What's eating my nandina firepower?

Nandina Firepower is pest-resistant and largely trouble-free, but aphids colonize tender new growth in spring, and scale insects occasionally appear on older stems. Japanese beetles can skeletonize foliage where populations are heavy. In the US South, whitefly may build up in warm, humid conditions during summer.

Clustered colonies on new growth; sticky honeydew, leaf curl, and sooty mold fungus on honeydew deposits Spray off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen which promotes lush growth aphids prefer

Waxy or hard bumps on stems and leaf undersides; yellowing and dieback of heavily infested shoots Horticultural oil spray in late winter or early spring; manually remove on small plants; prune out heavily infested stems

Leaves skeletonized between veins, appearing lacy; adults active midsummer, feeding in groups Hand-pick in early morning into soapy water; avoid Japanese beetle pheromone traps near the plant; apply nematodes to soil for grub control