What's eating my blanket flower?

Blanket Flower is generally pest-tolerant, but aphids and the aster leafhopper — which vectors aster yellows disease — are the main threats. Powdery mildew weakens plants in humid summers. Leafhoppers cause the most economic damage because the aster yellows phytoplasma they carry stunts and distorts the whole plant with no cure.

Tiny wedge-shaped insects cause pale stippling; more critically they vector aster yellows, causing stunted, yellowed, distorted growth and witch's broom Remove and destroy infected plants immediately (no cure for aster yellows); control leafhoppers with reflective mulch and insecticidal soap; avoid planting near carrots or celery

Small colonies on stem tips; honeydew and minor leaf distortion; usually minor on Gaillardia Strong water spray; insecticidal soap if colonies persist; beneficial insects generally keep aphids in check on this species

Round, sunken brown or translucent spots on leaves — appears like disease but has a raised-bug cause; distinctive yellow-green insects with black stripes Hand-pick adults and nymphs in the morning; neem oil or pyrethrin spray; damage is mainly cosmetic after mid-summer when adults die off