Pest identification
What's eating my leucanthemum × superbum 'alaska'?
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied insects clustering on shoot tips and buds causing stunted growth and sooty mould from honeydew.
Control: Water jet or insecticidal soap spray; introduce or encourage ladybirds; neem oil for persistent colonies.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in young basal leaves and stems, with slime trails evident in cool, wet conditions.
Control: Ferric phosphate pellets around plant crowns; grit mulch; hand-pick at dusk.
Leaf miners (Chromatomyia syngenesiae)
Signs: Winding pale tunnels in leaf tissue where larvae feed between upper and lower leaf surfaces.
Control: Pick off and dispose of affected leaves; for heavy infestations use a systemic ornamental insecticide.
Keep leucanthemum × superbum 'alaska' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Leucanthemum × superbum 'Alaska' pests — FAQ
What is eating my leucanthemum × superbum 'alaska'?
Leucanthemum × superbum 'Alaska' is a classic single Shasta daisy and a reliable performer that still attracts aphids on new shoots and buds. Slugs attack young growth in spring. Chrysanthemum leaf miners leave pale tunnels in foliage. Rabbits readily browse this plant in exposed garden settings.
How do I get rid of aphids on leucanthemum × superbum 'alaska'?
Soft-bodied insects clustering on shoot tips and buds causing stunted growth and sooty mould from honeydew. Water jet or insecticidal soap spray; introduce or encourage ladybirds; neem oil for persistent colonies.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on leucanthemum × superbum 'alaska'?
Ragged holes in young basal leaves and stems, with slime trails evident in cool, wet conditions. Ferric phosphate pellets around plant crowns; grit mulch; hand-pick at dusk.
How do I get rid of leaf miners (chromatomyia syngenesiae) on leucanthemum × superbum 'alaska'?
Winding pale tunnels in leaf tissue where larvae feed between upper and lower leaf surfaces. Pick off and dispose of affected leaves; for heavy infestations use a systemic ornamental insecticide.