Pest identification
What's eating my evergreen miscanthus?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on new shoot tips; honeydew residue and mild leaf distortion.
Control: Water jet; insecticidal soap or neem oil spray.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Chewed or stripped leaf blades at the base of shoots.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick after rain; clear mulch from crown.
Scale insects
Signs: Waxy brown or white bumps on stems and leaf midribs; yellowing foliage.
Control: Scrape off with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil spray to stems.
Keep evergreen miscanthus pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
evergreen miscanthus pests — FAQ
What is eating my evergreen miscanthus?
Evergreen miscanthus is a subtropical species that retains foliage year-round and is generally pest-resistant. Aphids target new growth, and slugs graze young shoots. Scale insects can occasionally colonise stems. Deer may browse soft emerging growth but mature clumps with dense fibrous stems deter most browsing animals.
How do I get rid of aphids on evergreen miscanthus?
Colonies on new shoot tips; honeydew residue and mild leaf distortion. Water jet; insecticidal soap or neem oil spray.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on evergreen miscanthus?
Chewed or stripped leaf blades at the base of shoots. Iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick after rain; clear mulch from crown.
How do I get rid of scale insects on evergreen miscanthus?
Waxy brown or white bumps on stems and leaf midribs; yellowing foliage. Scrape off with a soft brush; apply horticultural oil spray to stems.