What's eating my lupinus 'masterpiece'?

Lupinus 'Masterpiece' faces the same key threats as all garden lupins: lupin aphids collapse spikes rapidly, slugs devastate young crowns, and pea weevils notch foliage edges. Powdery mildew follows stress but aphids remain the headline threat. Act at first sign to protect the show-stopping flower spikes.

Heavy gray-green colonies rapidly smother new growth, flower spikes, and stems; causes wilting and sooty mold. Remove by hand or strong water jet early; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat weekly until colonies are gone.

Ragged holes in emerging foliage and crown damage at soil level; seedlings and young plants most vulnerable in wet weather. Apply iron phosphate pellets around crowns; mulch with coarse grit; patrol at night after rain and hand-remove.

U-shaped notches around leaf margins; root nodules damaged by larvae, reducing nitrogen fixation and plant vigor. Protect seedlings with row cover; established plants usually tolerate light notching; avoid excessive soil disturbance.