Japanese Beetle Host Plants

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Japanese beetle

Here’s a list of the plants Japanese beetles like best. If the pests are common in your area or are heading your way, you might want to avoid growing them.

  1. Apple (Malus spp.)
  2. Apricot (Prunus spp.)
  3. Aronia (Aronia spp.)
  4. Asparagus (Asparagus spp.)
  5. Basil (Ocimum spp.)
  6. Basswood (Tilia spp.)
  7. Bayberry (Myrica spp.)
  8. Bean (Phaseolus spp.)
  9. Bilberry (Vaccinium spp.)
  10. Black walnut (Juglans nigrum)
  11. Blackberry (Rubus spp.)
  12. Blazing star (Liatris spp.)
  13. Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)
  14. Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
  15. Bramble (Rubus spp.)
  16. Buckeye (Aesculus spp.)
  17. Buddleia (Buddleia spp.)
  18. Butterfly bush (Buddleia spp.)
  19. Canna (Canna spp.)
  20. Carrot (Daucus carota)
  21. Catalpa (Catalpa spp.)
  22. Cherry (Prunus spp.)
  23. Chestnut (Castanea spp.)
  24. Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
  25. Chokeberry (Aronia spp.)
  26. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum spp.)
  27. Corn or maize (Zea mays)
  28. Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)
  29. Crabapple (Malus spp.)
  30. Cranberry (Vaccinium spp.)
  31. Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)
  32. Currant (Ribes spp.)
  33. Dahlia (Dahlia spp.)
  34. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
  35. Echinacea (Echinacea spp.)
  36. Eggplant or aubergine (Solanum melongena)
  37. Elderberry (Sambucus spp.)
  38. Elephant’s ear (Caladium spp.)
  39. Elm (Ulmus spp.)
  40. Evening primrose (Oenonthera spp.)
  41. Fleeceflower (Polygonum spp., Fallopia spp. and Persicaria spp.)
  42. Four o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa)
  43. Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)
  44. Gooseberry (Ribes spp.)
  45. Grape vine (Vitis spp.)
  46. Gray birch (Betula populifolia)
  47. Gumbo (Abelmoschus spp.)
  48. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
  49. Hazel (Corylus spp.)
  50. Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
  51. Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.)
  52. Himalayan birch (Betula utilis jaquemontii)
  53. Hops (Humulus spp.)
  54. Horsechestnut (Aesculus spp.)
  55. Hydrangea, oak leaf (Hydrangea quercifolia)
  56. Impatiens (Impatiens spp.)
  57. Iris (Iris spp.)
  58. Japanese kerria (Kerria japonica)
  59. Japanese lilac (Syringa reticulata)
  60. Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
  61. Japanese quince (Chaenomeles spp.)
  62. Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium spp.)
  63. Knotweed (Polygonum spp., Fallopia spp. and Persicaria spp.)
  64. Lablab bean (Dolichos spp.)
  65. Lawn grass (various grasses)
  66. Liatris (Liatris spp.)
  67. Linden (Tilia spp.)
  68. Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
  69. Marijuana (Cannabis sativa)
  70. Mauve (Malva spp.)
  71. Morning glory (Ipomoea spp.)
  72. Mountain ash (Sorbaria spp.)
  73. Ninebark (Physocarpus spp.)
  74. Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
  75. Okra (Abelmoschus spp.)
  76. Paper birch (Betula papyrifera)
  77. Pawpaw (Asimina spp.)
  78. Peach and nectarine (Prunus spp.)
  79. Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
  80. Phlox (Phlox spp.)
  81. Pin oak (Quercus palustris)
  82. Plane (Platanus spp.)
  83. Plum (Prunus spp.)
  84. Poison ivy (Toxicodendron spp.)
  85. Popular (Populus spp.)
  86. Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
  87. Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
  88. Purple coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
  89. Ragweed (Ambrosia spp.)
  90. Raspberry (Rubus spp.)
  91. Rhubarb (Rheum spp.)
  92. Rose (Rosa spp.)
  93. Sassafras (Sassafras spp.)
  94. Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)
  95. Soya (Glycine max)
  96. Squash (Cucurbita spp.)
  97. St. John’s wort (Hypericum spp.)
  98. Summersweet (Clethra spp.)
  99. Sundrops (Oenonthera spp.)
  100. Thistle (Cirsium spp.)
  101. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
  102. Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)
  103. Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolius)
  104. Willow (Salix spp.)
  105. Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)
  106. Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)

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