Pest identification
What's eating my pelargonium 'frank headley'?
Aphids
Signs: Shoot tips curl and yellow; sticky honeydew and sooty mould on the attractive variegated leaves.
Control: Wash off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days to break the cycle.
Vine weevil
Signs: Plant wilts and fails to recover; cream grubs found eating roots when knocked from pot.
Control: Apply nematode drench to moist compost in late summer; use preventive vine weevil treatment in spring.
Geranium sawfly
Signs: Lacy, skeletonised patches on leaves where larvae have fed from the underside.
Control: Inspect foliage regularly from late spring; pick off larvae; spray with pyrethrum if numbers are high.
Keep pelargonium 'frank headley' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Pelargonium 'Frank Headley' pests — FAQ
What is eating my pelargonium 'frank headley'?
Pelargonium 'Frank Headley', a silver-variegated zonal geranium, is most commonly attacked by aphids on new shoots and vine weevil in pots. Outdoors, caterpillars and geranium sawfly can damage foliage. Whitefly may appear in warm sheltered positions. The variegated leaves show pest damage and sooty mould more visibly than plain green types.
How do I get rid of aphids on pelargonium 'frank headley'?
Shoot tips curl and yellow; sticky honeydew and sooty mould on the attractive variegated leaves. Wash off with water; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days to break the cycle.
How do I get rid of vine weevil on pelargonium 'frank headley'?
Plant wilts and fails to recover; cream grubs found eating roots when knocked from pot. Apply nematode drench to moist compost in late summer; use preventive vine weevil treatment in spring.
How do I get rid of geranium sawfly on pelargonium 'frank headley'?
Lacy, skeletonised patches on leaves where larvae have fed from the underside. Inspect foliage regularly from late spring; pick off larvae; spray with pyrethrum if numbers are high.