: Any
Specialty Features: Songbirds, Erosion Control
Flowering Months: March, April, May, February
![May contain: plant, flower, and blossom](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/c2ac327c-2362-4e57-9037-8648cb708c3f/tpf%20-%20integrifolia-lemonade-berry-plant.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=20acafdb08ac96060dad7bb8d3c93d27)
![May contain: plant, sprout, blossom, bud, flower, and acanthaceae](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/c76db724-446c-4463-b940-4b516a33e4b7/tpf-plants-rhus-integrifolia-lemonade-berry-plant.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=53e1169879e3dde10a05e5cea3132f0d)
![May contain: plant, flower, and blossom](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/c2ac327c-2362-4e57-9037-8648cb708c3f/tpf%20-%20integrifolia-lemonade-berry-plant.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=20acafdb08ac96060dad7bb8d3c93d27)
![May contain: plant, sprout, blossom, bud, flower, and acanthaceae](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/c76db724-446c-4463-b940-4b516a33e4b7/tpf-plants-rhus-integrifolia-lemonade-berry-plant.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=53e1169879e3dde10a05e5cea3132f0d)
Accent Shrub: Palmer’s Indian Mallow
Water Requirement: Low Soil Type: Any
Specialty Features: Pollinators
Flowering Months: January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, February
![May contain: pollen, plant, flower, and blossom](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/8735bbc6-b651-4ca0-92f7-fe98dc59e933/tpf-abutilon-palmeri-palmers-indian-mallow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=ed42b160e5b219a2fc7d4aa72b587ffb)
![May contain: plant, petal, flower, blossom, geranium, and pollen](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/7d5fa03e-7027-4447-9e6d-056401ce0d76/image.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=d5231fd54409a1105e545fcadfb3b834)
![May contain: pollen, plant, flower, and blossom](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/8735bbc6-b651-4ca0-92f7-fe98dc59e933/tpf-abutilon-palmeri-palmers-indian-mallow.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=ed42b160e5b219a2fc7d4aa72b587ffb)
![May contain: plant, petal, flower, blossom, geranium, and pollen](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/7d5fa03e-7027-4447-9e6d-056401ce0d76/image.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=d5231fd54409a1105e545fcadfb3b834)
Ground Cover: Joyce Coulter Ceanothus
Water Requirement: Low Soil Type: Any
Specialty Features: Aromatic, Butterflies, Songbirds, Erosion Control
Flowering Months: February, March, April
![May contain: plant, blossom, and flower](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/80546f95-9d06-4e99-adbe-dc4073036f0f/tpf-plants-ceanothus-joyce-coulter-joyce-coulter-c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=dd6dfba08807a1d53645250fbc54f6c3)
Grasses: Deergrass
Water Requirement: Low Soil Type: Any
Specialty Features: Butterflies, Songbirds, Erosion Control
Flowering Months: June, July, August, September
![May contain: grass, plant, lawn, and agropyron](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/6b33579c-3ab4-408c-83e2-ff892f88c33f/tpf-seeds-muhlenbergia-rigens-deergrass-seed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=17edc5938937407151be11ec0d403c57)
![May contain: grass, plant, agropyron, and lawn](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/afb6857b-cd66-42b9-97b1-9ff6c3071eb5/tpf-plants-muhlenbergia-rigens-deergrass-plant.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=227fc2b6e7452b78c017ac41584ebe29)
![May contain: grass, plant, lawn, and agropyron](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/6b33579c-3ab4-408c-83e2-ff892f88c33f/tpf-seeds-muhlenbergia-rigens-deergrass-seed.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=17edc5938937407151be11ec0d403c57)
![May contain: grass, plant, agropyron, and lawn](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/afb6857b-cd66-42b9-97b1-9ff6c3071eb5/tpf-plants-muhlenbergia-rigens-deergrass-plant.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=227fc2b6e7452b78c017ac41584ebe29)
Accent Tree: Western Redbud
Water Requirement: Moderate Soil Type: Any
Specialty Features: Butterflies, Pollinators, Erosion Control
Flowering Months: March, April, May
![May contain: plant, flower, and blossom](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/f1ce9eb0-a65a-4e19-a95c-2539cf27a3dd/tpf-plants-cercis-occidentalis-western-redbud-plan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=0254db59902259b8c951cc76f4672e7f)
![May contain: plant, vegetation, nature, tree, woodland, outdoors, forest, land, grove, bush, grass, path, and yard](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/54e4a5d0-3604-4e24-a48b-cb62591c91bb/tpf-cercis-occidentalis-western-redbud-plan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=5d660315fc6615baa28abfe5f407781e)
![May contain: plant, flower, and blossom](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/f1ce9eb0-a65a-4e19-a95c-2539cf27a3dd/tpf-plants-cercis-occidentalis-western-redbud-plan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=0254db59902259b8c951cc76f4672e7f)
![May contain: plant, vegetation, nature, tree, woodland, outdoors, forest, land, grove, bush, grass, path, and yard](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/54e4a5d0-3604-4e24-a48b-cb62591c91bb/tpf-cercis-occidentalis-western-redbud-plan.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=5d660315fc6615baa28abfe5f407781e)
Step 3: Step Outside and Enjoy the Benefits
Now that you're no longer mosquito grub, see how else you've treated yourself!
