What's eating my meadowsweet?

Meadowsweet growing in damp sites faces aphids, caterpillars, and sawfly larvae as primary pests. Slugs attack young plants in spring. Rabbits and deer may browse in areas where both co-exist. Strawberry ground beetle can damage roots in UK gardens. Its moist-habitat preference means slugs are consistently the most persistent nuisance.

Distorted, curled young leaves with sticky honeydew; ants tending colonies on stems Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; attract predatory insects by growing nectar plants nearby; water jet to knock off

Leaf edges eaten in a characteristic pattern; caterpillar-like green larvae visible on undersides of leaves Hand-pick larvae early; insecticidal soap spray on undersides of leaves; encourage birds which eat sawfly larvae

Holes in young leaves and stems at ground level; worst in spring on new growth and in wet years Iron phosphate pellets; copper barriers; hand-pick at night; improve drainage around the planting if possible