Pest identification
What's eating my cephalotaxus 'fastigiata'?
Mealybugs
Signs: White cottony wax deposits at stem nodes and on new shoots; sticky honeydew and sooty mold
Control: Remove with an alcohol swab or cloth; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray to all stems; repeat every 10 days for a month
Scale insects
Signs: Hard or soft brown bumps on stems and branches; slow decline and yellowing foliage
Control: Scrub off with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil in late winter before crawlers emerge; follow with insecticidal soap through the growing season
Deer
Signs: Browsed foliage and broken upright stems on garden-planted specimens in winter
Control: Install deer fencing or repellent sprays; Cephalotaxus is significantly less palatable than Taxus but not fully deer-proof in high-pressure areas
Keep cephalotaxus 'fastigiata' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats japanese plum yew — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common cephalotaxus 'fastigiata' problems & fixes
- Cephalotaxus 'Fastigiata' watering schedule
- Cephalotaxus 'Fastigiata' light requirements
- Full cephalotaxus 'fastigiata' care guide
Cephalotaxus 'Fastigiata' pests — FAQ
What is eating my cephalotaxus 'fastigiata'?
Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Fastigiata' (Japanese plum yew) is notably pest-resistant. Its main threats are mealybugs, which colonize stem junctions on young plants, and scale insects, which occasionally appear on branches. Deer may browse it in areas with heavy pressure, but it is far more resistant to deer than true yews (Taxus).
How do I get rid of mealybugs on cephalotaxus 'fastigiata'?
White cottony wax deposits at stem nodes and on new shoots; sticky honeydew and sooty mold Remove with an alcohol swab or cloth; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap spray to all stems; repeat every 10 days for a month
How do I get rid of scale insects on cephalotaxus 'fastigiata'?
Hard or soft brown bumps on stems and branches; slow decline and yellowing foliage Scrub off with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil in late winter before crawlers emerge; follow with insecticidal soap through the growing season
How do I get rid of deer on cephalotaxus 'fastigiata'?
Browsed foliage and broken upright stems on garden-planted specimens in winter Install deer fencing or repellent sprays; Cephalotaxus is significantly less palatable than Taxus but not fully deer-proof in high-pressure areas