Pest identification
What's eating my campsis grandiflora?
Aphids (various species)
Signs: Clusters on new shoot tips and flower buds cause distortion, honeydew deposits, and secondary sooty mould on foliage below
Control: Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators; vigorous plants usually recover without treatment
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Fine pale speckles on upper leaf surfaces; webbing on undersides; leaves yellow and drop in hot, dry conditions
Control: Increase irrigation to reduce drought stress; forcefully spray foliage with water; apply neem oil or a registered acaricide for heavy infestations
Scale insects (Parthenolecanium spp.)
Signs: Brown waxy shields on older stems and branch unions; honeydew and sooty mould reduce plant vigour over time
Control: Prune out heavily scaled stems; scrub off with soapy brush; apply horticultural oil when crawler nymphs emerge in late spring
Keep campsis grandiflora pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Campsis grandiflora pests — FAQ
What is eating my campsis grandiflora?
Chinese trumpet creeper is vigorous and relatively trouble-free. Aphids colonise soft shoot tips and flower buds most commonly, and spider mites can flare during hot dry summers. Scale insects occasionally encrust older wood. The plant's robust growth habit means established specimens generally tolerate light pest pressure without significant harm.
How do I get rid of aphids (various species) on campsis grandiflora?
Clusters on new shoot tips and flower buds cause distortion, honeydew deposits, and secondary sooty mould on foliage below Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators; vigorous plants usually recover without treatment
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on campsis grandiflora?
Fine pale speckles on upper leaf surfaces; webbing on undersides; leaves yellow and drop in hot, dry conditions Increase irrigation to reduce drought stress; forcefully spray foliage with water; apply neem oil or a registered acaricide for heavy infestations
How do I get rid of scale insects (parthenolecanium spp.) on campsis grandiflora?
Brown waxy shields on older stems and branch unions; honeydew and sooty mould reduce plant vigour over time Prune out heavily scaled stems; scrub off with soapy brush; apply horticultural oil when crawler nymphs emerge in late spring