Pest identification
What's eating my champagne rhubarb?
Slugs and snails
Signs: New stalks and crown tips eaten in early spring; surface pitting on emerging stems leads to scarring and potential rot entry.
Control: Iron-phosphate pellets applied around the crown as soon as shoots emerge; clear away dead foliage in autumn to remove overwintering sites.
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on the underside of large leaves; honeydew and sooty mold develop; weakens new leaf production in prolonged infestations.
Control: Jet of water; insecticidal soap spray; avoid excess nitrogen feeding which promotes the soft growth aphids prefer.
Rhubarb curculio (Lixus concavus) — North America
Signs: Girdling of stalks and crown tunnelling; rust-coloured exudate visible on damaged stalks; repeated attack gradually weakens the crown.
Control: Remove dock and thistle host plants nearby; hand-pick adult beetles in June; destroy and do not compost infested stalks.
Keep champagne rhubarb pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Champagne Rhubarb pests — FAQ
What is eating my champagne rhubarb?
Champagne rhubarb, prized for its tender pink stalks, is susceptible to slugs attacking new growth in spring, aphids on leaf undersides, and crown rot in wet soils. Rhubarb curculio is a concern in North American gardens. Slugs are the most common culprit for early-season stalk damage. Good drainage and spring slug control are essential.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on champagne rhubarb?
New stalks and crown tips eaten in early spring; surface pitting on emerging stems leads to scarring and potential rot entry. Iron-phosphate pellets applied around the crown as soon as shoots emerge; clear away dead foliage in autumn to remove overwintering sites.
How do I get rid of aphids on champagne rhubarb?
Dense colonies on the underside of large leaves; honeydew and sooty mold develop; weakens new leaf production in prolonged infestations. Jet of water; insecticidal soap spray; avoid excess nitrogen feeding which promotes the soft growth aphids prefer.
How do I get rid of rhubarb curculio (lixus concavus) — north america on champagne rhubarb?
Girdling of stalks and crown tunnelling; rust-coloured exudate visible on damaged stalks; repeated attack gradually weakens the crown. Remove dock and thistle host plants nearby; hand-pick adult beetles in June; destroy and do not compost infested stalks.