Pest identification
What's eating my lobelia siphilitica?
Aphids
Signs: Soft colonies on shoot tips and flower stems; honeydew, sooty mould, and bud distortion
Control: Water jet; insecticidal soap spray; encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps by planting nearby nectar plants
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes in young emerging growth and newly planted transplants; severe infestations can kill young plants
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; hand-picking at night; grit mulch around crowns; encourage natural predators
Rabbits
Signs: Clean-cut browsing of stems close to the ground; entire shoots removed, especially early in the season
Control: Wire mesh guards; rabbit-repellent sprays on foliage; rabbit-proof fencing around borders
Keep lobelia siphilitica pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Lobelia siphilitica pests — FAQ
What is eating my lobelia siphilitica?
Great blue lobelia faces similar pest threats to cardinal flower. Aphids colonise new stems and buds most frequently. Slugs and snails are destructive to young spring plants, and rabbits will graze the lush foliage. Spider mites may attack in dry spells. Healthy, well-watered plants in boggy conditions resist most pressure naturally.
How do I get rid of aphids on lobelia siphilitica?
Soft colonies on shoot tips and flower stems; honeydew, sooty mould, and bud distortion Water jet; insecticidal soap spray; encourage ladybirds and parasitic wasps by planting nearby nectar plants
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on lobelia siphilitica?
Holes in young emerging growth and newly planted transplants; severe infestations can kill young plants Iron phosphate pellets; hand-picking at night; grit mulch around crowns; encourage natural predators
How do I get rid of rabbits on lobelia siphilitica?
Clean-cut browsing of stems close to the ground; entire shoots removed, especially early in the season Wire mesh guards; rabbit-repellent sprays on foliage; rabbit-proof fencing around borders