Pest identification
What's eating my helianthus × multiflorus 'loddon gold'?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew, distorted leaves and stunted growth
Control: Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds and lacewings
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in leaves, especially on young plants and basal foliage; slime trails overnight
Control: Set beer traps, scatter iron phosphate pellets, or use copper tape around containers; hand-pick at dusk
Caterpillars (various noctuid moths)
Signs: Large irregular holes eaten through leaves and flower buds; droppings visible on foliage
Control: Hand-pick eggs and caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage for heavy infestations
Earwigs
Signs: Ragged notches along leaf margins and petals, worse on double flowers; feeding mainly at night
Control: Place inverted flowerpots stuffed with straw near stems as traps; empty and destroy overnight catches
Keep helianthus × multiflorus 'loddon gold' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Helianthus × multiflorus 'Loddon Gold' pests — FAQ
What is eating my helianthus × multiflorus 'loddon gold'?
Helianthus × multiflorus 'Loddon Gold' is targeted outdoors by aphids, slugs, and caterpillars. Aphids colonise soft shoot tips in spring, distorting new growth; slugs shred seedlings overnight. Tall stems also attract earwigs. Aphids are the most persistent threat — blast them off with a strong water jet or use insecticidal soap.
How do I get rid of aphids on helianthus × multiflorus 'loddon gold'?
Dense colonies on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew, distorted leaves and stunted growth Knock off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage ladybirds and lacewings
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on helianthus × multiflorus 'loddon gold'?
Ragged holes in leaves, especially on young plants and basal foliage; slime trails overnight Set beer traps, scatter iron phosphate pellets, or use copper tape around containers; hand-pick at dusk
How do I get rid of caterpillars (various noctuid moths) on helianthus × multiflorus 'loddon gold'?
Large irregular holes eaten through leaves and flower buds; droppings visible on foliage Hand-pick eggs and caterpillars; apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray to foliage for heavy infestations
How do I get rid of earwigs on helianthus × multiflorus 'loddon gold'?
Ragged notches along leaf margins and petals, worse on double flowers; feeding mainly at night Place inverted flowerpots stuffed with straw near stems as traps; empty and destroy overnight catches