Pest identification
What's eating my sawtooth sunflower?
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on stem tips and upper leaves; honeydew, sooty mold, and leaf curl on young growth.
Control: Water spray to dislodge; neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage ladybugs and parasitic wasps.
Sunflower Beetle (Zygogramma exclamationis)
Signs: Leaves chewed between veins by striped adults and larvae, creating a skeletonized look in summer.
Control: Hand-pick insects; apply spinosad if widespread; remove and destroy heavily infested stems.
Deer
Signs: Upper stems and foliage browsed, sometimes stripping plants heavily before flowering.
Control: Deer repellent spray on foliage; install 1.8 m+ fencing for high-pressure gardens.
Keep sawtooth sunflower pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Sawtooth Sunflower pests — FAQ
What is eating my sawtooth sunflower?
Sawtooth Sunflower, with its tall stems and large leaves, attracts aphids and sunflower beetles as primary pests. Sawfly larvae may feed on foliage in late summer. Birds flock to the seed heads in fall. Deer browse the plants in mixed borders. Its vigorous rhizomatous growth means it recovers well from most damage.
How do I get rid of aphids on sawtooth sunflower?
Colonies on stem tips and upper leaves; honeydew, sooty mold, and leaf curl on young growth. Water spray to dislodge; neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage ladybugs and parasitic wasps.
How do I get rid of sunflower beetle (zygogramma exclamationis) on sawtooth sunflower?
Leaves chewed between veins by striped adults and larvae, creating a skeletonized look in summer. Hand-pick insects; apply spinosad if widespread; remove and destroy heavily infested stems.
How do I get rid of deer on sawtooth sunflower?
Upper stems and foliage browsed, sometimes stripping plants heavily before flowering. Deer repellent spray on foliage; install 1.8 m+ fencing for high-pressure gardens.