Pest identification
What's eating my black rose aeonium?
Aphids
Signs: Clusters of small green or black insects at growing tips and rosette centers; sticky residue and curled new leaves.
Control: Knock off with a firm water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; repeat weekly until gone.
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony fluff at the stem-to-leaf junction and leaf axils; honeydew residue and wilting foliage.
Control: Remove with isopropyl alcohol swabs; spray whole plant with neem oil solution every 7 days for 3 weeks.
Vine weevil
Signs: C-shaped cream grubs eat roots and the stem base (UK particularly common in containers); plants suddenly collapse.
Control: Apply biological control nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer/early autumn; use sticky traps on pot rims to catch adults.
Keep black rose aeonium pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats tree houseleek — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats black rose aeonium — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common black rose aeonium problems & fixes
- Black Rose Aeonium watering schedule
- Black Rose Aeonium light requirements
- Full black rose aeonium care guide
Black Rose Aeonium pests — FAQ
What is eating my black rose aeonium?
Black Rose Aeonium (Aeonium arboreum 'Zwartkop') is vulnerable to aphids, which target its fleshy rosette centers especially when grown outdoors. Mealybugs can shelter at the stem or leaf base indoors. Vine weevil grubs are a serious outdoor container threat, silently devouring roots. Regular inspection of both rosette and soil is essential.
How do I get rid of aphids on black rose aeonium?
Clusters of small green or black insects at growing tips and rosette centers; sticky residue and curled new leaves. Knock off with a firm water spray; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; repeat weekly until gone.
How do I get rid of mealybugs on black rose aeonium?
White cottony fluff at the stem-to-leaf junction and leaf axils; honeydew residue and wilting foliage. Remove with isopropyl alcohol swabs; spray whole plant with neem oil solution every 7 days for 3 weeks.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on black rose aeonium?
C-shaped cream grubs eat roots and the stem base (UK particularly common in containers); plants suddenly collapse. Apply biological control nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist compost in late summer/early autumn; use sticky traps on pot rims to catch adults.