Pest identification
What's eating my tricolor sage?
Spittlebugs / froghoppers
Signs: Foam-covered nymphs on stems from spring through early summer; stems may droop slightly within the froth.
Control: Hose off with water; pick off by hand; plants recover quickly without pesticide intervention.
Aphids
Signs: Colonies on new variegated shoot tips; leaves curl and yellow; honeydew attracts sooty mold.
Control: Strong water spray; insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; cut back infested growing tips.
Sage leafhopper
Signs: White stipple dots across the colorful leaves; especially noticeable on the green-cream-purple variegation.
Control: Insecticidal soap spray; remove nearby weed hosts; reflective silver mulch to deter adults.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Ragged holes and missing young shoots at soil level; worse in wet, cool weather.
Control: Iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick after dark; grit mulch around the crown.
Keep tricolor sage pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tricolor Sage pests — FAQ
What is eating my tricolor sage?
Tricolor Sage shares pest vulnerabilities with all Salvia officinalis cultivars. Spittlebugs are the most frequently seen problem, coating stems in froth each spring. Aphids target the soft variegated new growth. Sage leafhoppers mottle the attractive tri-colored leaves, which is especially noticeable. Slugs and snails eat young shoots in damp conditions.
How do I get rid of spittlebugs / froghoppers on tricolor sage?
Foam-covered nymphs on stems from spring through early summer; stems may droop slightly within the froth. Hose off with water; pick off by hand; plants recover quickly without pesticide intervention.
How do I get rid of aphids on tricolor sage?
Colonies on new variegated shoot tips; leaves curl and yellow; honeydew attracts sooty mold. Strong water spray; insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; cut back infested growing tips.
How do I get rid of sage leafhopper on tricolor sage?
White stipple dots across the colorful leaves; especially noticeable on the green-cream-purple variegation. Insecticidal soap spray; remove nearby weed hosts; reflective silver mulch to deter adults.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on tricolor sage?
Ragged holes and missing young shoots at soil level; worse in wet, cool weather. Iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick after dark; grit mulch around the crown.