What's eating my wave purple petunia?

Wave Purple petunias face the same core threats as other hybrid petunias: tobacco budworms chew buds before they open, aphids cluster on tender new growth, and whiteflies cause yellowing on the undersides of leaves. Slugs can damage low-trailing stems at ground level, especially in cool, wet spells.

Holes bored into flower buds; buds drop or open distorted Apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) to buds every 5–7 days during peak flight; hand-pick visible caterpillars at night

Sticky, curling shoot tips; colonies of soft green or black insects on stems Knock off with water spray; insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5–7 days until clear

Yellow stippling on upper leaf surfaces; clouds of tiny white flies when plant is disturbed Yellow sticky traps to monitor; insecticidal soap or spinosad spray targeting leaf undersides