Pest identification
What's eating my tall verbena?
Verbena Budworm / Tobacco Budworm (Chloridea virescens)
Signs: Flower buds eaten from inside and fail to open; small frass pellets in the bud cluster; plants look full of buds that never bloom
Control: Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray targeting young caterpillars before buds close; hand-pick larvae from bud clusters at dusk; spinosad spray is effective on resistant populations
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on stem tips and flower heads; honeydew and sooty mold; distorted buds in heavy infestations
Control: Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap or neem oil; beneficial insects usually keep populations manageable
Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Fine pale stippling on leaves; very fine webbing on undersides in dry hot weather; leaves become bronzed and drop
Control: Increase irrigation around plants; spray forcefully with water targeting undersides; neem oil or insecticidal soap; avoid broad-spectrum pesticides that kill natural mite predators
Keep tall verbena pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tall Verbena pests — FAQ
What is eating my tall verbena?
Tall Verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is most seriously damaged by the verbena budworm (tobacco budworm), which destroys flower buds before they open. Aphids and spider mites can build up in warm dry spells. This plant is not palatable to deer. Established plants in full sun with good airflow are far less troubled by pests.
How do I get rid of verbena budworm / tobacco budworm (chloridea virescens) on tall verbena?
Flower buds eaten from inside and fail to open; small frass pellets in the bud cluster; plants look full of buds that never bloom Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray targeting young caterpillars before buds close; hand-pick larvae from bud clusters at dusk; spinosad spray is effective on resistant populations
How do I get rid of aphids on tall verbena?
Colonies on stem tips and flower heads; honeydew and sooty mold; distorted buds in heavy infestations Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap or neem oil; beneficial insects usually keep populations manageable
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on tall verbena?
Fine pale stippling on leaves; very fine webbing on undersides in dry hot weather; leaves become bronzed and drop Increase irrigation around plants; spray forcefully with water targeting undersides; neem oil or insecticidal soap; avoid broad-spectrum pesticides that kill natural mite predators