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Pest identification

What's eating my dracunculus canariensis?

Slugs & snails

Signs: Holes chewed in emerging leaf blades and spathe; seedlings and cormlets frequently eaten at soil level.

Control: Use iron-phosphate pellets; apply coarse grit mulch around tuber; hand-pick at night in damp conditions.

Aphids

Signs: Colonies on flower stem and leaf petioles; sticky leaf surface; curled or puckered new growth.

Control: Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove colonies by hand; repeat every 5–7 days until clear.

Spider mites

Signs: Pale yellow stippling on leaf surfaces; fine silk webbing on undersides, especially in warm dry conditions.

Control: Increase air humidity; spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or a miticide; avoid drought stress.

Keep dracunculus canariensis pest-free

Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:

Dracunculus canariensis pests — FAQ

What is eating my dracunculus canariensis?

Dracunculus canariensis (Canary Island dragon arum) is a tender garden aroid from the Canary Islands. Slugs and snails attack soft emerging foliage. Aphids colonize peduncles and leaf stems. In drier conditions, spider mites can infest leaves. Being tender, it is commonly potted, making mealybug infestations an additional risk.

How do I get rid of slugs & snails on dracunculus canariensis?

Holes chewed in emerging leaf blades and spathe; seedlings and cormlets frequently eaten at soil level. Use iron-phosphate pellets; apply coarse grit mulch around tuber; hand-pick at night in damp conditions.

How do I get rid of aphids on dracunculus canariensis?

Colonies on flower stem and leaf petioles; sticky leaf surface; curled or puckered new growth. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove colonies by hand; repeat every 5–7 days until clear.

How do I get rid of spider mites on dracunculus canariensis?

Pale yellow stippling on leaf surfaces; fine silk webbing on undersides, especially in warm dry conditions. Increase air humidity; spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or a miticide; avoid drought stress.