What's eating my kurume azalea 'hino crimson'?

Kurume Azalea 'Hino Crimson' is most commonly damaged by azalea lace bugs, which bleach the vivid foliage from the underside. Vine weevil notches leaf margins and larvae rot roots. Azalea caterpillars can strip branches fast in late summer. In UK gardens, vine weevil is often the single greatest threat. Inspect leaf undersides monthly from April onward.

Pale silver stippling on upper leaf surfaces; tar-like excrement spots on undersides; worst in full sun Spray insecticidal soap or neem oil to leaf undersides at first sign in late spring. Reapply every 10–14 days through summer. Move to a shadier spot if lace bugs recur yearly.

Scalloped notches along leaf edges (adults); sudden wilting from root-feeding larvae (grubs) in compost or soil Drench soil with beneficial nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer when soil is still warm. Inspect roots of any wilting plant immediately.

Clusters of striped caterpillars strip leaves from entire branches rapidly in late summer Hand-pick clusters at early instar; spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) or spinosad while caterpillars are small.