Dragonflies can help eliminate mosquitoes – here's what to grow to attract them
Nobody likes mosquitos.
And even though every creature plays an important role in the ecosystem, mosquitos are the bane of our summer existence, not just for their bites but because they transmit disease as well.
Why can’t we just eliminate them all? Well, it turns out that mosquitos are a food source for other creatures.
But the good news is that you can take advantage of this fact by skipping the potentially-toxic bug spray and let nature take its course to control backyard mosquitoes.
Just invite its predators into your yard!
The dragonfly is a harmless and quite beautiful insect that can feast on up to 100 mosquitos a day!
And while your first instinct might be to swat at any insect that flies by, these don’t bite or sting.
Of course, mosquitoes are everywhere, which means dragonflies have no problem finding an all-they-can-eat buffet. That means you have to do some work to lure them to YOUR backyard buffet.
Here’s a quick list of pretty plants to add to your garden that are particularly attractive to dragonflies:
1. Yarrow (Achillea filipendula)
Don’t have a green thumb? Yarrow basically thrives on neglect, so plant away!
Yarrow is drought tolerant and will bloom in June and throughout July and even again in the Fall if it’s cut back in midsummer.
It grows best in zones 3-9 and prefers full sun.
If you don’t want it to spread and take over your garden, keep it in a container.
2. Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Goldenrod also likes to spread, so plant it in a container unless you want to see a lot of it.
The pretty, yellow, late-blooming perennial needs full sun but is otherwise very low-maintenance.
In fact, most people consider goldenrod a weed since it’s often found growing in abandoned fields and along roadsides.
3. Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta)
These beautiful biennials are easy to grow and enjoy full to partial sun in medium or moist soil.
Their ideal growing zones (3-10) cover just about the whole U.S. – and, better yet, they start blooming as early as June and can keep producing flowers well into September.
4. Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
These come in pink, red, purple, and white and have a citrusy smell. This perennial thrives in everything from full sun to partial shade and can grow to be 2-4 feet tall.
Since the plant is native to North America it can grow all over, but it’s most popular in the central and northern parts of the country.
Bee balm has a very long blooming period from May to October and also attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
5. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
Russian sage is a late-summer-blooming perennial with bluish-purple flowers that grows well in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-9. It’s also drought-resistant but needs full sun to bloom.
Find more tips here.
6. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnate)
It certainly doesn’t sound pretty, but swamp milkweed is a pretty pink perennial wildflower that grows as a bush that can reach 2-5 ft in height.
It flowers from June to October in just about any climate.
The only catch is that it needs very wet soil and full sun – a hard balance to maintain (and hence its swampy name).
7. Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium fistulosum)
Joe Pye, or Trumpetweed, belongs to the Aster family (as do sunflowers).
This pinkish-lavender perennial can grow from 2-7 ft. in moist soil and blooms in late summer in zones 4 to 8.
It needs full sun to partial shade and is also known for attracting butterflies and bumblebees as well as dragonflies.
8. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
These will also blanket an area if not contained, but the reward is a flower that keeps budding from mid-summer through Fall.
Gaillardia can grow to be 12-18 inches high and 12-24 inches wide if you keep them in full sun and well-drained soil, and they come in shades of red, yellow, orange, and even peach.
9. Coneflower (Echinacea)
The purple variety is the most popular, but these flowering plants also come in red, yellow, and white.
They like full sun but their water needs are low, making them great for beginners.
10. Phlox
Phlox attracts butterflies as well as dragonflies to a garden – and since there are 67 different species, you have a wide array of colors to choose from.
Some flower in the Spring, while others are late bloomers. And the flowers can be blue, violet, pink, bright red, or white.
Some grow tall while others spread out, so consult your garden center about what type of phlox is right for your garden.
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Happy planting!
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Source: Smithsonian Magazine, Live Love Fruit, Garden Drum