What's eating my spiraea x vanhouttei?

Vanhoutte spirea is generally low-maintenance but aphids can colonise soft spring growth. Spider mites create stippled, bronzed foliage in summer drought, and leafroller caterpillars roll and tie leaf tips with silk. Scale insects may also appear on older wood. None of these typically threatens the plant's long-term health.

Dense colonies on new spring shoots cause leaf curl, sticky honeydew, and sooty mould on foliage below. Spray with insecticidal soap in early evening; encourage ladybirds; a strong water jet dislodges early colonies.

Pale stippling and bronzing of leaf surfaces; fine silk webbing at branch axils; worst in hot, dry conditions. Keep well watered to reduce heat stress; spray leaf undersides with water; apply miticide if infestation is severe.

Leaf tips rolled and tied with silk; caterpillars feed inside rolled leaves on tender new growth. Prune and dispose of rolled shoots promptly; apply Bt spray while larvae are small; insecticide rarely needed for isolated outbreaks.