Pest identification
What's eating my mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris'?
Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
Signs: Notched leaf margins from adult beetles; roots eaten by white grubs cause sudden wilting and plant collapse — worst in pots
Control: Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to soil in late summer/autumn; use gritty compost; check root balls when repotting; sticky barriers on pot rims
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in emerging leaves and new shoots; slime trails visible at night
Control: Copper tape around pots; wildlife-friendly iron phosphate pellets; beer traps; hand-pick at dusk
Hydrangea scale (Pulvinaria hydrangeae)
Signs: Fluffy white egg masses on stems in early summer; yellowing leaves; sticky honeydew
Control: Scrub off with a brush; horticultural oil in late winter; encourage parasitic wasps
Aphids
Signs: Curled, sticky shoot tips in spring; stunted growth; sooty mould
Control: Blast off with water; insecticidal soap; attract ladybirds by growing nearby umbellifers
Keep mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats hydrangea — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' problems & fixes
- Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' watering schedule
- Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' light requirements
- Full mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris' care guide
Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' pests — FAQ
What is eating my mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris'?
Mophead Hydrangea 'Cityline Paris' is most troubled by vine weevil (roots eaten, plants collapse), hydrangea scale, and aphids on new growth. Slugs and snails shred young leaves at ground level in spring. Capsid bugs puncture buds in the UK, causing distorted flowers. Vine weevil in containers is the most damaging hidden threat.
How do I get rid of vine weevil (otiorhynchus sulcatus) on mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris'?
Notched leaf margins from adult beetles; roots eaten by white grubs cause sudden wilting and plant collapse — worst in pots Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to soil in late summer/autumn; use gritty compost; check root balls when repotting; sticky barriers on pot rims
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris'?
Ragged holes in emerging leaves and new shoots; slime trails visible at night Copper tape around pots; wildlife-friendly iron phosphate pellets; beer traps; hand-pick at dusk
How do I get rid of hydrangea scale (pulvinaria hydrangeae) on mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris'?
Fluffy white egg masses on stems in early summer; yellowing leaves; sticky honeydew Scrub off with a brush; horticultural oil in late winter; encourage parasitic wasps
How do I get rid of aphids on mophead hydrangea 'cityline paris'?
Curled, sticky shoot tips in spring; stunted growth; sooty mould Blast off with water; insecticidal soap; attract ladybirds by growing nearby umbellifers