![May contain: trademark, symbol, and logo](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/a8225a41-fca9-4300-a1cd-1669cc48fc8d/Untitled%20design%20(3).png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=e3f56d8dc0250584cd7c95cccd959812)
For more in-depth information, Theodore Payne's website is blooming with plant guides!
Other California Native Plants to Consider
![May contain: plant, blossom, flower, and geranium](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/be034e66-f872-4395-a85e-81904a6b9b2f/tpf-plants-epilobium-everetts-choice-everetts-choi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=5b03fd650f0aebcfefdadf2b47080725)
![May contain: plant, bush, vegetation, conifer, tree, yew, fence, and hedge](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/493d83cc-a66e-4121-a7e5-108712f43272/tpf-plants-adenostoma-fasciculatum-nicolas-nicolas.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=783241a4d10e986ded1d9daebccc0d6c)
![May contain: plant, blossom, flower, geranium, and apiaceae](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/663d8133-1fdb-43a6-bf54-3a49e72faff4/tpf-plants-achillea-millefolium-island-pink-island.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=e26440d8af2bd310a283de7affb6cbd9)
![May contain: plant, flower, and blossom](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/26a027d1-979e-4a3f-8d3a-d31178dfe5e9/tpf-plants-ceanothus-concha-concha-ceanothus-plant.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=4d79742e57315e6c129e3ca7e86b2b6d)
![May contain: plant, bush, vegetation, potted plant, vase, pottery, jar, blossom, and flower](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/e022e374-e6cd-4c61-8940-3114758095ea/theodore-payne-foundation-plant-arctostaphylos-pum.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=5347c6ead4aaf04b3d15bf2d6f03a3af)
![May contain: plant, tree, conifer, and larch](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/09d304be-6560-4d73-ae7f-c560b2504b66/tpf-plants-parkinsonia-florida-blue-palo-verde-pla.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=086537959b60528ff45952be9b12a0d9)
![May contain: plant, blossom, flower, and geranium](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/be034e66-f872-4395-a85e-81904a6b9b2f/tpf-plants-epilobium-everetts-choice-everetts-choi.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=5b03fd650f0aebcfefdadf2b47080725)
![May contain: plant, bush, vegetation, conifer, tree, yew, fence, and hedge](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/493d83cc-a66e-4121-a7e5-108712f43272/tpf-plants-adenostoma-fasciculatum-nicolas-nicolas.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=783241a4d10e986ded1d9daebccc0d6c)
![May contain: plant, blossom, flower, geranium, and apiaceae](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/663d8133-1fdb-43a6-bf54-3a49e72faff4/tpf-plants-achillea-millefolium-island-pink-island.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=e26440d8af2bd310a283de7affb6cbd9)
![May contain: plant, flower, and blossom](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/26a027d1-979e-4a3f-8d3a-d31178dfe5e9/tpf-plants-ceanothus-concha-concha-ceanothus-plant.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=4d79742e57315e6c129e3ca7e86b2b6d)
![May contain: plant, bush, vegetation, potted plant, vase, pottery, jar, blossom, and flower](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/e022e374-e6cd-4c61-8940-3114758095ea/theodore-payne-foundation-plant-arctostaphylos-pum.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=5347c6ead4aaf04b3d15bf2d6f03a3af)
![May contain: plant, tree, conifer, and larch](https://streamline.imgix.net/f82be683-a93a-4b4f-adbe-ac41ac4c300e/09d304be-6560-4d73-ae7f-c560b2504b66/tpf-plants-parkinsonia-florida-blue-palo-verde-pla.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=2000&h=2000&fit=max&or=0&s=086537959b60528ff45952be9b12a0d9)
Images by Theodore Payne Foundation