Pest identification
What's eating my miss wilmott's ghost?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged holes in young rosette leaves and seedling stems; silvery slime trails left behind.
Control: Scatter iron phosphate pellets around first-year rosettes; hand-pick after dark or use beer traps.
Aphids
Signs: Sticky, distorted new growth on flower stems; colonies attract sooty mold fungus.
Control: Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap spray if the infestation is heavy before flowering.
Rabbits
Signs: Young rosettes can be grazed close to the ground before the spiny bracts fully develop.
Control: Wire mesh guards protect seedlings; established plants with stiff bracts are naturally rabbit-resistant.
Keep miss wilmott's ghost pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Miss Wilmott's Ghost pests — FAQ
What is eating my miss wilmott's ghost?
Miss Wilmott's Ghost (Eryngium giganteum) is a tough biennial with spiny bracts that deter most pests. Slugs and snails target seedlings and young rosettes, and aphids occasionally cluster on flower stems. Deer and rabbits rarely bother established plants. Seedlings in their first year are most vulnerable.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on miss wilmott's ghost?
Ragged holes in young rosette leaves and seedling stems; silvery slime trails left behind. Scatter iron phosphate pellets around first-year rosettes; hand-pick after dark or use beer traps.
How do I get rid of aphids on miss wilmott's ghost?
Sticky, distorted new growth on flower stems; colonies attract sooty mold fungus. Knock off with water; apply insecticidal soap spray if the infestation is heavy before flowering.
How do I get rid of rabbits on miss wilmott's ghost?
Young rosettes can be grazed close to the ground before the spiny bracts fully develop. Wire mesh guards protect seedlings; established plants with stiff bracts are naturally rabbit-resistant.