Pest identification
What's eating my magnolia 'jane'?
Magnolia Scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum)
Signs: Large soft pink bumps on stems; honeydew drip, sooty mold, and eventual stem dieback
Control: Horticultural oil at late-summer crawler stage; dormant oil in late winter; prune out heavily infested stems
Thrips
Signs: Scarred, streaky flower petals and distorted emerging buds
Control: Spinosad applied as buds open; remove and dispose of spent blooms
Deer
Signs: Flower buds and young shoots browsed before blooming, especially in late winter
Control: Deer repellent on buds from late winter; wire cage around young trees
Keep magnolia 'jane' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Magnolia 'Jane' pests — FAQ
What is eating my magnolia 'jane'?
Magnolia 'Jane', a Little Girl hybrid, faces magnolia scale on its stems and possible thrips damage to flower buds. Its later bloom time versus Star Magnolia avoids the worst frost damage to flowers. Deer may browse flower buds in early spring. Scale remains the primary insect pest demanding attention.
How do I get rid of magnolia scale (neolecanium cornuparvum) on magnolia 'jane'?
Large soft pink bumps on stems; honeydew drip, sooty mold, and eventual stem dieback Horticultural oil at late-summer crawler stage; dormant oil in late winter; prune out heavily infested stems
How do I get rid of thrips on magnolia 'jane'?
Scarred, streaky flower petals and distorted emerging buds Spinosad applied as buds open; remove and dispose of spent blooms
How do I get rid of deer on magnolia 'jane'?
Flower buds and young shoots browsed before blooming, especially in late winter Deer repellent on buds from late winter; wire cage around young trees