Japanese beetle. Photo: Benny Mazur, Flickr
Here’s a list of the plants Japanese beetles (Popilia japonica) like best. If the pests are common in your area or are heading your way, you might want to avoid growing them.
- Apple (Malus spp.)
- Apricot (Prunus spp.)
- Aronia (Aronia spp.)
- Asparagus (Asparagus spp.)
- Basil (Ocimum spp.)
- Basswood (Tilia spp.)
- Bayberry (Myrica spp.)
- Bean (Phaseolus spp.)
- Bilberry (Vaccinium spp.)
- Black walnut (Juglans nigrum)
- Blackberry (Rubus spp.)
- Blazing star (Liatris spp.)
- Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)
- Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
- Bramble (Rubus spp.)
- Buckeye (Aesculus spp.)
- Buddleia (Buddleia spp.)
- Butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.)
- Canna (Canna spp.)
- Carrot (Daucus carota)
- Catalpa (Catalpa spp.)
- Celosia or cockscomb (Celosia argenta)
- Cherry (Prunus spp.)
- Chestnut (Castanea spp.)
- Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
- Chokeberry (Aronia spp.)
- Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.)
- Corn or maize (Zea mays)
- Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)
- Crabapple (Malus spp.)
- Cranberry (Vaccinium spp.)
- Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)
- Currant (Ribes spp.)
- Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)
- Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
- Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
- Eggplant or aubergine (Solanum melongena)
- Elderberry (Sambucus spp.)
- Elephant’s ear (Caladium spp.)
- Elm (Ulmus spp.)
- Evening primrose (Oenonthera spp.)
- Fleeceflower (Polygonum spp., Fallopia spp. and Persicaria spp.)
- Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
- Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)
- Gooseberry (Ribes spp.)
- Grape vine (Vitis spp.)
- Gray birch (Betula populifolia)
- Gumbo (Abelmoschus spp.)
- Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
- Hazel (Corylus spp.)
- Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
- Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.)
- Himalayan birch (Betula utilis jaquemontii)
- Hollyhock (Alcea spp.)
- Hops (Humulus spp.)
- Horsechestnut (Aesculus spp.)
- Hydrangea, oak leaf (Hydrangea quercifolia)
- Impatiens (Impatiens spp.)
- Iris (Iris spp.)
- Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica)
- Japanese lilac (Syringa reticulata)
- Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
- Japanese quince (Chaenomeles spp.)
- Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium spp.)
- Kiwi (Actinidia spp.)
- Knotweed (Polygonum spp., Fallopia spp. and Persicaria spp.)
- Lablab bean (Dolichos spp.)
- Lawn grass (various grasses)
- Liatris (Liatris spp.)
- Linden (Tilia spp.)
- Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
- Marijuana (Cannabis sativa)
- Mauve (Malva spp.)
- Meadowsweet or queen of the prairie (Filipendula spp.)
- Morning glory (Ipomoea spp.)
- Mountain ash (Sorbaria spp.)
- Ninebark (Physocarpus spp.)
- Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
- Okra (Abelmoschus spp.)
- Paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
- Pawpaw (Asimina spp.)
- Peach and nectarine (Prunus spp.)
- Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
- Phlox (Phlox spp.)
- Pin oak (Quercus palustris)
- Plane (Platanus spp.)
- Plum (Prunus spp.)
- Poison ivy (Toxicodendron spp.)
- Popular (Populus spp.)
- Porcelain vine (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)
- Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
- Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
- Ragweed (Ambrosia spp.)
- Raspberry (Rubus spp.)
- Rhubarb (Rheum spp.)
- Rose (Rosa spp.)
- Sassafras (Sassafras spp.)
- Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
- Silver lace vine (Fallopia aubertii, syn. Polygonum aubertii)
- Soya (Glycine max)
- Squash (Cucurbita spp.)
- St. John’s wort (Hypericum spp.)
- Summersweet (Clethra spp.)
- Sundrops (Oenonthera spp.)
- Thistle (Cirsium spp.)
- Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
- Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)
- Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolius)
- Willow (Salix spp.)
- Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)
- Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)
If you’re looking for plants Japanese beetles are less likely to nibble on, here is a list you might find interesting: Plants Japanese Beetles Tend to Avoid.