Pest identification
What's eating my clematis tangutica?
Aphids
Signs: Clustered insects on soft shoot tips; sticky honeydew attracts sooty mold and ants
Control: Spray with insecticidal soap; dislodge with water; encourage hoverflies by planting nearby umbellifers
Earwigs
Signs: Irregular notches eaten from leaf margins and petals, particularly on established plants against walls
Control: Set cardboard or straw traps; remove earwigs by torchlight at night
Rabbits
Signs: Clean-cut stems near the base in late winter and spring; whole shoots removed
Control: Wrap the lower stem with fine wire mesh or spiral tree guards; net vulnerable plants
Keep clematis tangutica pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Clematis tangutica pests — FAQ
What is eating my clematis tangutica?
Clematis tangutica (yellow lantern clematis) is a vigorous species clematis and relatively pest-resistant. Aphids occasionally infest young growth, and earwigs damage petals and foliage. Rabbits browse new shoots in spring, especially in rural gardens. Its tough, twiggy habit makes it more resilient than large-flowered hybrids.
How do I get rid of aphids on clematis tangutica?
Clustered insects on soft shoot tips; sticky honeydew attracts sooty mold and ants Spray with insecticidal soap; dislodge with water; encourage hoverflies by planting nearby umbellifers
How do I get rid of earwigs on clematis tangutica?
Irregular notches eaten from leaf margins and petals, particularly on established plants against walls Set cardboard or straw traps; remove earwigs by torchlight at night
How do I get rid of rabbits on clematis tangutica?
Clean-cut stems near the base in late winter and spring; whole shoots removed Wrap the lower stem with fine wire mesh or spiral tree guards; net vulnerable plants