What's eating my butomus umbellatus?

Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) is most threatened by waterfowl uprooting its rhizomes and by the water-lily aphid attacking flower scapes in summer. Moth caterpillars occasionally mine the strap-like leaves. Protect young plants with gravel topdressing and baskets; established clumps tolerate most pest pressure well.

Rhizomes pulled from shallow water; strap leaves bitten off or pulled free, especially on newly planted crowns. Plant in large, heavy baskets with a gravel mulch; wire-cage protection for the first year.

Colonies on flower scapes and young leaves in summer, causing stickiness and distortion of buds. Spray colonies off with water so fish consume them; avoid pond-water insecticide application.

Leaf tissue mined or leaves bound together with silk; small oval feeding wounds on blade surfaces. Hand-pick leaf cases and submerge affected leaves briefly; tolerate light infestation in healthy stands.