What's eating my gentle hermione rose?

Gentle Hermione, a soft blush English rose, draws aphids to its abundant new growth and is vulnerable to sawfly larvae in late spring. Japanese beetles are a US summer concern. Thrips occasionally damage the delicate petals. Slugs attack at ground level in wet climates. Aphids remain the most consistent and damaging pest.

Clusters on shoot tips and inside buds cause distorted flowers and sticky, sooty foliage. Remove manually or with a firm water jet; apply insecticidal soap; avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that stimulate soft growth.

Petals develop silvery streaking and brown edge-burn; flower centres show tiny dark faecal specks. Introduce predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris); remove and bag affected blooms; apply spinosad if severe.

Larvae skeletonize leaflets from the underside in late spring, causing rapid browning. Inspect weekly; hand-pick larvae; spray pyrethrin or spinosad targeting leaf undersides.

Irregular holes in lower leaves and young stems after wet nights. Iron phosphate bait; beer traps; remove mulch close to the crown to reduce shelter.