Pest identification
What's eating my autumn crocus?
Squirrels and mice
Signs: Corms excavated from late summer onward; flowers or emerging shoots gnawed at ground level.
Control: Plant in buried wire mesh baskets; cover beds with wire netting secured with pegs; grit mulch deters digging.
Birds
Signs: Naked autumn blooms pecked open; petals and tepals pulled off.
Control: Stretch black thread above the planting for the brief flowering window.
Slugs and snails
Signs: Flowers and emerging shoots nibbled at soil level in wet autumn weather.
Control: Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants; hand-pick after dark; avoid thick mulches that harbour slugs.
Keep autumn crocus pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Autumn Crocus pests — FAQ
What is eating my autumn crocus?
Autumn Crocus (Crocus speciosus) emerges in autumn without leaves, making the naked flowers highly visible to birds and foraging rodents. Squirrels and mice dig corms from summer through autumn. Slugs may damage flowers at ground level in wet conditions. Aphids are an occasional minor pest on the spring foliage that appears after flowering.
How do I get rid of squirrels and mice on autumn crocus?
Corms excavated from late summer onward; flowers or emerging shoots gnawed at ground level. Plant in buried wire mesh baskets; cover beds with wire netting secured with pegs; grit mulch deters digging.
How do I get rid of birds on autumn crocus?
Naked autumn blooms pecked open; petals and tepals pulled off. Stretch black thread above the planting for the brief flowering window.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on autumn crocus?
Flowers and emerging shoots nibbled at soil level in wet autumn weather. Apply iron phosphate pellets around plants; hand-pick after dark; avoid thick mulches that harbour slugs.