Eaten rhododendron!!!

Cliecost

Hi,

I've attached an image of it.

We've had it for a few years, I lives in a part of the garden that gets direct sunlight 80% of daylight hours.

The plant has never produced flowers but always produces new leaves, mid summer it produces new growth.

I have noticed this year it has been eaten alive! The photo shows all the leaves have bites taken out of them and some have been completely devoured. There are no parasites or caterpillars underneath the leaves and no ant life under the plant.

Can anyone help me solve this puzzle?

Thanks for any help!

(I must add that it has just began producing 3 flowering buds that are bright red and, so far, look like they'll flower but the leave still look this bad and some worse)

greyteam1959

Adult Vine Weevil ???
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=234#section2

Cliecost

mervyn11 wrote: »

Adult Vine Weevil ???
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=234#section2

This started in late winter but the RHS website says that Weevil is a summer thing. Plus I have never seen any insects on it.

I_have_spoken

Looks more like caterpillar damage?

Davesnave

Well, at least you're safe....

From the title of this thread, I thought you should be dialling 999! :rotfl:

Mojisola

Cliecost wrote: »

The plant has never produced flowers but always produces new leaves, mid summer it produces new growth.

It's got flower buds on it now.

Cliecost

Mojisola wrote: »

It's got flower buds on it now.

I did actually point that out in my original post...