What's eating my elder?

Elder (Sambucus nigra) is a vigorous shrub that tolerates most pests, but elderberry aphids (Aphis sambuci) can cause dramatic leaf curling in spring. Vine weevil grubs attack roots, and birds — especially blackbirds and pigeons — eat ripe berries before harvest. Elderberry aphids are the most common complaint on cultivated elder.

Tightly curled, distorted leaves on new shoot tips in spring; colonies of grey-green aphids inside curled leaves; honeydew and sooty mould. Prune out affected shoot tips in late spring; spray accessible infestations with insecticidal soap; healthy plants usually outgrow light attacks.

C-shaped white grubs eat roots, causing sudden wilting and plant collapse; notched leaf margins indicate adult beetles feeding at night. Apply pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil in late summer; use a physical grit barrier around containers.

Berries stripped from fruiting branches, often before full ripeness; clusters left half-eaten on the ground. Drape fine netting over fruiting branches in late summer if berry harvest is important; otherwise a useful wildlife food source.