Pest identification
What's eating my purple fountain grass?
Spider mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Fine stippling and silvery flecking on leaf blades; fine webbing visible on undersides in severe infestations; worst in hot, dry spells.
Control: Increase humidity with regular watering; spray undersides of leaves with a strong jet of water. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days until clear.
Aphids
Signs: Clusters of small insects on young shoots causing sticky honeydew, distorted tips, and possible sooty mould.
Control: Strong water jet or insecticidal soap spray. Natural predators (ladybirds, hoverfly larvae) usually control populations without intervention.
Grasshoppers
Signs: Ragged chewing damage along leaf margins and blades; can be significant during regional grasshopper population peaks.
Control: Hand-pick in small gardens; encourage birds. In severe outbreaks apply a neem-based or pyrethroid insecticide labelled for grasshoppers.
Keep purple fountain grass pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Purple Fountain Grass pests — FAQ
What is eating my purple fountain grass?
Purple Fountain Grass is virtually pest-free and deer resistant. Spider mites can be troublesome in hot, dry summers, and aphids occasionally target new growth. Grasshoppers may feed on foliage during outbreaks. Overall, this is one of the most low-maintenance ornamental grasses regarding pest pressure.
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on purple fountain grass?
Fine stippling and silvery flecking on leaf blades; fine webbing visible on undersides in severe infestations; worst in hot, dry spells. Increase humidity with regular watering; spray undersides of leaves with a strong jet of water. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days until clear.
How do I get rid of aphids on purple fountain grass?
Clusters of small insects on young shoots causing sticky honeydew, distorted tips, and possible sooty mould. Strong water jet or insecticidal soap spray. Natural predators (ladybirds, hoverfly larvae) usually control populations without intervention.
How do I get rid of grasshoppers on purple fountain grass?
Ragged chewing damage along leaf margins and blades; can be significant during regional grasshopper population peaks. Hand-pick in small gardens; encourage birds. In severe outbreaks apply a neem-based or pyrethroid insecticide labelled for grasshoppers.