Pest identification
What's eating my altissimo rose?
Japanese beetle (US)
Signs: Adults feed directly inside the single open blooms, destroying stamens and petals throughout summer.
Control: Hand-pick at dawn into soapy water; apply neem oil every 7 days; add milky spore to lawn for grub control.
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on new cane tips and emerging buds cause sticky foliage, sooty mould, and poor new growth.
Control: Dislodge with water spray; insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators like lacewings.
Rose sawfly (larva)
Signs: Larvae skeletonize leaf undersides in late spring, leaving brown papery patches across climbing canes.
Control: Inspect weekly from May; hand-remove larvae; spray spinosad targeting leaf undersides.
Deer
Signs: New cane tips and foliage browsed at accessible height, particularly in autumn.
Control: Train growth above browse reach; use deer-repellent spray on lower canes; fence if pressure is high.
Keep altissimo rose pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Altissimo Rose pests — FAQ
What is eating my altissimo rose?
Altissimo is a single-flowered deep-red climber highly attractive to Japanese beetles in the US due to its open, accessible blooms. Aphids colonise new canes readily. Rose sawfly larvae defoliate in late spring. Deer may browse lower growth. The single flower form exposes reproductive parts directly, making Japanese beetle damage especially visible.
How do I get rid of japanese beetle (us) on altissimo rose?
Adults feed directly inside the single open blooms, destroying stamens and petals throughout summer. Hand-pick at dawn into soapy water; apply neem oil every 7 days; add milky spore to lawn for grub control.
How do I get rid of aphids on altissimo rose?
Colonies on new cane tips and emerging buds cause sticky foliage, sooty mould, and poor new growth. Dislodge with water spray; insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators like lacewings.
How do I get rid of rose sawfly (larva) on altissimo rose?
Larvae skeletonize leaf undersides in late spring, leaving brown papery patches across climbing canes. Inspect weekly from May; hand-remove larvae; spray spinosad targeting leaf undersides.
How do I get rid of deer on altissimo rose?
New cane tips and foliage browsed at accessible height, particularly in autumn. Train growth above browse reach; use deer-repellent spray on lower canes; fence if pressure is high.