What is the white stuff on my Butterfly bushes?
What is the white stuff I have on my Butterfly bushes? It's not mold. Because this is clumps of white stuff on the leaves and stems.
Is there anything I can do to stop it before it ruins them or prevent more problems? Thank you.
Is there anything I can do to stop it before it ruins them or prevent more problems? Thank you.
Answer
Dear Elizabeth: I suspect the white stuff, if it looks like large rice with a very fluffy fur coat, is a type of scale that is now making the rounds. If you spray with ultra fine oil (available with trigger sprayers in most garden centers) to the point of really wetting the organism, you will be able to get it under control. It may reappear in smaller numbers each year, but you can control it safely with the ultra fine oil.