Pest identification
What's eating my foxglove beardtongue?
Aphids
Signs: Soft clusters on shoot tips and flower buds; distorted leaves, sticky honeydew, and slowed growth during the main flush.
Control: Knock off with a strong water jet; encourage beneficial insects; use insecticidal soap if colonies persist.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes chewed in young leaves and emerging shoots, especially at ground level after rain or overhead watering.
Control: Apply wildlife-friendly slug pellets (ferric phosphate) around emerging crowns in spring; use beer traps or handpick at dusk.
Spider mites
Signs: Fine yellow stippling on leaf surfaces with faint webbing visible on undersides during hot, dry spells.
Control: Improve humidity with regular watering; remove badly affected leaves; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap in early morning.
Keep foxglove beardtongue pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Foxglove beardtongue pests — FAQ
What is eating my foxglove beardtongue?
Foxglove beardtongue is a tough native with few serious pest problems. Aphids occasionally colonise new growth and flower stems, and slugs can chew young foliage in spring, particularly in damper gardens. Spider mites may appear in hot dry summers. Overall it is one of the easier flowering perennials to grow pest-free.
How do I get rid of aphids on foxglove beardtongue?
Soft clusters on shoot tips and flower buds; distorted leaves, sticky honeydew, and slowed growth during the main flush. Knock off with a strong water jet; encourage beneficial insects; use insecticidal soap if colonies persist.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on foxglove beardtongue?
Irregular holes chewed in young leaves and emerging shoots, especially at ground level after rain or overhead watering. Apply wildlife-friendly slug pellets (ferric phosphate) around emerging crowns in spring; use beer traps or handpick at dusk.
How do I get rid of spider mites on foxglove beardtongue?
Fine yellow stippling on leaf surfaces with faint webbing visible on undersides during hot, dry spells. Improve humidity with regular watering; remove badly affected leaves; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap in early morning.