What's eating my zephirine drouhin rose?

Zephirine Drouhin is a thornless Bourbon climbing rose beloved for shade tolerance, but its lack of thorns makes it more accessible to browsing deer and rabbits. Aphids and blackfly are the primary insect pests. Sawfly larvae attack young growth. Its moderate disease resistance means black spot can weaken plants and worsen pest susceptibility.

Greenfly and blackfly on new shoots and buds causing distortion, honeydew, and sooty mould Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; blast off with a strong hose jet; encourage beneficial insects

Young leaves eaten in a window-pane pattern from May; larvae congregate on undersides Handpick larvae in early morning; apply pyrethrin or spinosad; rake up fallen leaf litter in autumn

Shoots and foliage browsed freely — the thornless canes offer no natural deterrent to deer Install physical barriers or deer repellent; use companion planting with strongly scented herbs as deterrents

Bark and young canes gnawed at ground level, especially over winter when other food is scarce Fit wire mesh collars around the base; apply rabbit repellent; small garden fencing below 30 cm buried at the base