Asked on Aug 29, 2016

What is eating my hibiscus leaves?

I have a hardy hibiscus, it blooms beautiful flowers early summer but something eats the leaves up. What is doing this & how can I prevent this from happening next year ?
  10 answers
  • Linn Prey Linn Prey on Aug 29, 2016
    I have hibiscus and don't have those problems. Apparently there is some kind of little bug that lives in the ground that keeps coming back year in and year out. Be careful what you use around the plant or you'll kill the plant altogether. I see the plant is in some kind of pot vs in the ground. Maybe whatever the bug is is living inside the planter. look there.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 29, 2016
    The damage you are seeing is from Hibiscus Sawfly. As soon as the Hibiscus starts emerging apply a systemic insecticide for flowers shrubs. Once the bush leafs out spray a horticultural oil on the leaves making sure the entire leaf is saturated. Re- Apply through the growing season.
  • Tina Tina on Aug 30, 2016
    If you look under the leaf you will find many little green worms, these also attack roses , money wort and a few other plants. Before the plant is in blossom spray with Seven,especially the under leaf. Sorry, I don't know the name of the little buggers,, just know how I get rid of them.
    • See 1 previous
    • Tina Tina on Sep 01, 2016
      most of your sprays are poisonous to humans, good bugs and bees. that is why I suggested spraying under the leaves and before it gets into bloom, You only spray once and is quite safe in 7 days, I usually don't eat those kind of leaves.
  • Greene34 Greene34 on Aug 30, 2016
    I had the same problem when I put my indoor Hibiscus out on the patio for the summer. I was thinking the deer were eating it, and that may have been part of the problem, but then I saw a squirrel climb right up the plant and eat the leaves. I have sprayed the Hibiscus with Liquid Fence, intended for deer, and it seems to keep the squirrels away as well.
  • Debbie Etz Debbie Etz on Aug 30, 2016
    Japanese Beetles eat my leaves
    • Patty Patty on Jun 26, 2018

      That's what I thought was eating my leaves. I saw a baby yesterday. Ugh.

  • Deb Deb on Aug 30, 2016
    Sawflys! Use neem oil to on the ground around the plant as it starts emerging from the ground so that it gets into the plant. As it grows, spray leaves, being diligent to spray underneath the leaves. Those little suckers really do a job on the hibiscus :(
  • Melody Stern Melody Stern on Aug 30, 2016
    Grasshoppers,snails, but they usually eat from the outer edge in! As the previous responder said, looks like the little green worms,that can get very large before cacooning (butterflies I believe)Whiteflies suck out the sap and turn leaves solid yellow,while the spider mites eat up the new buds! All of these insects will love feasting on your Hibiscus! Treat systemically,spray foliage!
  • San10693336 San10693336 on Sep 01, 2016
    The worms squish easily
  • Juli Fowler Juli Fowler on Aug 14, 2019

    What do I use too kill off what's eating my hibiscus

  • Leisa Briggs Leisa Briggs on Sep 23, 2019

    Hibiscus plant lovers. What is this bug and how do i get rid of it. It eats my leaves from the edge in and sometimes a hole in the inside of leaf and hangs out under the leaf.