This Gorgeous Flower Is Inviting Japanese Beetles Right To Your Garden

No one wants Japanese beetles. Some 300 plant species are the ongoing victims of these iridescent creatures, which are known for devouring multiple plant parts, including flowers and foliage. The beetles don't miss much, completely skeletonizing leaves and leaving only the veins. The threat of Japanese beetles is daunting for any gardener, but when the beetles are especially attracted to the kind of plant you love to grow, you are really in a pickle. Unfortunately for rose enthusiasts, these flowers are a favorite treat for the ravenous insects. 

The sugar in roses and the compounds that make them fragrant are the lures that particularly attract Japanese beetles to them. The temptation is to avoid growing these plants to keep your garden free of Japanese beetles, but maybe there are ways to make roses work despite the invaders.

First, you have the assurance that even though the beetles may make mincemeat of your rose flowers and foliage, they are unlikely to kill the plant, and your roses will bounce back in no time. While Japanese beetles are challenging to control, you'll find numerous ways to do so, from manual removal to pesticides. It's also possible to consider this issue before planting, as the type of rose you pick has a significant bearing on its attractiveness to pests.

You could, for example, choose one or more cultivars of roses that don't seem to sustain Japanese beetle damage. A 2016 Colorado State University observational study found more than 10 cultivars that the beetles didn't damage, including 'Angel Face,' 'Joseph's Coat,' and 'White Lightnin'. On the flip side, you could avoid growing the roses the study found got the most Japanese beetle damage — 'Pink Promise,' 'Day Breaker,' 'Strike it Rich,' and 'Cherry Parfait,' among others. 

Other options to help make roses less attractive to Japanese beetles come from University of Illinois research that suggests that roses grown in shady areas get less beetle attention than those grown in the sun. The beetles also seem to prefer white or yellow roses over other colors.

You can also try deterring the pests by planting perennials to protect your plants from Japanese beetles, such as larkspur, tansy, and garlic. Consider "trap crops" that the beetles favor, like borage, grape vines, or zinnias, to lure them away from roses. If none of these options work for you, you may need to deploy DIY solutions for keeping pesky Japanese beetles out of your garden, such as neem oil or soapy water.