Japanese Beetles

Photos courtesy of www.forestpests.org

Japanese beetles are becoming an increasing problem in Milwaukee area landscapes. The larvae feed on plant roots and the adults skeletonize plant foliage. Control of these beetles can be difficult due to their complicated life cycle and the resultant need to time chemical applications precisely. Perhaps the best defense is simply to avoid planting the things they love and replace those with plants they don’t like. Some of our customers, who have had their landscapes decimated by these shiny green critters, have requested that we post a list of plants least preferred by Japanese Beetles. No guarantees!

The Milwaukee Journal ran an informative article in August, 2011 about the Japanese Beetle problem.
Click HERE to read the article.
 

Perennials that Japanese Beetles don’t like:

Achillea (Yarrow)

Adiantum (Maidenhair Fern)

Allium (Ornamental Onion)

Asclepias (Milkweed & Butterfly Weed)

Aster (Aster)

Astrantia (Masterwort)

Baptisia (False Indigo)

Centaurea (Cornflower)

Chelone (Turtlehead)

Chrysanthemum, Dendranthemum & Leucanthemum (Daisies)

Clematis (Clematis)

Coreopsis (Tickseed)

Dianthus (Dianthus)

Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)

Digitalis (Foxglove)

Gaillardia (Blanketflower)

Geum (Prairie Smoke & Avens)

Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath)

Hedera (English Ivy)

Helleborus (Lenten Rose & Christmas Rose)

Hemerocallis (Daylily)

Heuchera (Coralbells)

Hosta (Hosta)

Iris (Iris)

Lathyrus (Perennial Sweet pea)

Liatris (Gayfeather)

Lilium (Lilies)

Monarda (Beebalm)

Myosotis (Forget-Me-Not)

Nepeta (Catmint)

Pachysandra (Spurge)

Papaver (Poppy)

Physostegia (Obedient Plant)

Ranunculus (Buttercup)

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)

Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)

Sedum (Sedum)

Tradescantia (Spiderwort)

Tricyrtis (Toad Lily)

Veronica (Veronica)

Viola (Violet)

Perennials that Japanese Beetles LOVE:

Althea (Hollyhocks)

Anemone (Japanese Anemone)

Polygonum/Persicaria/Fallopia (Smartweed)

Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed)

Hibiscus (Hardy Hibiscus)

Hypericum (St. John’s Wort)

Malva (Mallow)

Oenothera (Evening Primrose)

Parthenossisus (Virginia Creeper & Boston Ivy)

Annuals that Japanese Beetles Don’t Like:

Snapdragons

Begonia

Cosmos

Impatiens

Ornamental Kale

Lantana

Nasturtium

Nicotiana

Ornamental Pepper

Petunia

Portulaca

Verbena

Annuals that Japanese Beetles LOVE:

Cannas

Dahlia

Four-O-Clocks

Hibiscus

Marigolds

Morning Glories

Zinnias