Pest identification
What's eating my lemon verbena?
Whitefly
Signs: Clouds of tiny white flies rise when plant is disturbed; sticky honeydew and sooty mould coat leaves
Control: Use yellow sticky traps; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to undersides of leaves; repeat weekly
Spider mites
Signs: Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves yellow and drop in severe cases
Control: Increase humidity; spray undersides thoroughly with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil every few days
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on soft shoot tips; sticky residue; distorted or curled young leaves
Control: Remove by hand or water blast; apply insecticidal soap; introduce parasitic wasps in a glasshouse
Keep lemon verbena pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Lemon verbena pests — FAQ
What is eating my lemon verbena?
Lemon verbena is highly attractive to whitefly — its sticky aromatic leaves trap eggs and populations build fast. Spider mites attack in hot, dry weather, and aphids colonise fresh shoot tips. Good air circulation and regular inspection are essential, especially when overwintering plants indoors.
How do I get rid of whitefly on lemon verbena?
Clouds of tiny white flies rise when plant is disturbed; sticky honeydew and sooty mould coat leaves Use yellow sticky traps; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to undersides of leaves; repeat weekly
How do I get rid of spider mites on lemon verbena?
Pale stippling and fine webbing on leaf undersides; leaves yellow and drop in severe cases Increase humidity; spray undersides thoroughly with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil every few days
How do I get rid of aphids on lemon verbena?
Colonies on soft shoot tips; sticky residue; distorted or curled young leaves Remove by hand or water blast; apply insecticidal soap; introduce parasitic wasps in a glasshouse