Pest identification
What's eating my clematis 'multi blue'?
Earwigs
Signs: Inner and outer petals of the double flowers eaten, leaving tattered, holey blooms
Control: Set straw-filled tube or pot traps adjacent to the plant; collect after dark
Aphids
Signs: Soft shoot tips colonised in spring; honeydew coats leaves and buds
Control: Insecticidal soap spray or neem oil; strong water jet; encourage natural predators
Vine Weevil
Signs: Grubs eat roots when grown in containers; sudden wilting and plant death
Control: Use predatory nematodes in late summer; check compost for grubs when repotting
Keep clematis 'multi blue' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Clematis 'Multi Blue' pests — FAQ
What is eating my clematis 'multi blue'?
Clematis 'Multi Blue' is a popular double-flowered hybrid whose intricate blooms attract earwigs that feed on the inner petals at night, often going unnoticed until flowers are disfigured. Aphids colonise new growth in spring. Container specimens are vulnerable to vine weevil grubs. Slugs target the crown in wet weather.
How do I get rid of earwigs on clematis 'multi blue'?
Inner and outer petals of the double flowers eaten, leaving tattered, holey blooms Set straw-filled tube or pot traps adjacent to the plant; collect after dark
How do I get rid of aphids on clematis 'multi blue'?
Soft shoot tips colonised in spring; honeydew coats leaves and buds Insecticidal soap spray or neem oil; strong water jet; encourage natural predators
How do I get rid of vine weevil on clematis 'multi blue'?
Grubs eat roots when grown in containers; sudden wilting and plant death Use predatory nematodes in late summer; check compost for grubs when repotting