Pest identification
What's eating my labrador violet?
Aphids
Signs: Small colonies on new shoots in spring; honeydew and minor leaf curling; rarely severe.
Control: Rub off by hand or spray with insecticidal soap; plant is generally resilient enough to outgrow light infestations.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes in leaves and petals, particularly in moist shaded spots where the plant thrives.
Control: Scatter iron phosphate pellets; improve drainage; hand-pick at night when conditions are damp.
Violet gall midge (Dasineura affinis)
Signs: Leaf margins curl inward and enclose larvae; affected leaves are distorted and stunted.
Control: Remove and destroy rolled leaves; improve air circulation to reduce humidity around the foliage.
Keep labrador violet pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Labrador violet pests — FAQ
What is eating my labrador violet?
Labrador violet (Viola labradorica) is a tough, low-growing groundcover most troubled by aphids on spring growth and slugs in shaded, moist sites. Violet gall midge occasionally rolls leaves. In shaded woodland-edge settings rabbits may graze clumps. Overall pest pressure is light compared to showier viola cultivars.
How do I get rid of aphids on labrador violet?
Small colonies on new shoots in spring; honeydew and minor leaf curling; rarely severe. Rub off by hand or spray with insecticidal soap; plant is generally resilient enough to outgrow light infestations.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on labrador violet?
Holes in leaves and petals, particularly in moist shaded spots where the plant thrives. Scatter iron phosphate pellets; improve drainage; hand-pick at night when conditions are damp.
How do I get rid of violet gall midge (dasineura affinis) on labrador violet?
Leaf margins curl inward and enclose larvae; affected leaves are distorted and stunted. Remove and destroy rolled leaves; improve air circulation to reduce humidity around the foliage.