Pest identification
What's eating my new england aster 'purple dome'?
Aphids
Signs: Dense colonies on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew, curled leaves, and stunted growth.
Control: Knock off with water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; attract beneficial insects by planting nearby herbs.
Aster lace bug (Corythucha marmorata)
Signs: Upper leaf surface develops pale stippling; lower surface shows rusty brown excrement specks and cast skins.
Control: Spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove plant debris in autumn; avoid overhead drought stress.
Deer
Signs: Stems browsed off cleanly, especially in autumn when flowers are most attractive.
Control: Apply deer repellent spray; use physical fencing; plant within a mixed border where deer access is limited.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular holes in young basal foliage in spring; silvery slime trails nearby.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets around crowns; use copper tape edging; hand-pick after dark.
Keep new england aster 'purple dome' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats new england aster — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What eats new england aster 'purple dome' — our other guide for the same plant
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common new england aster 'purple dome' problems & fixes
- New England Aster 'Purple Dome' watering schedule
- New England Aster 'Purple Dome' light requirements
- Full new england aster 'purple dome' care guide
New England Aster 'Purple Dome' pests — FAQ
What is eating my new england aster 'purple dome'?
New England Aster 'Purple Dome' attracts aphids and lace bugs in summer, and deer and rabbits will browse it when pickings are slim. The most damaging widespread pest is aphids colonising new stem tips. Good air circulation also reduces powdery mildew, which weakens plants and makes them more vulnerable to insect attack.
How do I get rid of aphids on new england aster 'purple dome'?
Dense colonies on shoot tips and buds; sticky honeydew, curled leaves, and stunted growth. Knock off with water jet; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; attract beneficial insects by planting nearby herbs.
How do I get rid of aster lace bug (corythucha marmorata) on new england aster 'purple dome'?
Upper leaf surface develops pale stippling; lower surface shows rusty brown excrement specks and cast skins. Spray undersides of leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove plant debris in autumn; avoid overhead drought stress.
How do I get rid of deer on new england aster 'purple dome'?
Stems browsed off cleanly, especially in autumn when flowers are most attractive. Apply deer repellent spray; use physical fencing; plant within a mixed border where deer access is limited.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on new england aster 'purple dome'?
Irregular holes in young basal foliage in spring; silvery slime trails nearby. Apply iron phosphate pellets around crowns; use copper tape edging; hand-pick after dark.