What pests attack plum?

Plum moth, San José scale, Scale insects, Pear slug sawfly

What diseases affect plum?

Brown rot and blossom wilt, Honey fungus, Cherry leaf spot, Cytospora canker, Shot hole

Plum pests and diseases: how to recognise them

Q: Which plum problems need quick action?

Brown rot and blossom wilt: Sunken cankers may form on twigs where the infection spreads from flowers or fruit. Honey fungus: Clumps of honey-coloured mushrooms around stumps or over dead roots in late summer and autumn — not every year, and plants may die before any appear.

Prunus domestica

The pests, diseases and disorders recorded for plum in our library, each with a photo and its first symptom. Every page has the full list of symptoms, organic and chemical treatment and prevention.

At a glance

Problems in total	10
Pests	4
Diseases	5
Growing conditions	1
Need quick action	2

How to grow plum · All pests and diseases

Pests

Plum mothA pinkish caterpillar up to 12 mm long with a brown head inside ripe fruit, with brown droppings near the stone.Also called: plum fruit moth, red plum maggotPhoto: Donald Hobern, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
San José scaleHeavily infested trees lose vigour and crop, and limbs or whole trees can die.Photo: Zihao Wang, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Scale insectsHeavy infestations cause yellowing, leaf drop, poor growth and dieback.Photo: BARAKAT2011, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Pear slug sawflySlimy, slug-like dark larvae up to about 10 mm long on the upper side of the leaves.Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Diseases

Growing conditions

GummosisSticky gum oozes from the trunk or branches and hardens into clear to amber lumps.Photo: Rosser1954 Roger Griffith, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Which plum problems need quick action?

These spread or do lasting harm fast; check the plants and start treatment the day you see them.

Brown rot and blossom wilt: Blossoms and leaves on fruiting spurs turn brown and shrivel at flowering time.
Honey fungus: Branches die back over several years, or the whole plant dies suddenly in hot dry weather; leaves are smaller and paler, autumn colour comes early, and a last unusually heavy flowering or crop may come just before death.

Plants with many of the same problems

Which plants each problem affects: sources

The links between these problems and the plant were checked against these pages.