Pest identification
What's eating my hairy beardtongue?
Aphids
Signs: Pale soft colonies on stem tips; sticky honeydew and mild leaf curl on new growth.
Control: Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap if populations persist past a week of monitoring.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Irregular holes in young leaves and seedlings, with silvery slime trails nearby.
Control: Use iron phosphate slug pellets; remove mulch from around the crown; hand-pick at dusk.
Deer
Signs: Stems and flower buds browsed, most damaging in spring on emerging growth.
Control: Apply deer-repellent spray or cage young plants; mature clumps are less vulnerable.
Keep hairy beardtongue pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Hairy Beardtongue pests — FAQ
What is eating my hairy beardtongue?
Hairy Beardtongue (Penstemon hirsutus) is a low-maintenance native that is seldom seriously pestered. Aphids may colonize new shoot growth in spring, slugs and snails target young seedlings at soil level, and deer occasionally browse the foliage. Excellent drainage is the single best defence; waterlogged soil weakens plants and invites pests.
How do I get rid of aphids on hairy beardtongue?
Pale soft colonies on stem tips; sticky honeydew and mild leaf curl on new growth. Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap if populations persist past a week of monitoring.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on hairy beardtongue?
Irregular holes in young leaves and seedlings, with silvery slime trails nearby. Use iron phosphate slug pellets; remove mulch from around the crown; hand-pick at dusk.
How do I get rid of deer on hairy beardtongue?
Stems and flower buds browsed, most damaging in spring on emerging growth. Apply deer-repellent spray or cage young plants; mature clumps are less vulnerable.