Pest identification
What's eating my geranium pratense 'plenum violaceum'?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on shoot tips and clustered buds; honeydew and sooty mold; can distort double flowers if bud infestation is heavy
Control: Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds; pinch out the most heavily infested tips
Sawfly larvae
Signs: Rapid, gregarious leaf skeletonization leaving dry, papery foliage; damage often appears suddenly mid-summer
Control: Hand-pick larvae from leaf undersides; pyrethrum spray for large infestations; check plants every few days during summer
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes in young spring foliage; damage can be heavy after wet spells or following division
Control: Ferric phosphate pellets; hand-pick at dusk; clear decaying plant debris that provides shelter
Keep geranium pratense 'plenum violaceum' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats geranium pratense — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common geranium pratense 'plenum violaceum' problems & fixes
- Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum' watering schedule
- Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum' light requirements
- Full geranium pratense 'plenum violaceum' care guide
Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum' pests — FAQ
What is eating my geranium pratense 'plenum violaceum'?
Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum' has double flowers beloved by pollinators but its dense growth habit can harbor pests. Aphids commonly colonize the soft shoots and bud clusters. Sawfly larvae can defoliate leaves rapidly. Slugs attack emerging growth in spring, and vine weevil may target the crown.
How do I get rid of aphids on geranium pratense 'plenum violaceum'?
Colonies on shoot tips and clustered buds; honeydew and sooty mold; can distort double flowers if bud infestation is heavy Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; encourage ladybirds; pinch out the most heavily infested tips
How do I get rid of sawfly larvae on geranium pratense 'plenum violaceum'?
Rapid, gregarious leaf skeletonization leaving dry, papery foliage; damage often appears suddenly mid-summer Hand-pick larvae from leaf undersides; pyrethrum spray for large infestations; check plants every few days during summer
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on geranium pratense 'plenum violaceum'?
Holes in young spring foliage; damage can be heavy after wet spells or following division Ferric phosphate pellets; hand-pick at dusk; clear decaying plant debris that provides shelter