viburnum leaf beetle

14 years ago

I hope this isn't a stupid question.

This last May the viburnum leaf beetle was confirmed in Madison, WI, which is a couple of counties west of me. I had been considering putting in a couple of Arrowwood or Lantana cultivars, which are on the higher end of the susceptible list (and there isn't much for my zone, combined with my size restrictions, on the least susceptible list.) Should I choose something other than viburnums because of this? The location is pretty important as far as my yard goes-in front of/between the main windows...very visible...

I already have so much trouble due to Japanese beetles, destroying some great patches of coneflowers and bee balm that were planted when we bought (couple yrs ago)-they get devoured. I know it will take some time for the v-leaf beetles to hit here, is there a chance that they won't? But I would heart broken to see a great shrub eaten up...and we don't like to use chemicals, don't want to cause harm to other bugs, birds, or track the stuff in to our pets.

So, what is the consensus? Are any of you dealing with these beetles? Should I not plant viburnums because of these nasty things? How much damage is typical? Does anybody know the rate at which they spread into new areas?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

mainegrower
14 years ago
Some viburnums are more resistant to VLB than others. In general, those with thicker, more leathery leaves are less likely to be decimated. Your County Extension Service can probably suggest some varieties for your specific location.

VLB has been a common and widespread problem here in Maine for a number of years. Many nurseries have discontinued carrying varieties which are particularly vulnerable. There are still many, many viburnums flourishing in many different locations, however. With proper selection, you should be able to grow viburnums without a great deal of worry.
whaas_5a
14 years ago
As mainegrower mentioned the thicker, more leathery leaves are less likely to be attacked.

The VLB should be the least of your worries compared to the Viburnum boerer in our area.

If you keep a healthy plant you don't have to worry about it as much. I definitely wouldn't discount any viburnum based on these pests. Although I would not recommend a massing of one type.

In fact I only use viburnums as specimans.

In Beaver Dam you can easily grow many of the Koreanspice cultivars or Judd, both of which are least effected by VBL.

Mohican, Emerald Triumph (Mckay as this one) and Blackhaw would be additional recommendations.

In my opinion, Viburnums are the greatest species of shrubs. Johnsons Nursery (Menomonee Falls) has the best selection of Viburnums in our area...I would plan for spring.

By the way, Dentatum (Arrowwood) is on the "most" VBL suseptiablity list....its my least fav of the viburnums anyhow.
Related Discussions
Viburnum Leaf Beetle, a Formidable New Pest in the Landscape
Q
Comments (3)
OK, so what do we do when we have them???? What are choices??? thanks
...See More
Viburnum pests other than leaf beetle?
Q
Comments (10)
Thank you nhbabs for the link for Virburnum Leaf Beetles. This spring, my Arrowwood viburnums were loaded with caterpillars exactly like the ones pictured on this site. At first I sprayed with insecticidal soap, but later I decided to try BT. The caterpillars really did a number on my bushes and all the leaves are practically skeletonized. Thankfully the BT worked, and I haven't seen a caterpillar since. I'm just hoping that the bush will recover sufficiently and I plan to prune it heavily as they have suggested. Next year I'll start spraying early with BT to get a head start before they do too much damage.
...See More
Viburnum leaf beetles eating my snowball tree :(
Q
Comments (1)
wont the bugs go away once the tree is bare???? and you already treated it.. perhaps time is the only solution .... have you contacted your provincial extension office.. or whatever they have over there??? my gut tells me.. nothing is going to kill a snowball bush ... but it is going to be ugly this year .... let me put it this way.. if a hail storm stripped it bare.. it would releaf.. why not now???? ken
...See More
Viburnum Leaf Beetle
Q
Comments (1)
Being a chewing insect, I don't see why Sevin wouldn't work. Bug-B-Gon Max (w/ AI bifenthrin or endosulfan) would also work well, especially on the larvae.
...See More
mscheese1
Original Author
14 years ago
Crap! I hadn't read AS much about the borer so I didn't think it was as much of an issue. I've got to look that up. I had read about the leaf-thickness thing as far as being resistant to vlb's but I haven't found a source that tells me about how they all compare in that regard...plus I have to do all my plant shopping online, or I guess that nurseries would be able to tell me that stuff.
Koreanspice, I have read, is really slow-growing (brain wanders off into fantasy of what it would be like to have long summers and a little less fricking cold...back now...heavy sigh) and Blackhaw a little big but Emerald Triumph was definitely on my list along with Mohican for berries, so maybe I will go back to those guys. I know I don't have much time left but I read about how good October is for shrub-planting in our area...and I want them to take off asap in spring. But, holy crap, looking out the window today it looks more like November! Yuck.
whaas_5a
14 years ago
My Koreanspice was been the fastest growing between Mohican, Spring Green Compact, Blackhaw and doublefile.

With the exception of dentatum, most viburnums are slower growing for our area.

Koreanspice is on the "least" suscepitabily list for VLB

I would recommend getting the Koreanspice, Emerald Triumph or Mohican from McKay...good prices for their 3' B&B stock. Delivery fees are very reasonable. I just had a couple Emerald Triumph delivered yesterday.
mscheese1
Original Author
14 years ago
Y'know, if KoreanSpice isn't significantly slower, getting a decent size in the first place would really put it in the lead. Thanks - I am going to check McKay straightaway! What sort of Doublefile do you have? I bought a Mariesii earlier this summer-I love the pictures I've seen of it and Shasta flowering-but I was seriously disheartened when I read that in colder areas such as zone 4 (and some sources have me listed as 4 and some as 5, and I haven't gardened here long enough yet to really determine it for myself),that due to winter dieback, zone 4 probably won't get flowers with doublefiles. Is that true? I still have so much to learn, and I'm reading from so many sources-last year was my first ever endeavor in home landscaping, prior to that being a lifelong apt. dweller...man, though, I really want a Mariesii with flowers someday!
whaas_5a
14 years ago
I have a Pink Beauty Doublefile...its too young to discount its minimal flowering on the weather. Though, it has amazing fall color right now! It is fully exposed to the elements...no winter dieback last year.

None of my viburnums (all young yet) have flowered with the exception of a few blooms.

I'd say in Beaver Dam you could push zone 5 plants with protected sites (ie east and south locations). Otherwise in the open zone 4 plants are best.

In my short 3 years of gardening I've noticed lows between -13 and -16 in Menomonee Falls.