Pest identification
What's eating my cornelian cherry 'jolico'?
Birds
Signs: Ripe, red drupes taken by blackbirds and robins as soon as they soften in late summer.
Control: Net small trees or pick fruit slightly under-ripe and ripen indoors; larger established trees are difficult to net.
Scale insects (Parthenolecanium corni — European fruit lecanium)
Signs: Waxy brown bumps on stems and branches; honeydew and sooty mould; weakened shoots.
Control: Apply dormant-season horticultural oil spray to smother overwintering scales; scrub off light infestations with a soft brush.
Dogwood borer (Synanthedon scitula)
Signs: Larvae tunnel under bark at trunk wounds or graft unions; frass extrudes from entry holes; dieback above entry point.
Control: Avoid mechanical trunk injury; remove dead bark; apply kaolin clay to trunk as a deterrent; prune out infested wood.
Keep cornelian cherry 'jolico' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats cornelian cherry dogwood — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common cornelian cherry 'jolico' problems & fixes
- Cornelian Cherry 'Jolico' watering schedule
- Cornelian Cherry 'Jolico' light requirements
- Full cornelian cherry 'jolico' care guide
Cornelian Cherry 'Jolico' pests — FAQ
What is eating my cornelian cherry 'jolico'?
Cornelian Cherry 'Jolico' is notably pest-resistant compared to most fruit trees. Birds are the primary competitor for the cherry-like drupes. Scale insects occasionally colonise older bark, and dogwood borer can attack stressed specimens. Deer may browse young plants. The fruit ripens early, limiting long exposure to summer pests.
How do I get rid of birds on cornelian cherry 'jolico'?
Ripe, red drupes taken by blackbirds and robins as soon as they soften in late summer. Net small trees or pick fruit slightly under-ripe and ripen indoors; larger established trees are difficult to net.
How do I get rid of scale insects (parthenolecanium corni — european fruit lecanium) on cornelian cherry 'jolico'?
Waxy brown bumps on stems and branches; honeydew and sooty mould; weakened shoots. Apply dormant-season horticultural oil spray to smother overwintering scales; scrub off light infestations with a soft brush.
How do I get rid of dogwood borer (synanthedon scitula) on cornelian cherry 'jolico'?
Larvae tunnel under bark at trunk wounds or graft unions; frass extrudes from entry holes; dieback above entry point. Avoid mechanical trunk injury; remove dead bark; apply kaolin clay to trunk as a deterrent; prune out infested wood.