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Re: mosquito grass

I don't think the "mosquito grass" being sold as a repellant is Bouteloua gracilis. I have not found any reference that indicates Bouteloua gracilis has any lemony essential oils or repellant qualities, and I think its alternate common name of mosquito grass may refer to the appearance of the tiny inflorescences, which look somewhat like a cloud of mosquitoes.   

My suspicion is that the "mosquito grass" is a marketing name for lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) or a close relation, but that's just a guess.  Lois, did you find the plant online or at a garden center?
David

David J. Ellis
Editor of The American Gardener
AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
7931 East Boulevard Drive
Alexandria, VA 22308
(703) 768-5700 ext. 122


   6. Mosquito Grass (loisdan@juno.com)
   7. Re: Mosquito Grass (Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp)
   8. Re: Mosquito Grass (Mary Palmer Dargan)



Message: 6
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:03:31 -0400
From: loisdan@juno.com
Subject: [GWL] Mosquito Grass
To: gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
Message-ID: <20130326.040337.1559.245487@mailpop12.vgs.untd.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Does anyone know what plant (and hardiness zone) "Mosquito Grass" is?
It's supposed to have a "citrus odor" and "contain more citronella than
the mosquito plant." At $16 for a 2-inch pot, I'm wondering how rare this
plant is or how effective it is at keeping those pesky bugs away.

Regards,
Lois

Lois J. de Vries
Visit: http://cultivatingtheinnergardener.blogspot.com
Visit: http://loisdevries.blogspot.com
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/loisdevries
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/loisjdevries


------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:14:31 -0400
From: Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp <hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [GWL] Mosquito Grass
To: Garden Writers -- GWL -- The Garden Writers Forum
	<gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Message-ID: <B10148D5-7BBF-4FE3-BD82-9F9AB4D33728@sbcglobal.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;	charset=us-ascii

Bouteloua gracilis, blue gramma, hardy in USDA Zone 5-9. It's a native plant.
jems
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