What's eating my common rhododendron?

Common Rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) is targeted by vine weevil as the primary pest — grubs are lethal to roots — plus rhododendron leafhopper which spreads bud blast disease, and lace bugs that bleach foliage. Deer and rabbits browse it heavily in woodland edges. Vine weevil management is the single most important intervention.

Adults notch leaf margins in a distinctive scallop pattern; creamy grubs destroy feeder roots, causing rapid wilting and plant death Apply Steinernema kraussei nematodes to moist soil late August to October; use sticky barriers; check root zones when dividing

Adults cause light stippling on leaves; critically, they lay eggs into flower buds and introduce the Pycnostysanus azaleae fungus causing bud blast (blackened, dead buds) Remove and destroy blasted buds; spray with pyrethrin-based insecticide in August–September to reduce leafhopper adults before egg-laying

Upper leaf surface develops pale yellow mottling; undersides show brown tar-like deposits from nymphs Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray on leaf undersides; improve air circulation; severe cases use acetamiprid (where permitted)

Leaves and shoots browsed to bare stems; rabbits also strip bark at the base of young plants Spiral rabbit guards on young stems; deer fencing or repellent spray; may need exclusion in high-deer-pressure woodland settings