What's eating my cornelian cherry dogwood?

Cornelian Cherry Dogwood is unusually pest-resistant among Cornus species and largely escapes dogwood borer. Scale insects and aphids can appear on stressed plants. Birds eat the ripe fruit (not a pest — usually beneficial for wildlife). Deer occasionally browse shoots. It is considered one of the toughest ornamental/edible dogwoods for garden use.

Colonies on twigs produce honeydew and sooty mould; heavy infestations reduce fruit production and vigour. Horticultural oil in late winter; hand-remove isolated colonies. Systemic insecticide for severe cases on ornamental plants.

Soft colonies on new shoot growth cause mild leaf curl and honeydew deposits in spring. Blast off with a water jet; insecticidal soap if needed. Rarely serious enough to require intervention.

Young shoots and leaves browsed; established plants tolerate light browsing but young trees need protection. Tree guards or fencing for the first 2–3 seasons; deer repellent sprays as supplementary protection.