Pest identification
What's eating my rudbeckia 'goldsturm'?
Aphids
Signs: Dense clusters on stem tips and flower buds in spring and early summer; honeydew and distorted new growth.
Control: Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap spray if colonies persist over a week. Attract beneficial insects with nearby alyssum or fennel.
Cucumber beetle (striped or spotted)
Signs: Ragged holes in petals and leaves; beetles visible on flowers in midsummer, feeding on pollen.
Control: Hand-pick adults in the morning; apply kaolin clay or pyrethrin spray. Row cover over young plants keeps adults off early in the season.
Sawfly larvae
Signs: Leaves skeletonised from the margins inward; pale-green larvae feeding in groups on the undersides.
Control: Hand-pick or knock larvae into soapy water. Apply spinosad or insecticidal soap spray targeting larvae on leaf undersides.
Keep rudbeckia 'goldsturm' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats orange coneflower — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats rudbeckia 'goldsturm' — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common rudbeckia 'goldsturm' problems & fixes
- Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' watering schedule
- Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' light requirements
- Full rudbeckia 'goldsturm' care guide
Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' pests — FAQ
What is eating my rudbeckia 'goldsturm'?
Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' is a robust native perennial largely avoided by deer and rabbits. Aphids, cucumber beetles, and sawfly larvae are the main pest threats. Aphids tend to be the most common early in the season. The plant's vigour means light infestations rarely cause lasting damage — treat only when populations are clearly building.
How do I get rid of aphids on rudbeckia 'goldsturm'?
Dense clusters on stem tips and flower buds in spring and early summer; honeydew and distorted new growth. Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap spray if colonies persist over a week. Attract beneficial insects with nearby alyssum or fennel.
How do I get rid of cucumber beetle (striped or spotted) on rudbeckia 'goldsturm'?
Ragged holes in petals and leaves; beetles visible on flowers in midsummer, feeding on pollen. Hand-pick adults in the morning; apply kaolin clay or pyrethrin spray. Row cover over young plants keeps adults off early in the season.
How do I get rid of sawfly larvae on rudbeckia 'goldsturm'?
Leaves skeletonised from the margins inward; pale-green larvae feeding in groups on the undersides. Hand-pick or knock larvae into soapy water. Apply spinosad or insecticidal soap spray targeting larvae on leaf undersides.