Pest identification
What's eating my superba rodgersia?
Slugs and snails
Signs: Holes and ragged edges on tender spring leaves; heavy damage can disfigure the emerging bronze foliage before it hardens
Control: Scatter iron phosphate bait (safe around pets and wildlife) around crowns from first emergence; use a coarse grit mulch to deter movement across the soil surface
Aphids
Signs: Soft insect colonies on flower stems and developing panicles; honeydew may attract ants and encourage sooty mold
Control: Knock off with a strong water jet or apply insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects such as lacewings and ladybugs
Keep superba rodgersia pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Superba Rodgersia pests — FAQ
What is eating my superba rodgersia?
Superba Rodgersia is largely pest-resistant once established — deer and rabbits avoid it. The main vulnerability is slugs and snails attacking the soft, bronze-tinted young foliage in spring. Aphids occasionally cluster on flowering stems. Protecting the crown with slug bait in early spring is the single most effective preventive action.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on superba rodgersia?
Holes and ragged edges on tender spring leaves; heavy damage can disfigure the emerging bronze foliage before it hardens Scatter iron phosphate bait (safe around pets and wildlife) around crowns from first emergence; use a coarse grit mulch to deter movement across the soil surface
How do I get rid of aphids on superba rodgersia?
Soft insect colonies on flower stems and developing panicles; honeydew may attract ants and encourage sooty mold Knock off with a strong water jet or apply insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects such as lacewings and ladybugs