What's eating my long-leaved speedwell?

Long-leaved speedwell is a tall, vigorous perennial that remains largely trouble-free in the garden. Aphids are the most common nuisance on its flower spikes, while slugs can damage emerging shoots in spring and spider mites may cause stippling during hot dry spells. Established clumps shrug off most pest pressure with good growing conditions.

Dense colonies on new shoots and tall flower spikes; distorted tips, sticky honeydew, and weakened flowering stems. Blast off with a jet of water; encourage ladybirds and lacewings; apply insecticidal soap for heavier infestations.

Ragged holes in young leaves and chewed emerging shoot tips, most damaging to newly planted or divided clumps in spring. Use ferric phosphate pellets around crowns; handpick at dusk; set beer traps near vulnerable plants.

Fine pale stippling on leaves with webbing on undersides; most problematic during prolonged dry, warm summer conditions. Keep plants well watered to reduce stress; remove heavily infested leaves; treat with neem oil or insecticidal soap.