What's eating my english lavender?

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote') is very pest-resistant thanks to its essential oils. Rosemary beetle is its most damaging specific pest in the UK, feeding on leaves and flowers from late summer to spring. Spittlebugs appear in spring but cause little harm. Aphids occasionally colonise stressed or over-fertilised plants.

Metallic green-purple adults and grey larvae eat leaves and flower spikes; most active late summer through spring. Hand-pick or shake over newspaper; destroy larvae found in soil in spring; insecticide only if severe.

White frothy masses on stems in late spring; nymph sucks sap but rarely causes lasting damage to established plants. Remove with a water jet; no chemical control needed on healthy plants.

Clusters on soft new shoots, especially on over-fertilised plants; honeydew, sooty mould, minor distortion. Blast off with water; avoid high-nitrogen feed; insecticidal soap for larger colonies.