Pest identification
What's eating my sarcococca humilis?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Ragged or holed new leaves in spring, with characteristic silvery mucus trails on soil and foliage.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants; use copper tape on containers; hand-pick at night or after rain.
Scale insects
Signs: Waxy white or brown scale bumps on stems and undersides of leaves; honeydew deposits lead to black sooty mold.
Control: Spray with horticultural oil at crawler stage; prune out the most heavily affected stems.
Aphids
Signs: Soft-bodied insects on new growth cause slight leaf curl; honeydew attracts sooty mold.
Control: Wash off with a strong water spray; apply insecticidal soap if colonies persist.
Keep sarcococca humilis pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Sarcococca Humilis pests — FAQ
What is eating my sarcococca humilis?
Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis is one of the most pest-resistant garden shrubs available. Slugs and snails may attack young shoots in spring, and scale insects or aphids can establish on stems in sheltered spots. Deer generally leave it alone. Overall, this plant rarely needs pest intervention — good siting in shade with moist soil is the best defence.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on sarcococca humilis?
Ragged or holed new leaves in spring, with characteristic silvery mucus trails on soil and foliage. Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants; use copper tape on containers; hand-pick at night or after rain.
How do I get rid of scale insects on sarcococca humilis?
Waxy white or brown scale bumps on stems and undersides of leaves; honeydew deposits lead to black sooty mold. Spray with horticultural oil at crawler stage; prune out the most heavily affected stems.
How do I get rid of aphids on sarcococca humilis?
Soft-bodied insects on new growth cause slight leaf curl; honeydew attracts sooty mold. Wash off with a strong water spray; apply insecticidal soap if colonies persist.