What's eating my stachyurus praecox?

Stachyurus praecox is relatively trouble-free but its early-spring catkins attract vine weevils and aphids as growth begins. Slugs and snails target young shoots emerging near the soil. Scale insects colonise stems in sheltered gardens. Rabbits will browse young plants in winter. Good garden hygiene and prompt action keep this shrub healthy.

Colonies on soft new shoots and flower stalks in spring; honeydew leads to sooty mould; distorted shoot tips Insecticidal soap or neem oil spray; pinch out heavily infested shoot tips; encourage hoverflies and lacewings

Notched leaf margins from adult beetle feeding at night; grubs sever roots in containers, causing wilting and plant collapse Pathogenic nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) into moist soil in late summer; imidacloprid drench for pot-grown plants

Ragged holes in emerging leaves and young shoots, especially after rain; silvery slime trails Ferric phosphate pellets around the base; copper tape on containers; hand-pick at night; encourage hedgehogs and ground beetles

Brown or white waxy bumps on stems; honeydew and sooty mould; weakened stems over time Scrub off with a soft brush and soapy water; horticultural oil in late spring targeting crawlers