Pest identification
What's eating my garden gladiolus?
Gladiolus thrips (Thrips simplex)
Signs: Silvery-white streaking or bronzing of leaves and flower petals; distorted spikes; flowers fail to open or are scarred.
Control: Dust corms with insecticidal powder before storage; spray spinosad, bifenthrin or insecticidal soap during the season; use blue sticky traps to monitor.
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on stems, buds and undersides of leaves; honeydew causes sooty mould and distorted growth.
Control: Strong jets of water; neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage lacewings and ladybirds.
Caterpillars (armyworms, corn earworm)
Signs: Ragged holes in leaves and flowers; frass present; caterpillars often feed at night.
Control: Hand-pick at dusk; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray; use row covers on young spikes.
Deer and rabbits
Signs: Flower spikes bitten off or leaves stripped, particularly at the bud stage.
Control: Deer-repellent spray or motion-activated deterrents; rabbit-proof fencing around beds; plant in a protected garden space.
Keep garden gladiolus pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Garden Gladiolus pests — FAQ
What is eating my garden gladiolus?
Garden Gladiolus (Gladiolus ×hortulanus) is heavily targeted by thrips — the number-one pest of cultivated gladiolus worldwide, silvering foliage and scarring flowers. Aphids, caterpillars, and slugs also cause damage. Corm rot (Fusarium/Botrytis) is a serious storage issue. Deer and rabbits may browse spikes in open gardens.
How do I get rid of gladiolus thrips (thrips simplex) on garden gladiolus?
Silvery-white streaking or bronzing of leaves and flower petals; distorted spikes; flowers fail to open or are scarred. Dust corms with insecticidal powder before storage; spray spinosad, bifenthrin or insecticidal soap during the season; use blue sticky traps to monitor.
How do I get rid of aphids on garden gladiolus?
Dense colonies on stems, buds and undersides of leaves; honeydew causes sooty mould and distorted growth. Strong jets of water; neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage lacewings and ladybirds.
How do I get rid of caterpillars (armyworms, corn earworm) on garden gladiolus?
Ragged holes in leaves and flowers; frass present; caterpillars often feed at night. Hand-pick at dusk; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray; use row covers on young spikes.
How do I get rid of deer and rabbits on garden gladiolus?
Flower spikes bitten off or leaves stripped, particularly at the bud stage. Deer-repellent spray or motion-activated deterrents; rabbit-proof fencing around beds; plant in a protected garden space.