Pest identification
What's eating my echinops bannaticus 'taplow blue'?
Aphids
Signs: Soft stems and developing flower globes attract green or black aphid colonies, causing honeydew deposits and curled shoot tips.
Control: Remove by hand or with a water jet; apply insecticidal soap spray for heavy infestations. Encourage natural aphid predators.
Earwigs
Signs: Jagged holes and torn petals on the globe heads, with feeding occurring mainly at night around flowering time.
Control: Place homemade earwig traps (straw-filled pots inverted on canes) nearby; empty daily into a bucket of soapy water.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Slime trails and ragged chewing damage on young leaves in early spring before spines harden.
Control: Apply iron phosphate slug pellets around crowns in March–April; remove mulch that provides daytime shelter.
Keep echinops bannaticus 'taplow blue' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Echinops bannaticus 'Taplow Blue' pests — FAQ
What is eating my echinops bannaticus 'taplow blue'?
Echinops bannaticus 'Taplow Blue' is a tough, largely pest-resistant perennial. Its bristly, grey-green foliage is unpalatable to deer and rabbits. Aphids occasionally colonise young stems, and earwigs may nibble the large steel-blue globes. Slugs can damage emerging spring growth before the foliage toughens up.
How do I get rid of aphids on echinops bannaticus 'taplow blue'?
Soft stems and developing flower globes attract green or black aphid colonies, causing honeydew deposits and curled shoot tips. Remove by hand or with a water jet; apply insecticidal soap spray for heavy infestations. Encourage natural aphid predators.
How do I get rid of earwigs on echinops bannaticus 'taplow blue'?
Jagged holes and torn petals on the globe heads, with feeding occurring mainly at night around flowering time. Place homemade earwig traps (straw-filled pots inverted on canes) nearby; empty daily into a bucket of soapy water.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on echinops bannaticus 'taplow blue'?
Slime trails and ragged chewing damage on young leaves in early spring before spines harden. Apply iron phosphate slug pellets around crowns in March–April; remove mulch that provides daytime shelter.