What's eating my clematis?

Clematis faces several outdoor threats: aphids colonise new shoots in spring, earwigs and caterpillars chew holes in leaves and petals, and slugs target young stems at ground level. Rabbits can strip new growth from plants trained low to the ground. Aphids and earwigs are the most consistently reported pest issues across all clematis types.

Dense clusters on soft shoot tips and flower buds in spring; sticky honeydew, distorted growth, and sooty mold on lower leaves. Squash colonies by hand or blast with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds that produce lush, pest-attractive growth.

Irregular holes and ragged edges on flowers and young leaves, worst in late summer; feeding mainly at night. Trap in damp newspaper rolls or inverted flower pots filled with straw; collect and dispose of traps each morning. They also eat aphids, so tolerate low numbers.

Large irregular holes in leaves; some species bind leaves together with silk; frass present on foliage. Hand-pick caterpillars and eggs; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for heavier infestations.

Young stems eaten at ground level in spring; silvery mucus trails; can kill newly planted clematis before it establishes. Apply iron phosphate pellets around the base; use copper tape on containers; hand-pick at dusk especially after rain.