Pest identification
What's eating my firebush?
Aphids
Signs: Soft colonies on new-growth shoot tips; sticky honeydew and curled, puckered young leaves.
Control: Strong water spray dislodges most colonies; follow up with insecticidal soap or neem oil; attract beneficial insects.
Spider mites
Signs: Fine webbing on leaf undersides; yellow stippling and bronzing of foliage, worst in hot, dry conditions.
Control: Increase humidity; spray undersides of leaves with water regularly; apply miticide or neem oil if infestation persists.
Scale insects
Signs: Hard or soft bumps on stems and branches; weakened, yellowing foliage; sooty mold on honeydew deposits.
Control: Apply horticultural oil spray to smother scales at crawler stage; scrape off established scales; prune heavily infested stems.
Keep firebush pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Firebush pests — FAQ
What is eating my firebush?
Firebush (Hamelia patens) is a tough, largely pest-resistant native shrub, but aphids, spider mites, scale insects, and occasional whiteflies can appear — especially on plants stressed by drought or excess fertilizer. Problems are rarely serious. Insecticidal soap or neem oil applied early keeps any outbreak in check.
How do I get rid of aphids on firebush?
Soft colonies on new-growth shoot tips; sticky honeydew and curled, puckered young leaves. Strong water spray dislodges most colonies; follow up with insecticidal soap or neem oil; attract beneficial insects.
How do I get rid of spider mites on firebush?
Fine webbing on leaf undersides; yellow stippling and bronzing of foliage, worst in hot, dry conditions. Increase humidity; spray undersides of leaves with water regularly; apply miticide or neem oil if infestation persists.
How do I get rid of scale insects on firebush?
Hard or soft bumps on stems and branches; weakened, yellowing foliage; sooty mold on honeydew deposits. Apply horticultural oil spray to smother scales at crawler stage; scrape off established scales; prune heavily infested stems.